Music Samplers From My Youth: Part 4

Four of the best samplers from my youth are about to be in the books. Three of them have something physically in common. Can you guess? I'll give you a second. OK, the covers of 'Propaganda', 'Slash: The Early Sessions' and this one, ''No Wave', were all illustrated by the same guy. His name is Lou Beach, and he's a genius. Check out his work here.

'No Wave', subtitled "A Musical Dip Into The Ocean Of Contemporary Sounds", is another collection from A&M, and this one was released even a little bit earlier than 'Propaganda'. The Police, Joe Jackson and Squeeze (still credited as U.K. Squeeze even here in America) were mere pups. Jackson's first album, 'Look Sharp', wasn't even out yet when 'No Wave' hit the shelves. My copy is a really cool clear blue vinyl, but the record was also available as a picture disc with this illustration above. The flip side looked like a pizza and must have been interesting to see on a moving turntable. I, for one, don't think there is a bad cut on this LP. I went on to buy albums from every single act featured here. Now that's the sign of a good sampler.

My favorite song was always "Don't Care" from Klark Kent. Most of you probably know that was Stuart Copeland from the Police. The Stranglers would later go on to some moderate success in America with more mature sounding singles like "Golden Brown" and "Skin Deep". If that's what you know from these lads, prepare yourself. You won't believe this is the same band. "Strong In Reason" is one of Squeeze's best non 'Singles 45s and Under' tunes. That's thanks, in no small part, to the production of one John Cale. After listening to this album today for the first time in years I am struck by just how hard the Dickies were. You'll want to turn them up. I chose the following for posting because they are a little bit harder to find than, say, Jackson, the Police or Squeeze. Let's turn back the clock more than 30 years.

Side One:
1. U.K. Squeeze - Take Me I'm Yours
2. The Police - Roxanne
3. Joe Jackson - Got The Time
4. Klark Kent - Don't Care (mp3)
5. The Secret - I'm Alive (mp3)
6. The Stranglers - Bring On The Nubiles (mp3)
Side Two:
1. U.K. Squeeze - Strong In Reason
2. Joe Jackson - Sunday Papers
3. The Dickies - Give It Back (mp3)
4. The Police - Next To You
5. The Stranglers - Nice N' Sleazy
6. The Dickies - You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla) (mp3)