Eddie and The Hot Rods - The Island Years [6CD Box Set] (2018)

Eddie And The Hot Rods, ‘The Island Years’, is a comprehensive six-cd boxed set covering the bands time on Island Records – 1975 to 1979. With 98 tracks over six cds, it brings together their first three albums – ‘Teenage Depression’, ‘Life On The Line’ and ‘Thriller’ as well as bonus tracks and BBC session recordings.

One of the most influential and important British rock bands of their generation, Eddie And The Hot Rods are often categorised as one of the founding fathers of the punk era, but they themselves claim they were simply interested in playing loud, fast, in your face Rock ‘n’ Roll. The energy and attitude certainly endeared them to the punks, but the hard and fast style that made Eddie And The Hot Rods one of the most exciting bands of the era has never really dated or gone out of style.

Disc one is the seminal ‘Teenage Depression’ album which hit number 43 in the UK National Chart in December 1976. Included is the number 35 hit single version of the title track plus, amongst the thirteen bonus tracks, all of the No.43 charting ‘Live At The Marquee’ EP.

The second disc is the number 27 charting ‘Life On The Line’ album which includes the Top Ten New Wave anthem ‘Do Anything You Wanna Do’ and the No.36 ‘Quit This Town’. Amongst the twelve bonus tracks is the No.44 hit ‘I Might Be Lying’ plus the band’s collaboration with the MC5’s Rob Tyner.

Disc three is the band’s ‘Thriller’ album which reached number 50 in the summer of 1979 and now comes with two b-sides previously not on the original album.

The fourth disc contains twelve tracks recorded over three different sessions for the legendary John Peel show on BBC Radio One, none of which have been given a commercial release before now.

A prolific gigging band, the Hot Rods have two rare BBC In Concerts – from 1977 and 1978 – featured on Disc Five.

Disc six contains something of a New Wave Punk collectors ‘Holy Grail’ in the shape of a twelve track Fan Club LP. It has never before issued on CD and only 100 copies were previously pressed back in 1977.