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

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.