artist : John Lydon
title : The Best of British 1 Pound Notes
date : 2005
label : Virgin
genre : Punk
release date: 05.24.2006
street date : 10.03.2005
tracks : 32
bitrate : VBRkbps
size : 229,1 MB
source : CDDA
type : Limited Edition
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Ok, it might not be a new studio album; but as compilations
go this really is top notch stuff. A superbly packaged
singles compilation featuring Public Image Ltd, Sex Pistols
and Lydon solo work; plus a new track! Throw in a bonus disc
of 12" remixes and album tracks; and if that wasn't enough
there is also a separate DVD release too. It's such a good
idea I can't believe the record company didn't try it years
ago.
Rightly or wrongly I've always looked on the Sex Pistols and
PiL as completely different things. And I have to admit at
first I wasn't sure about having them on the same
compilation, but it really is amazing how well they work
together. You only have to listen to the first few tracks to
hear it. I mean what a way to start: 'Anarchy in the UK',
'Public Image', 'This is Not a Love Song', 'Open Up.' Fuck's
sake! How good is that?
Taking the records out of chronological order really was a
masterstroke. It might be stuff I've heard a million times
before, but listening to it I was genuinely excited to hear
them work together. One after another, it's relentless! It
made me remember just how much I liked them; and why.
Make no mistake about it this compilation isn't a case of
John Lydon claiming all the glory for these records and bands
by himself (check the credits). It's just a great way of
showcasing the variety of his work. Obviously, John is the
common dominator here (and what does that tell you?), but
there's much more than that; there's a proper thread here.
Through PiL, through the Pistols, through his solo work, but
you work it out for yourself, that's the whole point. I know
what they mean to me.
I think this compilation works on so many different levels it
encompasses (almost) everything... As well as pandering to
the casual, or potential new fan, it also lets fans of each
band or period - whether it be early PiL, late PiL, Sex
Pistols or whatever - have access to a whole bunch of records
they might not necessarily have heard or own. It crosses a
lot of divides. Which is a big part of what John's music is
all about. Every single record here is as relevant as the
next. Some of the stuff you love someone else might hate, or
vice versa. It makes them no less important.
For whatever bizarre reason John's musical output is largely
ignored these days. A lot of this material just doesn't get
played as much as it deserves, but hopefully this compilation
will bring a whole new audience to a lot of this music. There
really will be young kids out there who will only know John
from the Pistols or TV who are going to get a very pleasant
surprise. They might not get it all at once, but they'll have
fun going through it. These records change lives and that's a
fact.
This isn't a rarities compilation for the hardcore fans, it's
not about that. But that said, even they can't really argue.
It's a superb compilation that's had a great deal of thought
put into it; it's not some horrible cash-in. If you don't
want to buy it: don't. You're getting all of John's singles;
bar 'Pretty Vacant' and 'Memories' (and they would have been
there if they had fitted, but something had to give), and
with 20 remastered tracks crammed onto Disc 1 (and running to
over 75 minutes) no one can say it's not value for money.
Given that the original single version's are featured here,
and tracks like 'This is Not a Love Song' & 'World
Destruction' have never really had a proper CD release,
there's more than enough to please even the most cynical fan.
There is also the option of the 'special edition' featuring a
bonus disc of a further 12 tracks handpicked by John (running
to another 80 minutes). Although mostly compiled from
extended 12" mixes it also includes some of his favourite
album tracks. It really is great to hear underrated material
like 'The Pardon' or 'Acid Drops' mixing it with the big boys
like the 12" mixes of 'Death Disco' or 'Open Up'. It also
gives the 2002 dance mix of 'GSTQ' a far wider audience. At
long last.
I absolutely love John's artwork. It's very different in
style to some of the other sleeves he's done like 'Paris Au
Printemps' or 'Psycho's Path'. I love the colours and the
attention to detail. Have you had a close look? It's
certainly not a case of the emperor's new clothes is it?
And onto the main event... A new song, at long last! 'The
Rabbit Song!' A short and sharp burst of what John's been up
to on his work-in-progress second solo album. A song of two
halves. Cleverly catchy, but with a more sinister sounding
backdrop. Another classic Lydon musical contradiction. The
best way I could describe it would be to say it sounds like a
mixture of off-beat depth charges and a demented didgeridoo.
Not that's there's even a didgeridoo on it! Ha! It brings a
smile to my face every time I hear it. "That's how you do it,
baby!"
While I'd love to hear an extended version I honestly think
John has just about packed more lyrics into it than any other
song on the compilation. More a controlled chant than a rap,
he twists the vocal and the pronunciation the way only John
Lydon can. Given the variety that's on display here it really
is a badge of honour that 'The Rabbit Song' doesn't sound
like anything else on the compilation. Of course, I don't
expect any of the other songs on his forthcoming album to
sound like this, but if it's anything to go by, it's going to
be a real treat. Have no doubt about it there's life in the
old dog yet, he's not about to go the way of the 1 Pound
note...
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cd1
01-Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK (1976) 03:33
02-Pil - Public Image (1978) 03:00
03-Pil - (this is Not A) Love Song (1983) 03:33
04-Leftfield Lydon - Open Up (1993) 03:51
05-Pil - Rise (1986) 04:30
06-Pil - Don't Ask Me (1990) 03:43
07-Pil - Seattle (1987) 03:40
08-Sex Pistols - Holidays in the Sun (1977) 03:23
09-Pil - Death Disco (1979) 04:17
10-Pil - Flowers of Romance (1981) 02:51
11-Time Zone - World Destruction (1985) 03:55
12-Pil - Warrior (1989) 04:03
13-Pil - Disappointed (1989) 04:12
14-John Lydon - Sun (1997) 04:15
15-Pil - Bad Life (1984) 03:52
16-Pil - Home (1986) 04:37
17-Pil - The Body (1987) 03:11
18-Pil - Cruel (1993) 05:19
19-Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen (1977) 03:20
20-John Lydon - The Rabbit Song (2005) 02:14
cd2
01-Pil - Death Disco (12" Mix) (1979) 06:45
02-Pil - Poptones (1979) 07:49
03-Pil - Careering (1979) 04:35
04-Pil - Religion (1978) 05:50
05-Pil - Banging the Door (1981) 04:48
06-Pil - The Pardon (1984) 05:19
07-Pil - Rise (12" Mix) (1986) 06:10
08-Pil - Disappointed (Extended 12" Mix) (1989) 06:47
09-Pil - Warrior (Extended 12" Mix) (1989) 06:47
10-Pil - Acid Drops (1992) 06:36
11-Leftfield Lydon - Open Up (Full Vocal Mix) (1993) 08:51
12-Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen (Dance Mix) (2002) 08:41
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