Like all the great rock revolutions, punk was fueled by singles. Sure, there were a lot of tremendous albums, but all the artists that cut great LPs also had great 7"s -- and in the case of Television and Patti Smith, they had independent singles released prior to their first albums that never appeared on their debuts. Since rock criticism tends to be album-driven, singles tend to get slightly overlooked, and since punk is a rock critic's favorite, some revisionist historians paint the era as fueled by albums, not singles. Rhino's excellent four-disc No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion corrects that error by focusing on the singles, winding up with a one-stop introduction and summary of the era that is as good as Loud, Fast & Out of Control, their similar set on early rock & roll. The compilers have bent the rules of punk slightly, deciding to include proto-punkers like New York Dolls, the Stooges, the Dictators, and Jonathan Richman, and then to not present the cuts in a strictly chronological order. This benefits the album, since these artists are in the same spirit of the bands they inspired, and the sequencing plays like a great mixtape. Rhino has also evenly balanced the set between American and British punk, including both early hardcore punkers the Dead Kennedys and British pub rock renegades like Nick Lowe and Ian Dury in equal measure. Though there's a bit of difference between "California Über Alles" and "Heart of the City," they deserve to be paired on this set because they both were genuinely independent, exciting 45s that crackled with energy and captured the spirit of punk, albeit in different ways. And that's what makes No Thanks! work so well -- it illustrates how diverse punk and new wave were in the late '70s, but it places a premium on adventure and excitement, which means even artier bands like Pere Ubu and Suicide come across as pure rock & roll. If there is any flaw to the box, it's that most record collectors will already own the lion's share of these songs -- in fact, if they own Rhino's previous 1993 multi-disc punk retrospective D.I.Y., they'll own no less than 53 of these songs (an additional 14 songs have appeared on other Rhino titles, making for a grand total of 67 of 100 songs already released by Rhino). While this is undoubtedly a problem for some collectors, it is also true that it functions more as an overview for fans that don't already own a bunch of this on CD, and on that level it can't be faulted. True, this may contain no tracks from the Sex Pistols, since John Lydon refused them permission (allegedly because Rhino chose not to release the 2002 Sex Pistols box set in the States), but every other major player is here, and the music here is so good they're not missed at all. Finally, if a collector is wondering whether it's worth the expense to buy this box, there are three rare singles that make their debut here: the aforementioned Television and Patti Smith singles, "Little Johnny Jewel" and "Hey Joe [version]," plus an early single version of the Pretenders' "The Wait." (Note: "Little Johnny Jewel" was released nearly simultaneously on an expanded reissue of Television's Marquee Moon.) For those that can afford it, that's reason enough to pick up the set. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
