A Brief History of the Twentieth Century

Gang of Four | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 1990)
• Original Release Date: November 6, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Ada
• ASIN: B000005JB6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,463 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. At Home He's a Tourist

2. Damaged Goods

3. Natural's Not in It

4. Not Great Men

5. Anthrax

6. Return the Gift

7. It's Her Factory

8. What We All Want [Live]

9. Paralysed

10. A Hole in the Wallet

11. Cheeseburger

12. To Hell With Poverty!

13. Capital (It Fails Us Now)

14. Call Me Up

15. I Will Be a Good Boy

16. The History of the World

17. I Love a Man in Uniform

18. Is It Love

19. Woman Town

20. We Live as We Dream, Alone

Editorial Reviews

This CD is an out of print collectible! It is the original 1990 Warner Bros. release. Catalog 26448. There is a punch hole through the UPC and the booklet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marxist punk-funk? Don't knock it until you try it., June 29, 1999

By 

David J. Crouse (Haverhill, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Brief History of the Twentieth Century (Audio CD)

The Gang of Four may be the smartest of all the punk and post-punk bands. That they are also very funky (in a sort of abrasive herky-jerky stop-start kind of way) helps too, doesn't it?

This chronological collection shows the band getting progressively more dance-oriented and poppy (or simply getting progressively worse, depending on your perspective), but even when they're using back-up singers and drum machines, there's an irony to it that's subversive and engaging. Some might even say more subversive than the earlier, more rock-oriented stuff.

I'm not sure if a rock and roll band can change how someone thinks, but if anyone can do it, it's probably these guys.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars i think i'd rather have entertainment, August 3, 2004

By 

Davy (Athens, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Brief History of the Twentieth Century (Audio CD)

gang of four were THE definitive politico-funk-punk group (was there even another one?!). this music truly sounds like none other created before or since, that i've ever heard, at least. a lot of post-punk bands can be traced back to them, and mission of burma were obviously fans, but nobody *sounds* like gang of four...syncopated minimalism, screamed lyrics, a friggin' tight-ass rhythm section...this is communism you can dance to! this particular cd is a best-of...comprised mostly of their near-flawless first two recordings, with a smattering of highlights from their unfortunate descent into new wave.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whoopee!, February 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Brief History of the Twentieth Century (Audio CD)

Like the reviewer from Penn, bloody GOF got me thru my first year of college. The most original poli-punk band of all time; their influence on music and culture is still being felt today. To see this compilation thrilled me so much I blew off buying groceries, just to once again freely indulge in Andy Gill's feedback driven loping delivery of the classic "Anthrax." One of the tightest, yet most dissonant and disjointed bands ever. I have two of their early albums, Entertainment! and Solid Gold, but they're all worn and scratchy. I wonder why? Anywho, although Solid Gold deserves a bit more recognition here, this is a very welcome, value-heavy compilation from a band that achieved in its own unique way what the Clash wished it could've been--uncompromising Mao-pop with a twist of punkyfunk chops and brazen Brit attitude that refused to sell out. Sad yet glad, ABHOT2C it's all we have. Indeed, we live as we dream, alone.