Search - Kirsty Maccoll :: Stiff Single Collection

Early Kirsty Magic

BobW | London | 04/24/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is strange but very welcome to find this collection of early Kirsty MacColl singles released on a Japanese label, available on Amazon in the States and Germany, but not in her home Country!

This CD is a welcome compilation of her early singles released on Stiff Records. Stiff famously made brash pop singles in the early 80's usually spending only £300 recording each single. Kirsty recorded 5 singles plus B sides for Stiff and this is the result. Stiff never released these on an album so it is nice to have these collected together some 20 years later.

Kirsty MacColl always wrote great songs and this is a fine collection of the young Kirsty in action. Particular highlights for me are "Terry", the extended mix of "A New England" and the so called unreleased version of "He's On the Beach" (although it was released on the B side of another later single in the U.K.). Also some of the B sides, particularly "Patrick", "Quietly Alone", "Millionaire" and the dreamy "Please go to sleep", are fine examples of Kirsty's developing song writing skills and very funny too.

The only complaint from a committed fan are the omissions of the unreleased B side to "You caught me out" titled "Boys" and the extended mix of "Terry".

All the songs on the CD have been remastered to a very high standard and sound as fresh as a daisy!

BobW London."