Left of the Dial

Rating

Album: Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the '80s Underground [Box]
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Radio Free Europe - R.E.M.
2)	Going Underground - The Jam
3)	Forest, A - The Cure
4)	Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys
5)	I'm in Love With a German Film Star - The Passions
6)	I Will Dare - The Replacements
7)	That's When I Reach for My Revolver - Mission of Burma
8)	Johnny Hit and Run Pauline - X
9)	Just Like Honey - The Jesus and Mary Chain
10)	Black Celebration - Depeche Mode
11)	Tell Me When It's Over - The Dream Syndicate
12)	Hollywood (Africa) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
13)	Temptation - New Order
14)	Ghosts - Japan
15)	Song from Under the Floorboards, A - Magazine
16)	Oblivious - Aztec Camera
17)	Don't Want to Know If You're Lonely - Hsker D
18)	Rise Above - Black Flag
19)	Back in Flesh - Wall of Voodoo
20)	Cattle and Cane - The Go-Betweens
1)	Message of Love - Pretenders
2)	Vienna - Ultravox
3)	Freak Scene - Dinosaur Jr.
4)	This Charming Man - The Smiths
5)	Stigmata - Ministry
6)	Ways to Be Wicked - Lone Justice
7)	Wardance - Killing Joke
8)	Enola Gay - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
9)	Mirror in the Bathroom - The English Beat
10)	Fairytale in the Supermarket - The Raincoats
11)	Behind the Wall of Sleep - The Smithereens
12)	Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing - Minutemen
13)	Punk Rock Girl - Dead Milkmen
14)	Still in Hollywood - Concrete Blonde
15)	Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
16)	Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
17)	Lake of Fire - Meat Puppets
18)	Amplifier - The dB's
19)	When Love Breaks Down - Prefab Sprout
20)	Goo Goo Muck - The Cramps
21)	This Corrosion - The Sisters of Mercy
22)	Senses Working Overtime - XTC
1)	Cutter, The - Echo & the Bunnymen
2)	Pay to Cum - Bad Brains
3)	Birthday - The Sugarcubes
4)	Madonna of the Wasps - Robyn Hitchcock
5)	We Care a Lot - Faith No More
6)	Teen Age Riot - Sonic Youth
7)	To Hell With Poverty - Gang of Four
8)	Fa C-La - The Feelies
9)	Ana Ng - They Might Be Giants
10)	Swamp Thing - The Chameleons UK
11)	Mercy Seat, The - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
12)	I Look Around - Rain Parade
13)	All That Money Wants - The Psychedelic Furs
14)	Under the Milky Way - The Church
15)	Rise - Public Image Ltd.
16)	Kundalini Express - Love and Rockets
17)	Gravity Talks - Green on Red
18)	Adrenalin - Throbbing Gristle
19)	She Bangs the Drums - The Stone Roses
1)	Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies
2)	Uncertain Smile - The The (original 7" version)
3)	Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus
4)	Christine - Siouxsie and the Banshees
5)	Straight Edge - Minor Threat
6)	I Want to Help You Ann - Lyres
7)	Our Secret - Beat Happening
8)	Jane Says - Jane's Addiction
9)	World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope
10)	Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
11)	Sex Beat - The Gun Club
12)	Take the Skinheads Bowling - Camper Van Beethoven
13)	Institutionalized - Suicidal Tendencies
14)	Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops - Cocteau Twins
15)	24 Hour Party People - Happy Mondays
16)	I Want You Back - Hoodoo Gurus
17)	Surburban Home - Descendents
18)	Pair of Brown Eyes, A - The Pogues
19)	Jet Fighter - The Three O'Clock
20)	Moving to Florida - Butthole Surfers
21)	New England, A - Billy Bragg

