Search - Dickies :: Punk Singles Collection

There is no more fun band

Chris bct | San Diego, CA USA | 12/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some of the most tight, humerous and fast songs from talented musicians in punk's history. Basically, their enormous creative period was the late 70's and early 80's. They were one of the few bands that traveled the path of several UK punk bands, they got signed to a big label. The CLASH, the JAM, BUZZCOCKS, SEX PISTOLS and so forth. That was not the norm for most U.S. punk bands. GANG GREEN, DEAD KENNEDYS, BAD BRAINS, X, BLACK FLAG, MINUTEMEN, MINOR THREAT. The biggest punk bands in the U.S. still were on indie labels in the 70's and 80's. The DICKIES were one of the few who were seen by some big label as having commercial potential. Too fast. The music that is. It did help them get known in the U.K. Meanwhile, the DICKIES were still embraced by punx, big label or not. They fell in the catagory of joke band, as in joked a lot.



The covers they did of old rock songs was and is brilliant. Let's just speed 'em up boys. Sounds of Silence and Nights in White Satin were particularly surprising how they could bring them to punk life by performing them with lovely speed. Their first album, originally on yellow vinyl, "The Incredible Shrinking Dickies" falls in the catagory of a perfect album. Every song just is so fun, blazes and the entire lp just races through. I remember playing it back in those days and it really stood out compared to other lps with its humor and very tightly written songs and those unbelievable covers. It's like they reworked some rock songs and showed the impact punk could have on our old rock world. Mainly, it's about the speed, also the attitude. In their case, not anarchy and moaning, but laughing and joking. Actually, much of punk and hardcore has satire and humor but it's not always very obvious.



Their spectacular songs on this collection are: Paranoid, Eve of Destruction, Give It Back, You Drive Me Ape(You Big Gorilla), Sounds of Silence, Hideous, Nights in White Satin, Manny Moe and Jack, She Loves Me Not,

(I'm Stuck in a Pagoda With) Tricia Toyota, Gigantor, Bowling With Bedrock Barney, Silent Night. I've always considered Gigantor to be one of the finest songs ever made by human beings. That slow build up, the crescendo of wall of sound music, the fierce dedication to the fast tempo and recreation of passion for the Japanese cartoon character while, overall, musically it is one perfect gem of fast humoerous punk rock.



I love cds when they bring together scattered songs from a variety of original vinyl releases. Even when I have them all, and, I believe I do have all the albums and 7"s these come from, I rarely break out my vinyl. Not as convient, not portable and vinyl begins to develop pops and crack sounds the more you play them. It's just inevitable. Much less, the many folks who do not have these songs on the original vinyl. Here they are, in all their glory. A tremendous introduction to the DICKIES. Possibly the only record you need to purchase of theirs although you'll be happy to own the first two albums (Incredible... and Dawn of the Dickies) if you love this, you'll want the other songs on those albums too. Thanks guys. Your music will live forever because it's magnificent fast fun! chrisbct@hotmail.com"

Yes sir, I like it!!!

Chris bct | 10/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was so glad that I could actually buy all of the Dickies stuff that I have on vinyl on one cd so I bougt it. I love The Dickies and have a lot of original print stuff, so I am glad that I can still listen to it and not wear out my vinyl!"

Of course it's great, but....

Amazonian | San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA United States | 07/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a luxury - to have those Dickies hits available in one place. As an early fan, I can recall enough to realize that a single CD may not be all that heavy-duty fans need. Their first two CDs (Amazing Shrinking Dickies, Dawn of the Dickies) were irresistable, start to finish, and those single tracks (like Banana Splits) indispensible.



Of course, this is a fine sampling of the band's very best work during their prime, but there's a chance you might grow so attached to these tunes that you're tempted to indulge your completist tendencies. Please do so. Even the Dickies' early albun tracks are special, and funny."