Various Artists-Troublemakers (1980)

Artist: Various Artists (Sex Pistols, Urban Verbs, Robin Lane & The Chartbusters, Wire, Marianne Faithful, John Cale, Gang Of Four, Modern Lovers, Devo, Public Image Ltd., The Buggles, Pearl Harbor and The Explosions, Nico, Brian Briggs)

Title: Troublemakers

A1	Sex Pistols–	Anarchy In The U.S.A. Written-By – Matlock, Rotten, Cook, Jones	3:30
A2	Urban Verbs–	Subways Producer [Produced By] – Mike Thorne Written-By – Goldstein, Frantz	3:39
A3	Robin Lane & The Chartbusters–	Don't Wait Till Tomorrow Producer [Produced By] – Joe Wissert Written-By – Radcliffe, Lane, Jackson*	3:32
A4	Wire–	Map Reference 41°N 93°W Producer [Produced By] – Mike Thorne Written-By – Gilbert, Newman, Lewis*	3:36
A5	Marianne Faithfull–	Working Class Hero Producer [Produced By] – Mark Miller Mundy Written-By – John Lennon	4:40
A6	John Cale–	Temper Producer [Produced By] – John Cale Written-By – John Cale	4:50
B1	Urban Verbs–	The Only One Of You Producer [Produced By] – Mike Thorne Written-By – Goldstein, Frantz	4:50
B2	Gang Of Four–	Damaged Goods Producer [Produced By] – Andy Gill, Jon King, Rick Walton*, Rob Warr Written-By – Gang Of Four	3:25
B3	Wire–	I Should Have Known Better Producer [Produced By] – Mike Thorne Written-By – Gilbert, Newman, Lewis*	3:49
B4	Modern Lovers*–	I'm Straight Producer [Produced By] – Kim Fowley Written-By – Jonathan Richman	4:16
B5	Devo–	Social Fools Producer [Produced By] – Eno* Written-By – Devo	2:50
B6	Public Image Ltd.*–	Public Image Producer [Produced By] – Public Image Ltd.* Written-By – Public Image Ltd.*	2:58
C1	The Buggles–	Video Killed The Radio Star Producer [Produced By] – The Buggles Written-By – Woolley, Downes, Horn*	4:08
C2	Pearl Harbor And The Explosions–	You Got It (Release It) Producer [Produced By] – David Kahne Written-By – Stench, Stench, Gates, Bilt	2:29
C3	Nico (3)–	My Only Child Producer [Produced By] – Joe Boyd, John Cale Written-By – Nico (3)	3:27
C4	Modern Lovers*–	Government Center Producer [Produced By] – Kim Fowley Written-By – Jonathan Richman	1:59
C5	Robin Lane & The Chartbusters–	Kathy Lee Producer [Produced By] – Joe Wissert Written-By – Cipolla, Lane	3:28
C6	Brian Briggs–	Nervous Breakdown Producer [Produced By] – Ian Kimmet, John Holbrook Written-By – Roccuzzo*	3:43
D1	Marianne Faithfull–	Broken English Producer [Produced By] – Mark Miller Mundy Written-By – Reynolds, Mavety, Faithfull, York, Stannard*	4:35
D2	Pearl Harbor And The Explosions–	Busy Little B Side Producer [Produced By] – David Kahne Written-By – Stench, Stench, Gates, Bilt	3:00
D3	The Buggles–	Clean, Clean Producer [Produced By] – The Buggles Written-By – Woolley, Downes, Horn*	3:53
D4	Gang Of Four–	Anthrax Producer [Produced By] – Andy Gill, Jon King, Rick Walton*, Rob Warr Written-By – Gang Of Four	4:20
D5	Public Image Ltd.*–	Swan Lake Producer [Produced By] – Public Image Ltd.* Written-By – Public Image Ltd.*	4:12
D6	Sex Pistols–	No Fun (Excerpts) Written-By – The Stooges	4:35

Label: Warner Bros

Format: 2XLP

Cat #: PRO-A-857

Year of Release: 1980

Country and Year of Edition Issue: US 1980 lost leader series

Listed Condition: VG/VG

Sell Date: 3/15/25

Sell Price: $6.98

Discogs Last Sold: 3/13/25 VG/VG $5.29

Low: $5.00 VG+/VG disc 2 only 8/19/24

Media: $11.99

Average: $12.88

High: $24.00 VG+/VG+ 1/17/24

Current low price: $12.08 VG+/VG+

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 16

Have/Want: 1248/243

Where Sold: Sarasota, FL

Time it took to sell: 9 years

Where and When Bought: Worcester, MA Albums under $10

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A-

Sad To See It Go: No

Great compilation of the New Wave wing of Warner Bros distribution compiled in their promo loss leader double album mail order series. I found it used sometime in the 80's. It was clear, even in 1980, the Sex Pistols dominated the conversation even after they were broken up they opened and closed the record. Warner Bros. distributed Island at the time and Public Image Ltd tracks were added from the Virgin import only debut and the Metal Box follow up that Island put out as Second Edition.

Island's inclusion meant you got key tracks from Marianne Faithful's Broken English album as well as "My Only Child" from Nico's Desertshore album. Warner also distributed the Beserkley label which enabled inclusion of Modern Lovers tracks from Jonathan Richman that were initially issued in 1976 on the Home Of The Hits label and recorded earlier in the 70's. Cool stuff, all of it.

Of course it being 1980, Warner Bros had some New Wave signees to sell. Robin Lane & The Chartbusters were a big local band in Boston and they are represented here with tracks that didn't become hits. Less popular were Urban Verbs and Pearl Harbor and the Explosions. Wire, Gang Of Four and Devo are all represented as well with key tracks from then-recent releases. The big surprise of the listen for me was Brian Briggs. Initially I thought he was Devo doing a new wave rockabilly version of "Nervous Breakdown" by Eddie Cochran. The Pistols tracks that open and close the album were live cuts from their lone US tour from "Anarchy in the USA" to the close out of "No Fun." Have you ever got the feeling you've been cheated?

With this loss leader the answer was no, it was a bargain packed with great music.

FOR FURTHER REVIEW:

New York Dolls/Original Pistols-After The Storm (1985)

The Ex Pistols-Land Of Hope and Glory (1984)

Keith Levine-If Six Was Nine (1988)

Various Artists-Death Disco (Mojo Presents A Compendium of Post-Punk Grooves) (2014)

John Cale-Guts (1977)

John Cale-Vintage Violence (1970)

The Velvet Underground-The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

The Velvet Underground-White Light/White Heat (1968)

The Velvet Underground-VU (1985)

The Velvet Underground-Another View (1986)