John Austin (Licensing), Barry Adamson (Bass), Jello Biafra (Vocals), Black Flag (Producer), David Bowie (Piano), David Bowie (Vocals), Buzzcocks (Arranger), David Byrne (Guitar), David Byrne (Vocals), John Cale (Producer), Exene Cervenka (Vocals), Alex Chilton (Producer), Elvis Costello (Guitar), Elvis Costello (Piano), Elvis Costello (Vocals), Elvis Costello (Drum Sticks), Dead Kennedys (Producer), Devo (Producer), Bruce Dickinson (Remixing), John Doe (Bass), John Doe (Vocals), The Fall (Producer), Fear (Producer), Klaus Flouride (Bass), Klaus Flouride (Vocals), Lita Ford (Guitar), Gang of Four (Producer), Bob Geldof (Vocals), Jerry Harrison (Guitar), Jerry Harrison (Keyboards), Jerry Harrison (Vocals), Debbie Harry (Vocals), Richard Hell (Bass), Richard Hell (Arranger), Richard Hell (Vocals), Richard Hell (Producer), Robyn Hitchcock (Guitar), Robyn Hitchcock (Vocals), Billy Idol (Vocals), Joe Jackson (Piano), Joe Jackson (Arranger), Joe Jackson (Vocals), Joan Jett (Guitar (Rhythm)), Joan Jett (Vocals), David Johansen (Vocals), Magazine (Producer), The Mekons (Producer), Mark Mothersbaugh (Keyboards), Mark Mothersbaugh (Vocals), New York Dolls (Arranger), Colin Newman (Vocals), Pere Ubu (Producer), Iggy Pop (Vocals), Iggy Pop (Producer), Iggy Pop (Remixing), Robert Quine (Guitar), Robert Quine (Arranger), Robert Quine (Vocals), The Rezillos (Producer), Jonathan Richman (Guitar), Jonathan Richman (Vocals), Tom Robinson (Bass), Tom Robinson (Vocals), Todd Rundgren (Producer), Stiff Little Fingers (Producer), Joe Strummer (Guitar), Joe Strummer (Vocals), Talking Heads (Producer), Television (Producer), Ultravox (Producer), The Undertones (Producer), Midge Ure (Guitar), Midge Ure (Vocals), Tom Verlaine (Guitar), Tom Verlaine (Vocals), Tom Verlaine (Producer), The Vibrators (Producer), The Weirdos (Producer), X (Producer), Willy DeVille (Guitar), Willy DeVille (Vocals), Howard Devoto (Vocals), Dils (Producer), David Thomas (Vocals), The Adverts (Producer), Stiv Bators (Vocals), Captain Sensible (Bass), Captain Sensible (Vocals), Cherie Currie (Vocals), Paul Dean (Bass), Jimmy Destri (Keyboards), Ian Dury (Vocals), Kim Fowley (Director), Kim Fowley (Producer), Bruce Foxton (Bass), Bruce Foxton (Vocals), John Foxx (Vocals), Nick Garvey (Guitar), Nick Garvey (Vocals), Vic Godard (Vocals), John "Speedy" Keen (Producer), Knox (Guitar), Knox (Keyboards), Knox (Vocals), Graham Lewis (Bass), Graham Lewis (Vocals), Richard Lloyd (Guitar (Rhythm)), Richard Lloyd (Vocals), Lora Logic (Saxophone), Pauline Murray (Vocals), Steve Nieve (Keyboards), Mark Perry (Guitar), Mark Perry (Vocals), The Pop Group (Producer), Jimmy Pursey (Vocals), Jimmy Pursey (Producer), Rabbit (Keyboards), Genya Ravan (Producer), Martin Rev (Electronics), Mick Ronson (Keyboards), Mick Ronson (Producer), Rough Trade (Remixing), Pete Shelley (Guitar), Pete Shelley (Vocals), Sylvain Sylvain (Guitar), Sylvain Sylvain (Piano), Sylvain Sylvain (Vocals), Bram Tchaikovsky (Guitar), Bram Tchaikovsky (Vocals), Alan Vega (Vocals), Ed Kuepper (Guitar), Craig Leon (Producer), Pat Smear (Guitar), Feargal Sharkey (Vocals), Billy Currie (Keyboards), Chris Bailey (Vocals), Billy Simpson (Bass), Dennis "Blackbeard" Bovell (Producer), Chris Bennett (Drums), Greg Ginn (Guitar), Penelope Houston (Vocals), Stuart Adamson (Guitar), Stuart Adamson (Vocals), Gaye Advert (Bass), Viv Albertine (Guitar), Viv Albertine (Vocals), Bernard Albrecht (Guitar), Bernard Albrecht (Keyboards), Bernard Albrecht (Vocals), Dave Allen (Bass), Carlos Alomar (Guitar), Carlos Alomar (Vocals), Mark Ambler (Keyboards), Ron Asheton (Bass), Ron Asheton (Vocals), Scott Asheton (Drums), David Batchelor (Producer), Nickey Beat (Drums), Roger Bechirian (Producer), Marc Bell (Drums), Doug Bennett (Remixing), Nigel Bennett (Guitar), Jack Black (Drums), Jet Black (Drums), Robert Blamire (Bass), Johnny Blitz (Drums), Tony Bongiovi (Producer), Mickey Bradley (Bass), Martin Bramah (Guitar), Pete Briquette (Bass), Pete Briquette (Vocals), Ernie Brooks (Bass), Ernie Brooks (Vocals), Hugh Brown (Art Direction), Hugh