Album: Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the '80s Underground [Box]
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Radio Free Europe - R.E.M.
2)	Going Underground - The Jam
3)	Forest, A - The Cure
4)	Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys
5)	I'm in Love With a German Film Star - The Passions
6)	I Will Dare - The Replacements
7)	That's When I Reach for My Revolver - Mission of Burma
8)	Johnny Hit and Run Pauline - X
9)	Just Like Honey - The Jesus and Mary Chain
10)	Black Celebration - Depeche Mode
11)	Tell Me When It's Over - The Dream Syndicate
12)	Hollywood (Africa) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
13)	Temptation - New Order
14)	Ghosts - Japan
15)	Song from Under the Floorboards, A - Magazine
16)	Oblivious - Aztec Camera
17)	Don't Want to Know If You're Lonely - Hsker D
18)	Rise Above - Black Flag
19)	Back in Flesh - Wall of Voodoo
20)	Cattle and Cane - The Go-Betweens
1)	Message of Love - Pretenders
2)	Vienna - Ultravox
3)	Freak Scene - Dinosaur Jr.
4)	This Charming Man - The Smiths
5)	Stigmata - Ministry
6)	Ways to Be Wicked - Lone Justice
7)	Wardance - Killing Joke
8)	Enola Gay - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
9)	Mirror in the Bathroom - The English Beat
10)	Fairytale in the Supermarket - The Raincoats
11)	Behind the Wall of Sleep - The Smithereens
12)	Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing - Minutemen
13)	Punk Rock Girl - Dead Milkmen
14)	Still in Hollywood - Concrete Blonde
15)	Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
16)	Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
17)	Lake of Fire - Meat Puppets
18)	Amplifier - The dB's
19)	When Love Breaks Down - Prefab Sprout
20)	Goo Goo Muck - The Cramps
21)	This Corrosion - The Sisters of Mercy
22)	Senses Working Overtime - XTC
1)	Cutter, The - Echo & the Bunnymen
2)	Pay to Cum - Bad Brains
3)	Birthday - The Sugarcubes
4)	Madonna of the Wasps - Robyn Hitchcock
5)	We Care a Lot - Faith No More
6)	Teen Age Riot - Sonic Youth
7)	To Hell With Poverty - Gang of Four
8)	Fa C-La - The Feelies
9)	Ana Ng - They Might Be Giants
10)	Swamp Thing - The Chameleons UK
11)	Mercy Seat, The - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
12)	I Look Around - Rain Parade
13)	All That Money Wants - The Psychedelic Furs
14)	Under the Milky Way - The Church
15)	Rise - Public Image Ltd.
16)	Kundalini Express - Love and Rockets
17)	Gravity Talks - Green on Red
18)	Adrenalin - Throbbing Gristle
19)	She Bangs the Drums - The Stone Roses
1)	Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies
2)	Uncertain Smile - The The (original 7" version)
3)	Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus
4)	Christine - Siouxsie and the Banshees
5)	Straight Edge - Minor Threat
6)	I Want to Help You Ann - Lyres
7)	Our Secret - Beat Happening
8)	Jane Says - Jane's Addiction
9)	World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope
10)	Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
11)	Sex Beat - The Gun Club
12)	Take the Skinheads Bowling - Camper Van Beethoven
13)	Institutionalized - Suicidal Tendencies
14)	Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops - Cocteau Twins
15)	24 Hour Party People - Happy Mondays
16)	I Want You Back - Hoodoo Gurus
17)	Surburban Home - Descendents
18)	Pair of Brown Eyes, A - The Pogues
19)	Jet Fighter - The Three O'Clock
20)	Moving to Florida - Butthole Surfers
21)	New England, A - Billy Bragg

