Customer Reviews

Swords of a Thousand Men

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't provide song samples for the this double-CD set so, unless you're familiar with Tenpole Tudor, you're buying blind. Their sound can best be described as Fred Schneider of The B-52s ("What You Doing In Bombay") meets Adam & The Ants ("Let The Four Winds Blow") with a dash of Big Audio Dynamite ("Conga Tribe" & "Tenpole 45") and George Thoroughgood & the Destroyers ("It's Easy To See") thrown in for good measure. Which is one reason TT never hit it big - from the anthemic rock of "Swords Of A Thousand Men" and "It's Easy To See" to the incredibly infectious "What You Doing In Bombay" (which would be right at home on any B-52s album) to the country-tinged "Love And Food" to the total inanity of "Wunderbar," this band is all over the musical map. Although TT is usually regarded as a punk band, there's none of the disaffected rage of the Sex Pistols or The Clash. As the upbeat TT didn't take their band's image at all seriously, this is a group that would have found its true calling as England's punk-rock version of The Monkees (complete with TV show). Their musicianship is another matter entirely - it's virtually flawless. If your music collection contains any Adam and the Ants, Wreckless Eric, Bow Wow Wow, Plastic Bertrand, or Big Audio Dynamite, then this double-CD set (containing almost their entire catalogue) deserves a place of honor in your CD carousel.

I was actually searching for a compilation that included Tenpole Tudor's version of Rock Around The Clock and came across this release. My album only has about half of these songs, but I also have 2 of their 45's. I love this group and their lyrics are hilarious and clever(favorite cut "Love And Food")...I highly recommend this and will have to buy it on CD now! Now if I could only find that compilation-"We Did 'Em Our Way".

Ten Pole Tudor, probably the most underrated group of all time. The sheer quality of Ed Tudor Poles' voice mixed with some banging beats, guitar reps and other sounds makes Ten Pole Tudor stand out. After hearing the album i could not think of a better album that anyone has done. With the incredibly catchy 'Swords Of A Thousand Men' and the great track 'Wonderbar'. Who knows why they didn't make it big all over the world. I want to make it my goal to bring Ten Pole Tudor back, so they can entertain us with more legendary music of theirs. Bravo!

Sadly, his work from "The Great Rock 'n Roll Swindle" is not included her (you can find that on the "Swindle" soundtrack) , but "Wunderbar," "Three Bells" and "Throwin My Baby Out w/ the Bath Water" are (which are also available in The Stiff Record Box Set). But it's great to hear a BODY of work for someone who was so little known in the states. Since ordering this double-disc, it hasn't left my CD player. It stands up impressively to present-day artists. It's filled with great songs and great humor. I am particularly smitten by the title track, "Swords of a Thousand Men." Worth every penny.

I have listened to this group from the days as a a youth till my present age into my 3O's and I, till this day, find this album as one of the greatest displays of musical abillity of my generation. Not many people know of this group ,but once they listened, all would sing their praise -----AMEN!

I have listened to this group from the days as a a youth till my present age into my 3O's and I, till this day, find this album as one of the greatest displays of musical abillity of my generation. Not many people know of this group ,but once they listened, all would sing their praise -----AMEN!

If you're not familiar with Tenpole Tudor, then I really can't do them justice by trying to explain them here. If you like rock-a-billy, Adam Ant, ska, Buzzcocks-style punk, etc, then do yourself a favor and get this album. Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary is good too.

Good Rock, great band, great lyrics, these guys are just having fun and you can hear it. If you like good, driving British Rock, you must own this!

Alan

I'd give the compilation three stars if it were not for the nostalgia factor, which is worth the fourth (including a little credit for comprehensiveness).

If you are really looking for late 70's punk or even 90's pseudo, punk-wanna-be, this ain't it. Swords of a Thousand Men is a gem, and I'd suspect the most popular single the band ever turned out. (Though, I remember it differently from the 45, which I must dig out and replay as a refresher.) Bath Water, Wunderbar, Four Winds, Love and Food (B side off the Thousand Men single) are all great tracks and there's a solid lineup of songs to back those up.

However, I cannot help but feel that some of these tracks verge on British country (and Western?) music; that bothers me. I enjoy the album and expect the laser to wear grooves in it, at which point I'll stick it on the record player. However, I'd hesitate to recommend this album to those who've not heard Tenpole Tudor before.

Now . . . where's that 45 . . ..

Sean