Brown (Design), Hugh Brown (Cover Photo), Rick Buckler (Drums), Clem Burke (Drums), Hugo Burnham (Drums), Dennis Burns (Bass), Jake Burns (Guitar), Jake Burns (Vocals), Karl Burns (Drums), John Callis (Guitar), Warren Cann (Drums), Warren Cann (Vocals), Bob Casale (Guitar (Rhythm)), Bob Casale (Vocals), Gerald V. Casale (Bass), Gerald V. Casale (Vocals), Nick Cash (Guitar), Nick Cash (Vocals), Carlos Charles (Drums), Terry Chimes (Drums), Cheetah Chrome (Guitar), Eric Clark (Saxophone), Billy Club (Bass), Henry Cluney (Guitar), Henry Cluney (Vocals), Rod Coe (Producer), Pat Collier (Bass), Pat Collier (Vocals), Gerry Cott (Guitar), Darby Crash (Vocals), Simon Crowe (Drums), Simon Crowe (Vocals), Ian Curtis (Vocals), Matt Dangerfield (Guitar), Matt Dangerfield (Vocals), Jay Dee Daugherty (Drums), Guy Days (Guitar), Guy Days (Vocals), Dix Denney (Guitar), Dix Denney (Vocals), Michael Dempsey (Bass), John Denney (Vocals), Steve Diggle (Bass), Steve Diggle (Guitar), Steve Diggle (Vocals), Joy Division (Producer), Billy Doherty (Drums), Graeme Douglas (Guitar), Graeme Douglas (Arranger), Graeme Douglas (Vocals), Laurie Driver (Drums), Chuck Dukowski (Bass), East Bay Ray (Guitar), East Bay Ray (Producer), Rusty Egan (Drums), Brian Eno (Producer), Tommy Erdelyi (Producer), Tommy Erdelyi (Associate Producer), Louie Erlanger (Guitar), Brian Faloon (Drums), Pete Farndon (Bass), Alex Fergusson (Guitar), Billy Ficca (Drums), Fay Fife (Vocals), Johnnie Fingers (Keyboards), Johnnie Fingers (Vocals), Micky Foote (Producer), Jackie Fox (Bass), Jackie Fox (Vocals), Chris Frantz (Drums), Tony Friel (Bass), Danny Furious (Drums), Pete Gage (Producer), Mick Gallagher (Keyboards), Pat Garrett (Drums), Steve Garvey (Bass), Andrew Gill (Guitar), Andrew Gill (Vocals), Mick Glossop (Producer), Lynn Goldsmith (Photography), Robert Gotobed (Drums), Richard Gottehrer (Producer), Steve Goulding (Drums), Paul Gray (Bass), Paul Gray (Arranger), Dave Greenfield (Keyboards), Tom Greenhalgh (Guitar), Tom Greenhalgh (Vocals), Martin Hannett (Producer), B.P. Hurding (Drums), Nigel Harrison (Bass), Ivor Hay (Drums), Tom Herman (Guitar), Tom Herman (Keyboards), Dan Hersch (Remastering), John Hewlett (Producer), Dave Higgs (Guitar), Dave Higgs (Arranger), Ed Hollis (Arranger), Ed Hollis (Producer), James Honeyman-Scott (Guitar), Peter Hook (Bass), Dave Houghton (Drums), Mike Howlett (Producer), Chrissie Hynde (Guitar), Chrissie Hynde (Vocals), Frank Infante (Guitar), Bill Inglot (Producer), Bill Inglot (Remastering), Lux Interior (Bass), Lux Interior (Vocals), Poison Ivy (Guitar), Martin Jackson (Drums), Brian James (Guitar), Brian James (Vocals), Tony James (Bass), Tony James (Vocals), Tony James (Remixing), Chas Jankel (Guitar), Chas Jankel (Keyboards), Richard Jobson (Guitar (Rhythm)), Richard Jobson (Vocals), Andy Johns (Producer), Mick Jones (Guitar), Mick Jones (Vocals), Ivan Julian (Guitar), Ivan Julian (Vocals), Karlos Kaballero (Drums), Arthur Kane (Bass), Gilbert Kaufman (Project Assistant), Lenny Kaye (Guitar), Lenny Kaye (Guitar (Rhythm)), Lenny Kaye (Producer), Tom Kellichan (Drums), Scott Kempner (Guitar (Rhythm)), David Kershenbaum (Producer), Kim King (Producer), Stu Boy King (Percussion), Stu Boy King (Drums), Chip Kinman (Guitar), Chip Kinman (Vocals), Tony Kinman (Bass), Tony Kinman (Vocals), Nick Knox (Drums), Ivan Kral (Bass), Ivan Kral (Guitar (Rhythm)), Scott Krauss (Drums), Murray Krugman (Producer), Danny Kustow (Guitar), Danny Kustow (Vocals), Pablo Labritain (Drums), Mark Laff (Drums), Mark Laff (Vocals), Robert John "Mutt" Lange (Producer), Jon Langford (Drums), Stan Lee (Guitar), Stan Lee (Producer), Adrian Lillywhite (Drums), Steve Lillywhite (Producer), Nick