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These two albums are a must for any new-wave, quasi-punk or punk rock collection. Both albums give virtually unknown new-wave performers some much needed market exposure by combining them with more familiar artists such as Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson.
Although it might be argued that this is simply a clever marketing ploy by the record companies to sell albums by combining popular artists with mediocre talents, it should be apparent upon first listening, that this is not the case. Each of these performers are quite talented in their own right, but because they lack commercial air play and wide spread media coverage, their talents have remained untapped.
By combining these artists with name performers, the record companies have produced two exceptional well balanced albums which display a fresh, new sound so often lacking on "new" releases.
Stiffs’ Live, released in 1978, is an entirely live album recorded in England at various Universities. It has not been dubbed over in the studio or electronically tampered with in any way which results in a real live feeling which is often not found in so many of today’s so called live albums.
Among the performers on this album, are Elvis Costello who does Miracle Man and Burt Bacharach, Hal David’s song I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself as well as Nick Lowe who clearly displays his "New-Wave" roots with Let’s Eat and I Knew The Bride.
The album also represents the North American debut of Ian Dury whose songs (Wake Up And Make Love With Me and Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll to name two) promise much more than he has since delivered on his album Do It Yourself which was released this year. Larry Wallis and Reckless Eric round out the performers on this album which is definitely becoming a classic in the realm of New Wave.
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