VA - The Chiswick Story: Adventures Of An Independent Record Label 1975-1982 [2CD Set] (1992/2013)

(Deluxe 2-CD reissue) The story of Ace UK's parent label makes a welcome return to catalogue after a period of absence. Updated with fabulous 2013-style packaging - a four-panel digipak with slipcase - the double CD set has two 24-page booklets telling the detailed story of one of the first of the new wave of indie labels in the mid 70s. As pointed out in the recent BBC TV documentary Punk Britannia, Chiswick Records was the bridge between the Pub Rock of the early 70s and the Punk Rock of the end of the decade. It was the label that launched a thousand (well several) careers. Joe Strummer made his recording debut for the label; the late and much lamented Kirsty MacColl made her pseudonymous debut singing background vocals with the Drug Addix as Mandy Doubt; Billy Bragg with his group Riff Raff fired his opening salvo for the label. Johnny and the Self Abusers in part mutated into Simple Minds. Motörhead's debut album threatened the nation on Chiswick. The Damned's finest hour - well around 40 minutes anyway - launched them into the charts for three (of a handful) of chart hits on the label. Rama Lama Ding Dong, the first hit for Rocky Sharpe and the Replays, has been a recent You Tube sensation. Chiswick Records was Rock 'n' Roll, Punk Rock, Quirky Pop, Art Rock and a whole lot of good music. As the slogan said ''Better than a smack in the ear with a flying beer can'' and you can confirm that by listening to this double comp of the label's finest 2 hours 26 minutes and 25 seconds of recorded dynamite.