The Damned were one of the original and best punk bands, with both music and antics putting the Pistols and many others in the shade. They have also been the victim of a plethora of cheap'n'nasty compilations.

This one, on the track listing, is better than most, but seriously let down by the booklet and information.

The set opens with the single "Thanks For The Night" and its B-sides "Do The Blitz" and the classic "Nasty". The latter is worth buying the CD for alone, and many will remember the band performing the track on The Young Ones.

Probably unlike many fans, I absolutely love the Phantasmagoria album, so the live 1985 tracks, including "Shadow Of Love" (appears twice), "Street Of Dreams" and "Grimly Fiendish" put me in heaven.

The CD also includes 1977 live tracks, outtakes and demos, including classics as "New Rose".

Now the problems: aside the random running order, there is very little track by track info, track source etc, and the sleevenotes are an extract from a punk book, so are largely irrelevant.

Most of these tracks are fantastic, and long overdue on CD, a couple are passable though. But for heaven's sake get someone who gives a ---- about the band to present it properly.

Music ****

Booklet *½

Review by Joe Geesin

www.joegeesin.com