Outside the Trains Don't Run on Time (Bonus Tracks)
He'd Send in the Army (Bonus Tracks)
It's Her Factory (Bonus Tracks)
Armalite Rifle (Bonus Tracks)
Guns Before Butter (Alternate Version) (Bonus Tracks)
Contract (Alternate Version) (Bonus Tracks)
Blood Free (Live) (Bonus Tracks)
Sweet Jane (Live) (Bonus Tracks)
Some of the most powerful, energized, and memorable music of the U.K.'s potent post-punk era of the late '70s and early '80s came from the trailblazing band Gang of Four, and it all started with 1979's stellar Entertainmen... more »t! Dave Allen, Hugo Burnham, Andy Gill, and Jon King fused punk, funk, explosive prog-rock, and literate and often incendiary lyrics into a signature, groundbreaking sound that would influence countless bands to come. The original album's brilliant 12 tracks are now remastered and bolstered with four tracks from the rare Yellow EP, plus four never-before-released-songs-making this watershed disc sound bigger and better than ever.« less
Some of the most powerful, energized, and memorable music of the U.K.'s potent post-punk era of the late '70s and early '80s came from the trailblazing band Gang of Four, and it all started with 1979's stellar Entertainment! Dave Allen, Hugo Burnham, Andy Gill, and Jon King fused punk, funk, explosive prog-rock, and literate and often incendiary lyrics into a signature, groundbreaking sound that would influence countless bands to come. The original album's brilliant 12 tracks are now remastered and bolstered with four tracks from the rare Yellow EP, plus four never-before-released-songs-making this watershed disc sound bigger and better than ever.
The foundation of most of what we listen to today.
franistek | Canada | 06/03/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Whatever might urge someone to give this album one star out of 5 cannot possibly be validated. This is a ground breaking record - countless bands since have completely ripped off the Gang Of Four's sound - which, by the way, was entirely innovative at the date of its release. If you don't find it so innovative now, chances are you don't have a clue about what was happening in 1979, which makes me wonder why you'd even bother with this album.
Entertainment! stands up with Pink Flag, London Calling, Unknown Pleasures, all those albums that emerged from the post-punk scene to redefine what music was, and to influence so many alternative bands throughout the next 25 some years.
The reissue of this album comes at a perfect time, when bands like the Futureheads and Bloc Party are flourishing, while borrowing heavily from the sound of Entertainment!
"
Their least likely fan writes...
Thomas Plotkin | West Hartford CT, United States | 07/07/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"i'm a vehement anti-communist loather of the Frankfurt School who think's Jean Luc Godard (GoF's primary inspiration) was the worst thing that happened to cinema, which means I hate pretty much everything these guys stand for ideology-wise, and yet I love this album. It absolutely rocks, even if their class analysis is for the birds. This just goes to show that in rock 'n roll, as with Italian opera, lyrical content counts for little, sound is more powerul than sense. GoF don't write lyrics, they write slogans, but they're as hooky and memorable as Andy Gill's scraping James Brown meets James Blood Ulmer guitar noises. Less like songs than funky ideological football cheers. And Hugo Burnham is an amazing drummer. If you really want to know what this band was all about, hunt down a copy of the video (don't think it's on DVD) "Urgh! A Music War," a multi-artist punk/new wave medley of concert footage from the very early '80's. GoF are utterly riveting, absolute madmen. Though The Cramps out-do them, as Lux's leather pants are only held on him by his member, and he sings an entire song with the mike stuck between his teeth. But that's for another review."
Stands On Its Own
soulcargo | Bowie, MD United States | 06/16/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"You know, I'd love to impose a ban on using mediocre modern bands as measuring sticks for the merit of bands past. In other words, no more "There'd be no Radiohead / Death Cab For Cutie / Rage Against The Whatever / if it weren't for Gang of Four (as if that's a GOOD thing!! Hey there'd be no Michael Bolton if it weren't for Otis Redding)! I mean, let's judge albums on their own merit. This is one of the most exciting records of the late 70's / early 80's. Gang Of Four's lyrics and messages, however sincere, come off as a bit preachy and naive, but WOW!! The guitar/drum attack is powerful! The sound of this record was unprecedented. This ranks as one of the top works of art of the post-punk era - whether or not it's the ancestral heritage of the Ditty Bops!"
Waited so long...
Kurt Lennon | Calgary | 05/24/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Since coming across a list of the best albums of all time on a music website I respect, I have made an attempt to collect as many of the 10's I could (out of some 110+, I have gotten about 40 or so). One of the highest ranking albums, Gang of Four's 1979 debut "Entertainment!", was the one I could never come across in a respectable package. Most of those albums have been remastered, and when I received word that "Entertainment!" would be remastered by the fine folks at Rhino, I knew I would have a keeper.
I am highly pleased with this album. The actual packaging is somewhat flimsy, a small cardboard slip that will likely not last very long. However, the liner notes and especially the music make up for it. It's easy to see where current bands like Franz Ferdinand, Rapture, and Bloc Party looked for some inspiration: jerky funk-punk workouts that never shy away from making the Grand Statement of political intent. The bass is melodic, the drums are primal, the guitar is more of a sonar, and the vocals are alternately sneery and soulful. I have yet to listen to the album more, but my first impressions have been one of quiet awe: this is the real deal. Get your copy today!"
Grondbreaking LP...
Mr.Hardy | Winter Garden, Florida | 07/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I saw this LP in the store, and read the words on the cover, I had a sense that this was going to be something special. As the 70's turned into the 80's, my favorite bands were The Clash, The Jam, The Buzzcocks, The Undertones, The Cure etc. After this record, although I still loved those bands, Gang of Four instantly was on the top of my list. Gang of Four's politically charged funky rhythms and noise sounded like nothing before, and I started expanding my listening choices to bands such as Medium,Medium and Mission of Burma, and a band from Boston called Native Tongue and many others. All owed something to Gang of Four who were just so revolutionary. This album was so grounbreaking at that time. I saw them Live in 81 or 82 in NYC and it was a great performance. I haven't listened to this album in quite a lot of years and as I read the songlist, I could still clearly hear each song in my head."