- Audio CD (6 Mar 1995)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Virgin
- ASIN: B000026DNY
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,689 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. They don't know |
| 2. There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis |
| 3. New England |
| 4. He's on the beach |
| 5. Fairy Tale Of New York |
| 6. Miss Otis regrets |
| 7. Free world |
| 8. Innocence |
| 9. You just haven't earned it yet baby |
| 10. Days |
| 11. Don't come the cowboy with me Sonny Jim |
| 12. Walking down Madison |
| 13. My affair |
| 14. Angel |
| 15. Titanic days |
| 16. Can't stop killing you |
| 17. Caroline |
| 18. Perfect Day |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Galore is a collection of cuts from MacColl's fine first solo album, Kite, and its patchy successor, Electric Landlady, filled out with earlier singles, duets and collaborations. It's no less than MacColl deserves, on balance--though employed to the point of ubiquity as a backing vocalist, she has struck out under her own name relatively rarely. The duets include two with The Pogues ("Fairytale Of New York" and "Miss Otis Regrets") and one with Evan Dando of The Lemonheads (a cover of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day"). There are a few judicious cover versions (The Smiths' "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby" and Billy Bragg's "A New England", which contains an extra verse Bragg wrote for her). Her otherwise unobtainable early singles are also neatly rounded up ("They Don't Know", "He's On The Beach", "There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis"). --Andrew Mueller
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Kirsty McColl had one of the most distinctive, and at its best, most thrilling voices in pop. Add to that a talent for writing melodic, intelligent and often sardonic songs and you have the ingredients for sure fire success. Except that it didn't happen. A lack of self confidence perhaps, or simply a mature sense of priorities. Who knows? Her work has attracted a wider public since her death, but she will be perhaps always be a footnote in the history of pop.
But there is nothing marginal about her recordings as this compilation shows convincingly. From the girlgroup pastiche of 'They Don't Know' through the country flavoured 'There's A Guy Works Down The Chipshop Swears He's Elvis' to the political edge of 'Free World' the latin tinged 'My Affair' and the urban groove of 'Walking Down Madison' (co-written with Johnny Marr) her songwriting shows a remarkable quality and variety. All of these are bathed in her trademark harmonies making the listening experience particularly delightful.
She cut a mean cover too. 'New England' is easily as good as the original, though very different in tone. Her version of the Kinks 'Days' is simply stunning, and Cole Porter's 'Miss Otis Regrets' is delivered with great wit. She duets with Shane McGowan on his 'Fairytale Of New York' thereby creating that rarity, a listenable Christmas song.
The selection of tracks for this album is unimpeachable. With this and her later 'Tropical Brainstorm' you will have the essential Kirsty McColl.
But there is nothing marginal about her recordings as this compilation shows convincingly. From the girlgroup pastiche of 'They Don't Know' through the country flavoured 'There's A Guy Works Down The Chipshop Swears He's Elvis' to the political edge of 'Free World' the latin tinged 'My Affair' and the urban groove of 'Walking Down Madison' (co-written with Johnny Marr) her songwriting shows a remarkable quality and variety. All of these are bathed in her trademark harmonies making the listening experience particularly delightful.
She cut a mean cover too. 'New England' is easily as good as the original, though very different in tone. Her version of the Kinks 'Days' is simply stunning, and Cole Porter's 'Miss Otis Regrets' is delivered with great wit. She duets with Shane McGowan on his 'Fairytale Of New York' thereby creating that rarity, a listenable Christmas song.
The selection of tracks for this album is unimpeachable. With this and her later 'Tropical Brainstorm' you will have the essential Kirsty McColl.
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Kirsty was a daughter of the great folk singer Ewan MacColl and his influence inevitably shows in her music, but she was very much of her time. Kirsty was always keen to experiment and the results were not always brilliant, but the best of her music is to be found on this outstanding collection. Apart from experimentation, Kirsty's success was limited by her desire to lead life to the full and raise a family as well. She died in a high-speed boating accident while still in her early forties.
Most of the songs on this collection were written by Kirsty, often but not always on her own, including They don't know (a song which provided Tracey Ullman with her first hit), There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis, He's on the beach, Free world, Don't come the cowboy with me Sonny Jim (a song covered by Kelly Willis on her Easy album) and Walking down Madison.
Kirsty was also well capable of recording distinctive covers of other people's songs. Their diverse sources show that Kirsty was not a lady that anybody could typecast. They include A new England (Billy Bragg), Miss Otis Regrets (Cole Porter - one of two duets with Irish rockers The Pogues), You just haven't earned it yet baby (The Smiths), Days (The Kinks) and Perfect Day (Lou Reed - a duet with Evan Dando of the Lemonheads).
Her biggest UK hit was the other duet with the Pogues - a Christmas song titled Fairytale of New York. It can be found on several British Christmas compilations and is not really typical of Kirsty's music. I would describe Kirsty's music as sixties pop rock updated for the eighties with a little folk and country added into the mix.
If Kirsty had pursued her career with single-minded dedication, some say she could have been a world megastar. Maybe, but she wanted a life outside music. As a consequence, her musical legacy is limited, but the quality more than makes up for that.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I remember first purchasing this album when it first came out, and have never stopped listening to it. The mixture of music styles and MacColl's lyrics and vocals illustrate her talent quite brilliantly. What's more, one can see the development of MacColl's song writing through the album. There's definitely a song in there for everyone, from the excellent cover versions of Days and Perfect Day to the fast-paced Free World and There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis.
If you've never listened to Kirsty MacColl before and are curious to find out what myself and the other reviewers are on about, then get hold of this fab album NOW !!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Kirsty maccoll - best of CD
wonderful voice begorrah aided and abetted with Johnny Marr and Billy Bragg on guitars and compositions. very high sound quality though not actually remastered this CD.
Published 8 months ago by allister m hardwick
I just don't get it!
Well, I am obviously out of step with all the other reviewers, but this album does very little for me. Read more
Published on 5 July 2009 by Sigrid
Glories galore
I've had this album since it came out and I just don't get tired of it. Kirsty MacColl had a wonderful voice which sung the humourous lyrics with deadpan warmth. Read more
Published on 7 July 2007 by Big G
Superb singer and composer
Kirsty MacColl had her first hit in 1981 with the humorous There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop ... and in 1984 she scored with her interpretation of Billy Bragg's A New England. Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2004 by Pieter
Amazing
Kirsty MacColl was an amazing talent and this album showcases her best work.. from great colaborations with The Pogues and Evan Dando to the wacky titles (Don't come the cowboy... Read more
Published on 18 Oct 2003
The Greatest British Female Singer Ever
Kirsty, oh Kirsty, you were the most fantastic singer ive ever heard, this collection of songs are truly some of her best from 'a new england' through to the stunning 'caroline',... Read more
Published on 14 April 2003 by "ross_carter2001"
Perfect Day, courtesy of Kirsty
The sleeve notes to this superb compilation contain a few words from Kirsty MacColl that are now as poignant as they were prophetic. Read more
Published on 4 May 2001
A nice "best-of" package!
Like many people, I know Kirsty MacColl mainly from her work with the Smiths, Talking Heads, etc., back in the 1980s. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2001
A Fitting Tribute To One Of Britain's Greats
If all you know of Kirsty MacColl is her cover of the Kinks' 'Days' and her recent, tragic death then for God's sake listen to this compilation. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2001
My favourite pick me up!
I have had this CD for years and I never grow tired of listening to it (or Kirsty's wonderfully distinctive voice). Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2000
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