Performer Notes

Personnel: Matt Piucci (vocals, guitar, sitar); Jasper Thread (vocals, guitar, accordion); Cosey Fanni Tutti (vocals, guitar, cornet); Peter Holsapple (vocals, guitar, organ); Matt Johnson (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion); Chris Cacavas, John Flasnburgh, David Faulkner, Al Jourgensen (vocals, guitar, keyboards); David Roback, Brad Shepherd (vocals, guitar, percussion); Chris Molla, Chris Stamey, Chrissie Hynde, Curt Kirkwood, D. Boon, Daniel Ash, Dave Wakeling, David Lowery, Paul John Weller, Gordon Gano, Louis Gutierrez, Grant McLennan, Jim Reid, Ian McCulloch, J Mascis, Julian Cope, Lee Ranaldo, Midge Ure , Ana Da Silva, Paddy McAloon, Pat DiNizio, Andy Partridge, Philip Chevron, Robert Forster, Robyn Hitchcock, Roddy Frame, Shane MacGowan, Steve Wynn, Thurston Moore, Barbara Gogan, William Reid, Bernard Albrecht, Bernard Sumner, Billy Bragg, Black Francis , Dan Stuart, Bob Mould, Clive Timperley (vocals, guitar); Bill Million (vocals, acoustic guitar); Glenn Mercer (vocals, electric guitar, shaker, temple blocks); Paul Westerberg (vocals, electric 12-string guitar, mandolin); Jeffrey Lee Pierce (vocals, slide guitar); Vicki Aspinall , Jonathan Segel (vocals, violin); Spider Stacy (vocals, tin whistle); John Linnell (vocals, accordion, keyboards); Genesis P-Orridge (vocals, clarinet); Einar rn (vocals, trumpet); Jeff "Monoman" Conolly (vocals, organ); Martin Gore, Paul Humphreys (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer); David Sylvian (vocals, keyboards, tapes); Mike Mariano, Jaz Coleman , Stan Ridgway, Billy Currie, Bjrk (vocals, keyboards); Andy McCluskey (vocals, synthesizer); Dennis Diken, Grant Hart, Andrew Ranken (vocals, drums); Chuck Mosley, Colin Moulding, Siouxsie Sioux, Cris Kirkwood, David J, Dez Cadena, Elizabeth Fraser, Exene Cervenka, Mark Burgess, Gibby Haynes, Gina Birch, Rodney Amadeus Anonymus, Rankin Roger, Henry Rollins, Howard Devoto, Ian Brown, Ian Curtis, Ian MacKaye, Jack Waterson, Clyde Bramley, David Gahan, Jello Biafra, John Doe , John Lydon, Johnette Napolitano, Jon King, Kim Gordon, Klaus Flouride, Lou Barlow, Lux Interior, Maria McKee, Michael Stipe , Mike Mesaros, Mike Muir, Milo Aukerman, Andrew Eldritch, Patricia Morrison, Perry Farrell, Peter Murphy, Anthony Kiedis, Richard Butler, Shaun Ryder, Steve Kilbey, Steven Roback, Victor Krummenacher, Wendy Smith, Youth , Michael Quercio, Bruce Foxton, Cait O'Riordan, Calvin Johnson (vocals); John McGeoch (guitar, 12-string guitar, Farfisa, background vocals); Ward Dotson (guitar, slide guitar); Johnny Marr (guitar, harmonica); Andrew Fletcher (guitar, drum machine); Joey Santiago (guitar, background vocals); Clint Conley, Grant Estes, Robert Smith , David Gregory, Dave Navarro, East Bay Ray, Frank Navetta, Ryan Hedgecock, Greg Ginn, Greg Lisher, Hillel Slovak, Danny McCormack, Mark "Cow" Day, James Honeyman-Scott, James Mankey , Jim Babjak, Jim Martin , John Ashton, John Squire, Karl Precoda, Kid Congo Powers, Alan Murphy, Lyle Preslar, Marty Willson-Piper, Mike Campbell , Andrew Gill, Andy Cox, Paul Leary, Peter Buck , Peter Koppes, Poison Ivy, Robin Guthrie, Roger Miller , Steve Vai, Thor Eldon, Will Sergeant, Billy Zoom, Bret Lunsford, Bob Stinson, Marc Moreland (guitar); Donald Ross Skinner (electric guitar, slide guitar); Jem Finer (banjo); Will Glenn (violin, keyboards); Karen Karlsrud, Corine Metter (violin); Henry Benagh (fiddle); Arthur Fiacco, Ann Rorich (cello); Shankar (strings); Crispin Cioe (flute, saxophone); Tommy Keane (Uilleann pipe); James Fearnley (accordion, piano); Maceo Parker, Saxa (saxophone); Benny Cowan (trumpet); Fred Wesley (trombone); Dick Cuthell (horns); Benmont Tench (piano, organ); Joe Kernich (piano); Double DeHarrison (Clavinet, organ); Ray Manzarek (organ); Chris Carter , Gillian Gilbert, Thomas Dolby, Charles T. Gray (keyboards, synthesizer); Steve Jansen (keyboards, drums, electronics); Richard Barbieri (keyboards, tapes); Andy Metcalfe (keyboards, background vocals); Dave Formula, Paul Davis , Roland Barker, Bernie Clarke, Einar Mellax, Mathieu Hartley, Roddy Bottum, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Greg