Customer Reviews

Greatest Stiffs

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Finally, the awesome work of Wrecless Eric is collected on one CD. It has been worth the wait. After years of scrounging together my Wreckless Eric fix from Stiff compilations and soundtracks it all on one CD.This CD is filled with gems from Eric's hits, "The Whole Wide World" and "Semaphore Signals" to the more obscure "Walkin on the Surface of The Moon" and "Veronica". Like his precursor, Vic Damone, Eric gives us love songs, nothing but love songs all in the inimitable Stiff Records style. These songs are simple but so complicated. A must-buy!

There's no way Eric Gould, aka Wreckless Eric, could have come from anywhere but England and, if you're looking for some sort of musical touchstone or point of reference, think of him as Ian Dury's little brother on a sugar high. Originally signed to the greatest label ever, Stiff, Eric's quirky little songs were 2-1/2 minute blasts of manic pop madness. All of his best moments are included here, from his pledge of undying devotion in "Whole Wide World" to "Take The Cash (K.A.S.H.)" to "Walking On The Surface Of The Moon." An essential glimpse at a more innocent and certainly more fun point in the history of rock and roll, before video, image obsession, and product endorsements sounded its death knell.

On one fine day way back in the spring of 1981, One of my roomates at Colorado State University brought a new record into the house. Wreckless Eric "Whole Wide World".

Who in the hell ever heard of Wreckless Eric? We surely had the only copy of this album in the entire city of Fort Collins, and the whole state for that matter.

It took about 13 seconds ( and a couple of bong hits) to realize that what we had was something wonderfully weird. The gravelly voiced little urchin could really play that classic Richenbacher guitar.

We loved it, but most of our friends thought it (...). We played this (...) thousands of times anyway. I still have my vinyl copy of Whole Wide World. I've been waiting for years for someone to have the inelligence to re-release this wonderful (...) on CD. Al the favotites are on this totally (...)-up and glorious package of MUSIC! Get this CD today. It just makes you happy.

Rock On Eric Goulden.

This is some love. All heart. I wish he was my boyfriend and these songs were about me.

I would like to give this CD 5 stars (lets face it there were so many better records made at the time that are simply classic), but I always remember Wreckless Eric with fond memories. In the late 70's, I found a brown vinyl 10" EP burried in the back of my local record store on Main Street (remember those things?). I discovered Wreckless Eric, finding his vocals and music facinating. I subsequently bought all the vinyl released by him and just recently while filling my new Zune, I decided I had to add him. Eric created a raw, pub room pop that I could just envision at a local pub in seedy inter-city section of England in 1979. I know Wreckless Eric could never have been a top of the charts kind of artist, but for a raw pop sound that is just down right great to listen to, the late Wreckless one is worth spending a couple of bucks.

Back in the day when Stiff Records had a solid niche in the English "new wave," Wreckless Eric was the court jester on the label; providing some quirky twists in social commentary that made for solid singles, though he became easy to dismiss as a novelty act.

This is a collection of his work for the record label and shows what made a neat 45 rpm was tough to sustain over an entire album. But with the focus on creating some fun stuff, Wreckless Eric proved to be needed relief from the arty seriousness that became all the rage after the collapse of punk rock.

What a great find! Normally, I hate pop music. It's repetitive, thoughtless and boring, but I like this. It lacks in complexity, but the tunes get stuck in your head and keep you singing along, even after the album is finished playing. Eric's not much of a singer, but when was that ever a prerequisite for punk singers?? Learning that Ian Dury was teamed up with Eric in the early years was just a bonus for me. Take the Cash! Take your cash and buy this album. While you're at it, check out Ian Dury and the Blockheads, "New Boots and Panties!!!"New Boots & Panties (Reis) (Dlx)

Wreckless Eric at his very best. This cd contains all his hits, if you are looking for something alternative to the mainstream stuff of the 80's then try Wreckless Eric.

Reading a previous review, makes me want to share the fact that very few of my friends every heard of Wreckless Eric.
I bought I listened and I enjoyed all of the music on both albums.......'whole wide world' & 'big smash'.....
had one friend in particular who enjoyed this music along with all the Stiff artists.....at the time.

I couldn't get enough
Can't wait til I get the CD and crank it up...

Don

brains wit humor personality soul. great tunes. the very best of wreckless eric. what are you waiting for?