Lowe (Bass), Nick Lowe (Guitar), Nick Lowe (Piano), Nick Lowe (Vocals), Nick Lowe (Producer), Nick Lowe (Drum Sticks), Walter Lure (Guitar), Walter Lure (Vocals), Graham Maby (Bass), Jeff Magnum (Bass), John Maher (Drums), Vic Maile (Producer), Alan Mair (Bass), Adam Maitland (Keyboards), Handsome Dick Manitoba (Vocals), Earle Mankey (Producer), Barry Masters (Arranger), Barry Masters (Vocals), Glen Matlock (Bass), Glen Matlock (Vocals), John McFee (Guitar), John McGeoch (Guitar), John McKay (Guitar), Andy McMaster (Bass), Andy McMaster (Vocals), Ali McMordie (Bass), Rand McNally (Producer), Jim Melton (Percussion), Jim Melton (Vocals), Andy Metcalfe (Bass), Andy Metcalfe (Arranger), Andy Metcalfe (Vocals), Keith Morris (Vocals), Kenny Morris (Drums), Bob Mothersbaugh (Guitar), Bob Mothersbaugh (Vocals), Alan Myers (Drums), William Mysterious (Bass), Steve New (Guitar), Steve New (Vocals), Steve Nichol (Arranger), Steve Nichol (Drums), Steve Nicol (Drums), Jerry Nolan (Drums), Damian O'Neill (Guitar), John O'Neill (Guitar), Malcolm Owen (Vocals), Chris Parry (Producer), Angel Paterson (Drums), Paul Weller (Guitar), Paul Weller (Vocals), Christopher Payne (Bass), Christopher Payne (Vocals), Sandy Pearlman (Producer), Peter Perrett (Guitar), Peter Perrett (Vocals), John Perry (Guitar), John Perry (Keyboards), John Perry (Guitar), John Perry (Keyboards), Howard Pickup (Guitar), Honest John Plain (Guitar), Tessa Pollitt (Bass), Tessa Pollitt (Vocals), Lance Quinn (Producer), Joey Ramone (Vocals), Dee Dee Ramone (Bass), Johnny Ramone (Guitar), Tommy Ramone (Drums), Pat Rand (Producer), Billy Rath (Bass), Allen Ravenstine (Synthesizer), Kimberley Rew (Guitar), Kimberley Rew (Vocals), Eugene Reynolds (Vocals), David Robinson (Drums), David Robinson (Vocals), Cliff Roman (Guitar (Rhythm)), Dave Ruffy (Drums), Martin Rushent (Producer), Gareth Sager (Saxophone), Hunt Sales (Drums), Hunt Sales (Vocals), Tony Sales (Bass), Tony Sales (Vocals), Gary Sanford (Guitar), Rat Scabies (Drums), Rat Scabies (Vocals), Greg Scars (Guitar), Steven Severin (Bass), Steven Severin (Keyboards), Steve Shears (Guitar), Andy Shernoff (Bass), Andy Shernoff (Vocals), Micky Shine (Drums), Paul Simonon (Bass), Gary Smallman (Drums), Fred Smith (Bass), Fred Smith (Vocals), Mark E. Smith (Vocals), Patti Smith (Vocals), Robert Smith (Guitar), Robert Smith (Vocals), TV Smith (Vocals), Vic Smith (Producer), Richard Sohl (Piano), Casino Steel (Piano), Casino Steel (Vocals), Chris Stein (Bass), Chris Stein (Guitar), Dolphin Taylor (Drums), Dolphin Taylor (Vocals), Nicky Tesco (Vocals), Marty Thau (Producer), Bruce Thomas (Bass), Pete Thomas (Drums), Steve Thompson (Saxophone), Mike Thorne (Producer), Johnny Thunders (Guitar (Acoustic)), Johnny Thunders (Guitar), Johnny Thunders (Vocals), Johnny Thunders (Remixing), Laurence Tolhurst (Drums), Dave Trout (Bass), John Turnbull (Guitar), Simon Underwood (Bass), Ari Up (Vocals), Gary Valentine (Guitar), Dave Vanian (Vocals), Lee Ving (Guitar), Lee Ving (Vocals), John Waddington (Guitar), Phil Wainman (Producer), Larry Wallis (Producer), Bob Ward (Drums), Norman Watt-Roy (Bass), Sandy West (Drums), Sandy West (Vocals), Tina Weymouth (Bass), James Calvin Wilsey (Bass), Peter Wilson (Producer), Morris Windsor (Drums), Tim Wright (Bass), Tim Wright (Guitar), Jimmy Zero (Guitar (Rhythm)), Billy Zoom (Guitar), Poly Styrene (Vocals), Peter Laughner (Guitar), Hugh Cornwell (Guitar), Hugh Cornwell (Vocals), Dave Guy Parsons (Guitar), Siouxsie Sioux (Vocals), Kym Bradshaw (Bass), John Britton (Guitar), Ian Dickson (Photography), Geza X (Producer), Stephen Morris (Drums), Gordon Ogilvie (Producer), James Williamson (Guitar), Alec Palao (Associate