The Saints - Scarce Saints: Hymns of Oblivion 1977-1981(1989)

KATHLEEN C. FENNESSY: A cornucopia of choice rarities (B-sides, bonus singles, etc.), Scarce Saints covers several years (1977-1984), several lineups (including the seminal combo of Chris Bailey/Ed Kuepper/Ivor Hay/Kym Bradshaw), and two countries (Australia and the U.K.). Half the tracks are live (11-20), and for those keeping score at home, Kuepper, who would exit the band (acrimoniously) around the time of the final amazing EMI recording (Prehistoric Sounds), plays on tracks one through four and 11. Punked-up femme-fronted classics 'Lipstick on Your Collar' (Connie Francis) and 'River Deep-Mountain High' (Ike and Tina Turner), originally featured on the One-Two-Three-Four EP, actually became less scarce once included as bonus tracks with 1977's (I'm) Stranded. Same with the goofy -- in a good way -- 'Do the Robot,' added to the following year's Eternally Yours. (It's worth noting that Aussie legends the Easybeats preceded the Saints in covering 'River Deep' back in the late '60s, which isn't to take anything away from the excellent version here.) The collection, as a whole, is a must for the Saintsaholic. Surely there are far worse addictions than the sound of Chris Bailey's bluesy voice or Ed Kuepper's virtuosic guitar playing.

SAINTS.COM: The Scarce Saints album includes almost a full side of material from a live show at Dingwall's in London around this time. It includes versions of 'Know Your Product', 'No Time' and 'Kissin' Cousins', songs from the days of the EMI-era band that are played in a very different style from the originals. They still rock, but it's a rock-and-roll sort of rock as opposed to a buzzsaw punk kind of rock. The track 'On The Waterfront' (from the Paralytic ep) almost out-kicks 'Know Your Product' in this set. There's also a nice version of 'Gypsy Woman', which had been the flip of 'Let's Pretend'. All these tracks are stripped of horns and have pretty strong guitar playing throughout; it's a very odd counterpoint to the early band.