1980-86

Dicks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 8, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alternative Tentacles
• ASIN: B000000FBU
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,402 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its From The Heart, June 26, 2002

By 

Patrick T. Grady (Palatine, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1980-86 (Audio CD)

When people talk about old school Texas punk rock, people usually mention either the Dicks or the Big Boys. This CD, a sampling of the Dicks entire discography, will show you why people keep talking about the Dicks. The first 12 songs feature the original, Texas-based line-up led by vocalist Gary Floyd. This is really the best stuff on the CD. Things kick off with what is perhaps the Dicks' best known song, "Dicks Hate Police" and is a great way to start. Things only get better from there. The tracks from their split live LP with the Big Boys really rock and the stuff from their first full length, "Kill From The Heart" (originally on SST records, now long out of print) is fantastic. I only wish there was more on this CD from that album. 5 songs are just not enough for me. There is a definate touch of Texas-style blues in these songs which I really love. I hear that no one can locate the original master tapes for this album, so the chances that it'll ever be re-released are slim. Up next are the two songs from the "Peace?" single. These are the first to feature the Dicks' 2nd line up, the one Gary Floyd formed in San Francisco. Again, more great stuff. "No F*ckin' War" is just a great, great song. The next tracks are from the Dicks' 2nd (and final) LP, "These People" (originally on Alternative Tentacles). These songs, featuring the SF line-up, are all right, but I find them less interesting than the "Kill From The Heart" stuff. The only song I find completely expendable is is the final song, which again features the Texas line-up and seems like a toss off. The CD booklet is devoid of lyrics, but contains a discography and linear notes from the likes of Gary Floyd, Ian MacKaye, Klaus Flouride, Spot, Mike Watt, and Bob Mould. Essentially listening for fans of early 80's American punk and hardcore.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey man, got a quarter?, November 7, 2005

By 

crusher (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1980-86 (Audio CD)

Brutal, honest, aggressive, misanthropic, righteous and pissed. The Dicks knew how to bring it.

Gary Floyd fused hardcore anger with Texas blues, creating a messy, menacing yet utterly beautiful growl that is comparable to no one.

You don't really have a choice. Buy this CD. IF you wanna shell out some $$$ for the original LP of "Kill From the Heart," it's worth it.

I agree with other reviewers - this reissue would have been better if they'd just included ALL of "Kill from the Heart." I'd go further and say they should have included all of "These People" and both singles plus comp tracks as well. A band this legendary really deserves no less than a full discography reissue.

I disagree with other reviewers who don't care for the slower, bluesier stuff. This is Gary at his vocal best, honing his style, to later be part of the awesome Sister Double Happiness. Give it a chance.

And as much as it bugs the macho hardcore kids, The Dicks weren't just a seminal hardcore band. They were a seminal hardcore band led by an openly gay singer. It's not just shock value. It's real. Think about this next time you're watching yourself in the mirror singing along to "Young Boys' Feet," "Sh*t On Me," and "Saturday Night at the Bookstore."

Enjoy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slammin to the oldies, September 8, 2005

By 

Lorin Rivers (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 1980-86 (Audio CD)

I must rock every time I hear one of the tunes on this album. Many, many happy memories of sweat-soaked delirium (it gets rather warm here in TX--perhaps you didn't know?). These guys, and the Big Boys (RIP Biscuit), made the 80s livable for me.

Gary Floyd has an unforgettable voice-raw, pissed, powerful.

If you like this, check out Poison Idea