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Stiff is an English record company that is eccentric, to say the least. On the sleeve of one of their albums they featured "some fine records on other labels you might enjoy. When was the last time you say one company promote the products of another?
Stiff singles are another odd facet of Stiff's. They often are withdrawn from the market after a couple of months in order to make them collector's items. On their labels will be weird messages like "Stay With Mono" or "Bring Back Stereo."
The weirdest thing about Stiff is their artists. Some of the artists last for one single while others eventually get an album out. Best known among the lost is Elvis Costello. Costello has one album out and is quickly gaining a following the likes of which was last seen in connection with Bruce Springsteen.
Other oddballs on Stiff are Ian Dury, an amusing singer who often unravels some pornographic tale in a Cockney accent, and Wreckless Eric, a seedy looking teenager that comes up with subjects like a love affair carried off through "Semaphore Signals." Not exactly the type of wholesome music that the homeland of John Denver and Debby Boone is use to.
Arista has presented America with some of the most successful and commercial acts. Two examples are Barry Manilow and the Bay City Rollers. It should be pointed out that, unlike many companies, Arista does take a chance on acts that are not so commercial, like Patti Smith. In this same spirit, Arista has taken on the Stiff label for release in America.
The first release in the States is Stiffs Live. This is a collection of tunes by various artists done on a concert tour of England. The artists and respective bands are very reminiscent of one of those World War II films like The Dirty Dozen. A bunch of the weirdest characters are flung together and forced to make a go of it. This is sort of the way Stiffs Live has been put together.
There is some straight rock and roll thanks to Nick Lowe, with some help from studio wizard Dave Edmunds. Lowe is the author of a great rocker in' the vein of Chuck Berry, "I Knew The Bride When She Use To Rock And Roll." Following Lowe is Wreckless Eric who has some great material. The only problem is Eric's grating voice which tries the patience of even the truest fan.
Larry Wallis is given one shot with the cut "Police Car," an interesting view of American cops from an Englishman's view. Elvis Costello breaks his practice of doing original material by doing a song by, of all people, Burt Bacharach.
The last to appear is Ian Dury. Of all the groups, Dury's backing band is the most impressive. His tunes take on the atmosphere of an English music hall instead of a rock concert. In a grand finale, all the gangs join together to do Dury's "Sex Drugs & Rock & Roll & Chaos." Not exactly AM radio material. Give 'em a listen.
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