The MC5 Fully Evaluated

[version sound]

I hate to get back on topic, but does anyone have the first two MC5 singles from the masters rather than needle drop? I think the A-Square comp that came out a few years ago had at least the second single.

[obik]

I hate to get back on topic, but does anyone have the first two MC5 singles from the masters rather than needle drop? I think the A-Square comp that came out a few years ago had at least the second single.

It does, but I have no idea if it's from the masters or not.

Motor City's Burning (Alive/Total Energy comp) has "Looking At You" from the master tape (explicitly identified as such).

Human Being Lawnmower (on Alive/Total Energy) has an alt mix of "Borderline" (which I think was also on one of the other Alive/TE releases).

'66 Breakout has a decent needle drop of "One Of The Guys" and a rough needle drop of "I Can Only Give You Everything."

Alive/TE also did a vinyl EP with both singles, I think, but I have no idea whether they were needle drops or not. I never bothered to buy a copy.

Anyone know where the Rhino Big Bang versions of "I Can Only Give You Everything" and "Looking At You" came from?

[version sound]

"Looking at You" is supposed to be the A-Square version, but the sample on iTunes is clearly the Back in the USA version.

[Welly]

I remember the first time I heard 'Looking At You' and thinking it sounded better than the Damned, which of course I'd heard years before.

American Ruse was always a favourite for me. Was just spinning Back in the USA.

[version sound]

The original fuzz'n'feedback version of "Looking at You" is one of the best songs ever.

[obik]

I think High Time is definitely their best album sound-wise (VS is completely right about the guitar one), but Back in the USA is their best material-wise. I mean seriously, obik, "American Ruse" and "Human Being Lawnmower" are incredible.

I just made a playlist of the three MC5 albums. I was rockin' out to KOTJ when Poopy Toopy Froopy came on and I scrambled to find the player and skip to the next song. I made it approximately three seconds into every other song on Back In The USA before skipping to the next track. Back In The USA really is a piece of shit record.