The Damned - The Light At The End Of The Tunnel [2xCD] (1988)

Artist: The Damned
Title Of Album: The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Year Of Release: 1988
Label (Catalog#): MCA Records [MCAD2-8024]
Country: England
Genre: New Wave, Goth Rock, Punk, Synth-pop
Quality: FLAC (tracks,scans)
Bitrate: Lossless
Time: 2:05:04
Full Size: 889 mb
Upload: Turbobit / DepFile / HitFile

Released in the late '80s by MCA, this compilation is an excellent two-disc introduction to the work of punk pioneers The Damned, covering pretty much everything of note, from their first singles to their 1986 hit "Eloise." It's an overview of the development of British pop from the mid-'70s, when punks ruled, to the fuller-sounding, over-the-top style of hit-making popularized by bands like Sparks and ABC. Of course the Damned knew exactly what they were doing with their more commercially acceptable later sound--hence the ring of the cash register at the end of the hit "Grimly Fiendish (The Bad Trip mix)."

While not in chronological order, the recording dates for all tracks are listed, and the songs blend together nicely. The early hits are all here, including the punk smashes "Neat Neat, Neat," "New Rose," "I Feel Alright," "Plan 9 Channel 7," and "Love Song." These tracks, and the new wave XTC-like sounds of "Alone Again Or," "Is It a Dream," "Psychomania," and "In Dulce Decorum," are an excellent introduction to the Damned.

TRACKLIST:

CD1.1 I Feel Alright 4:26
CD1.2 Anything 4:41
CD1.3 Lovely Money 5:21
CD1.4 Thanks For The Night (Rat Mix) 3:56
CD1.5 Plan 9 Channel 7 5:08
CD1.6 Grimly Fiendish (The Bad Trip Mix) 5:11
CD1.7 Stranger On The Town 5:14
CD1.8 Neat Neat Neat 2:40
CD1.9 Alone Again Or 3:28
CD1.10 Is It A Dream 3:21
CD1.11 Smash It Up (Parts 1 & 2) 4:50
CD1.12 Psychomania 4:18
CD1.13 Curtain Call 17:16

CD2.1 Ignite 4:50
CD2.2 Help 1:33
CD2.3 Rabid (Over You) (CD Mix) 3:37
CD2.4 I Just Can't Be Happy Today 3:41
CD2.5 Problem Child 2:10
CD2.6 Nasty 2:46
CD2.7 Disco Man 3:15
CD2.8 New Rose 2:41
CD2.9 Love Song 2:03
CD2.10 Feel The Pain 3:32
CD2.11 History Of The World Part 1 3:54
CD2.12 In Dulce Decorum 4:34
CD2.13 Trojans 4:48
CD2.14 Eloise 5:08
CD2.15 The Shadow Of Love (Ten Inches Of Hell Mix) 6:35

Dave Vanian: Vocals
Brian James: Guitar on Tracks 1, 8, 15, 18, 21 & 23.
Captain Sensible: Bass on Tracks 1, 8, 15, 18, 21 & 23; Guitar on Tracks 3–5, 7, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22 & 24.
Rat Scabies: Drums
Lu Edmunds: Guitar on Track 18
Algy Ward: Bass on Tracks 5, 11, 16, 17 & 22
Paul Gray: Bass on Tracks 3, 7, 13, 14, 20, 24
Roman Jugg: Keyboards on Tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 14 & 26–28; Guitar on Tracks 2, 6, 9, 10, 12, 19 & 25–28
Bryn Merrick: Bass on Tracks 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 19 & 25–28