Producer), Leonard Graves Phillips (Vocals), Jake Riviera (Producer), Ira Robbins (Commentary), Ruben Siguenza (Bass), Glenn A. Baker (Photography), Simon Fowler (Photography), Jon King (Vocals), Robin Mayhew (Producer), Chris Morris (Liner Notes), Chris Stamp (Producer), Nils Stevenson (Producer), Falcon Stuart (Producer), Steve Atkinson (Keyboards), Mark Cain (Drums), Ritch Colbert (Keyboards), D.J. Bonebrake (Drums), Gerry Mackleduff (Drums), Colin Scott (Bass), Chris Thomas (Producer), Rick Wernham (Drums), Chris Gray (Producer), Richard Hell & the Voidoids (Arranger), Laura Levine (Photography), Ebet Roberts (Photography), Mike Kellie (Drums), Patrick Milligan (Project Supervisor), Budgie (Drums), Mike Chapman (Producer), Bob Last (Producer), Spit Stix (Drums), Jules Bates (Photography), Jill Furmanovsky (Photography), Julie Vlasak (Art Direction), Julie Vlasak (Design), Philo Cramer (Guitar), Philo Cramer (Vocals), Danny Kadar (Remixing), Steven Chean (Editorial Research), Reggie Collins (Discographical Annotation), Tom Copi (Photography), Tom Sheehan (Photography), Janette Beckman (Photography), Fin Costello (Photography), Dave Schultz (Remastering), Adrian Boot (Photography), Bob Gruen (Photography), Kees Tabak (Photography), Andy Arthurs (Producer), Emily Cagan (Product Manager), Paul Canty (Photography), Lee Black Childers (Photography), Ross "The Boss" Funichello (Guitar), Ross "The Boss" Funichello (Vocals), Jim Keylor (Producer), Pieter Mazél (Photography), Brian Migdol (Drums), Derf Scratch (Bass), Derf Scratch (Vocals), Virginia Turbett (Photography), Denis O'Regan (Photography), Ray Stevenson (Photography), Manfred Jones (Drums), Kevin Lycett (Guitar), Kevin Lycett (Vocals), Chris Cross (Bass), Chris Cross (Vocals), Lorna Doom (Bass), Chuck Wagon (Keyboards), Mark Stewart (Vocals), Sheryl Farber (Editorial Supervision), Gary Stewart (Producer), Gary Stewart (Liner Notes), Gary Stewart (Producer), Gary Stewart (Liner Notes), Bruce Dickinson (Remixing), Roberta Bayley (Photography), Godlis (Photography), Jon Watson (Bass), Nobody (Producer), Atv (Producer), Eric Blum (Photography), Una Baines (Keyboards), John "Segs" Jennings (Bass), Gary Chaplin (Guitar), Jean-Marie Carroll (Guitar (Rhythm)), Jean-Marie Carroll (Vocals), Randy Perry (Project Assistant), Jeff Albertson (Photography), April Milek (Project Assistant), Tim Scanlin (Project Assistant), Ros Allen (Bass), Steven P. Gorman (Photo Research), X (Producer), Garry Roberts (Guitar), Garry Roberts (Vocals), Erica Echenberg (Photography), Marc Salata (Product Manager), Kieron Tyler (Project Assistant), John MacArthur Ellis (Guitar), John MacArthur Ellis (Vocals), Richard Boon (Photography), Dorothy Stefanski (Project Assistant), Jenny Lens (Photography), Bob "Derwood" Andrews (Guitar), Bob "Derwood" Andrews (Vocals), Belway Brothers (Producer), Jean Jacques Burnel (Bass), Jean Jacques Burnel (Vocals), Fast Product (Producer), Paul Fox (Guitar), Paul Fox (Vocals), Fraser Gray (Photography), Donald Greenhaus (Photography), Honeyman Scott, James (Guitar), Andrew Kent (Photography), Jimmy Nanos (Producer), AJ Pontsios (Photography), Duncan "Kid" Reid (Bass), Duncan "Kid" Reid (Vocals), Bernard Rhodes (Producer), Poison Ivy Rorschach (Guitar), Dave Schulps (Commentary), Jak "Airport" Stafford (Guitar), Dave "Kermit" Treganna (Bass), Dave "Kermit" Treganna (Vocals), Voidoids (Arranger), Martin Zero (Producer), Ricky Gardner (Guitar), Ricky Gardner (Vocals), B.C. Gilbert (Guitar), B.C. Gilbert (Vocals), Bryan Gregory (Guitar), Bob King (Photography), Richard P. Rodgers (Photography), Mark Stewart (Vocals), Bruce Smith (Percussion), Bruce Smith (Drums), Chester Simpson (Photography)