Kuehn, Bruce Moreland (keyboards); Peter Christopherson (synthesizer, tapes); Awesome Welles (Synclavier); Chris Mars (drums, tambourine); Malcolm Holmes, Siggi Baldursson, Dave Ruffy, Kevin Haskins , Joe Nanini (drums, percussion); Earl Hudson, Reni , Dean Clean, Lindy Morrison (drums, background vocals); Chris Whitten, Danny Benair, Cliff Martinez, Stuart Elliot, Neil Conti, Paul Ferguson , D.J. Bonebrake , Richard Williams, Eddie Kalwa, Dennis Duck, Derrick Bostrom, Don Heffington, Everett Morton, Jeff Nelson & Covenant, Heather Lewis, Gary Whelan, George Hurley, Terry Chambers, Ginger Baker, Doktor Avalanche, Alex MacNicol, Warren Cann, Harry Rushakoff, Hugo Burnham, King Coffey, Nick Knox, Palmolive, James "Iron Head" Baker, Bill Berry , Anthony Guess, John Doyle , Budgie , Mike Joyce , Amery AWOL Smith, Morris Windsor, Murph, Paul Murphy , Pete de Freitas, Peter Prescott, Richard Ploog, Rick Buckler, Robo, Stephen Morris, Stephen Perkins , Steve Shelley, Victor de Lorenzo, Vince Ely, Will Rigby, Bill Rieflin, Bill Stevenson, Terry Graham, Martin Chambers, Bobby Gillespie, David Lovering (drums); Anton Fier (bass drum, snare drum); Bobbye Hall (tambourine); Bez (percussion, dancer); Michael Farmer (percussion); Alan Wilder (electronics); Dr. Know, Joel Virgel, Louis Kabbabie, Lord Maniac, Garry Shider, George Clinton , Darryl, Shirley Hayden, Steve Boyd, Mike Payne, Andre Williams, Pat Lewis, Barry Adamson, New York Choral Society, Robert "Billy" Johnson (background vocals).
Audio Remasterers: Dave Schultz; Daniel Hersch; Bill Inglot.
Liner Note Authors: Mark Leviton; Gary Stewart; Karen Schoemer; John Srebalus; Anthony Wilson ; Tim Scanlin; Karen Schoemer; Gary Stewart; Kathleen Billus; Steve Wynn.
Illustrator: John Seabury.
Photographers: Steve Double; Lynn Goldsmith; Fabio Nosotti; Mike Proir; Fraser Gray; Erica Echenberg; Richard "Dread" Mann; Lisa Haun; Joe Hughes ; Claudia Thompson; Ross Marino; Patricia Steur; Catherine McGann; Ebet Roberts; Pieter Mazl; Andy Freeberg; Ian Tilton; B.C. Kagan; Chris Walter; Glen E. Friedman; Glenn A. Baker; Paul Cox; George Moore ; Julian Barton; Monica Dee; Steve Jennings; Scott Weiner; Charles Peterson ; Fredrich Cantor; Virginia Turbett; Stephanie Chernikowski; Fin Costello; Tony Mottram; Sue Brisk; Kristin Callahan; Marcia Resnick; Janette Beckman; Derek Ridgers; George DuBose; Paul Slattery; Laura Levine; Simon Fowler ; Tom Sheehan .
Unknown Contributor Roles: Matt Johnson ; Bill Million.
The '80s compilation is a dicey operation; many sounds danced about in glorious contrast, and one person's nirvana is the next person's nightmare. LEFT OF THE DIAL focuses on the college radio of the era (the music that truly fostered the alternative boom of the next decade), and paints a deliriously diverse picture of an underground bursting at its seams to break through. Alongside early classics from the Replacements, Depeche Mode, and R.E.M. (and the compilation gleefully steers away from the obvious) are minor classics from Magazine and Hoodoo Gurus. And the prismatic four-disc set runs the gamut from hardcore (Minor Threat, Bad Brains) to pure pop (XTC, They Might Be Giants, the Smiths) to capture the spectral flow of the decade behind the decade.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (p.104) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[V]irtually all of these songs and recordings have held up beautifully."

Entertainment Weekly (p.69) - "[T]his is like the great college radio station that never was..." - Grade: A-

Uncut (p.94) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[I]ts 82 tracks document countless musical impulses....This eclecticism - punk's ideals brought to life - is testament to an era of idealistic, artistic oasis, one pulsing with urgency and defiance."

Alternative Press (p.98) - "[A] comprehensive compendium of the best the '80s underground had to offer."

Magnet (p.97) - "[A] success....Non-mainstream rock splintered and spiraled in a dozen compelling directions, instigating a creative boom whose aftershocks still rumble and whose epicenter deserves the kind of revisit LEFT OF THE DIAL does its best to inspire."