The Definitive Damned Damned Damned
A. Duguay | Massachusetts | 03/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you've been a fan of The Damned for any substantial period of time, you most likely own a copy of Damned Damned Damned. My copy is well worn on vinyl and I have subsequently replaced it with other copies. I say other copies because this album in it's original form is a punk rock masterpiece. What more could be done to get me to run out and buy another version? Well, let's just say the impossible is possible. The 30th Anniversary Edition of Damned Damned Damned is the well worth tracking down. In the States, it's a hard-to-find import and is definitely worth the search. The original release is contained on the first CD with a generous amount of bonus material on the following two discs, most of previously unreleased except for the pesky bootlegs that have appeared over the years.
The Damned are one of the greatest punk bands to ever emerge from the UK and while some site The Clash as the one punk band that mattered, I'd beg to differ. Both bands had a rocky history of sorts, but The Damned came through it with their heads held high and managed to write one of the best comeback albums of any band's career (Grave Disorder-check it out!). Fans of their punk years will eat this up as will fans of their later more gothic era.
Up the punks, this is one album each and every punk rocker should own, it's genius!"
Essential Damned for any fan
L.V. | Southern California | 03/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's difficult to believe that 30 years later, The Damned's music is still so relevant and so unmistakably powerful! My favorite track has to be New Rose - the first punk rock single ever released (on October 22, 1976). Just hearing the first few seconds of New Rose drums gives me an adrenaline rush like nothing else! You can't go wrong with The Damned... they may have stumbled onto genius, but it's theirs for the keeping!"
This is how every re-issue should be done!
Hunter777 | Northern NJ | 01/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I chanced across this box set at my local record store. I flashed back to when I was all of 13 years old, watching a local cable access show called "Cable Rock" which showed promo clips (remember, this predates MTV by about a year). One of the videos was "New Rose" by the Damned, and the energy that came out of my puny TV speaker was amazing.
So I bought this gem and blasted it all the way home, like a fine wine, time has aged this recording to perfection (and a little remastering along the way didn't hurt either). "New Rose" still explodes with that seminal burst of punk energy that entranced me so many years before. And of course the rest of the album is no slouch either, but then again...how could it be?
The second disc is comprised of John Peel BBC Sessions and a BBC Broadcast of a live concert from the era. I used to have all of these tracks on a bootleg LP that I bought way back in 1987, now I have them here from the original masters. Just as energetic as the LP tracks, if not more so since they enjoyed going the extra mile when they were on the radio it seems. Also included are B-sides to the original 45's which is a very very nice touch.
The third disc is really a treat for any completist...the Damned's very first show ever! Recorded by an audience member (with a tape recorded secreted in a gym bag) at the now legendary 100 Club. Yes it's a pretty poor audience tape as bootlegs go, but seeing the importance of it I can forgive any audio shortcomings. Plus any respectable bootleg collector would have no problem shelling out $25 if it came out as an underground release.
All in all, this is how every re-issue should be done. Throw in a booklet that includes press clippings, pictures and of course info about all the tracks and you have a piece that no respectable Damned (or early punk fan for that matter) should own. Just buy the DAMNED thing already will ya?
T"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1