Where Are All the Nice Girls? [Import, Original recording remastered]

Any Trouble | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 12, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Stiff
• ASIN: B000KZRKNA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #749,609 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Any Trouble was an underappreciated bright spot on Stiff Records, a label which had no shortage of talented artists. Each of their four albums revealed a songwriter of unique talent and a more-than-capable band to execute the songs. This remastered re-release of their 1980 debut includes new sleeve notes from the band and for the first time it includes the original version of the debut single b-side. Singer/songwriter Clive Gregson later produced a number of highly rated solo albums and collaborations with Christine Collister before relocating to Nashville, most recently as a member of Nanci Griffith's Blue Moon Orchestra. 14 tracks including 'Yesterday's Love', 'Second Choice', 'Romance', 'Turning Up The Heat' and more. Stiff. 2007.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A forgotten great on the Stiff roster, August 16, 2007

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Where Are All the Nice Girls (Audio CD)

Unlike many of their label-mates on Stiff Records, Any Trouble didn't get a major label distribution deal when their debut album made its first appearance. The result was this little gem got buried in the independent world of small distribution, while Wreckless Eric and Lene Lovich (to name two) got the headlines. 'Tis a shame that had to happen. Because like Squeeze, The Records, and even Elvis Costello, Any Trouble made witty and intelligent pop. This was their debut album and it stands above many of the better known flash in the pans of the period.

"Where Are All The Nice Girls" bristles with the self effacing pop of lead singer Clive Gregson, and his bespectacled appearance drew many comparisons to Elvis Costello. The trick was Gregson replaced Costello's rancor with a world weariness that sparkles on "Second Choice" and "Girls Are Always Right." It was almost like a group of folkies had decided to up the guitars to 90 mph and blister the hell out of their fingers (witness "The Hurt").

They were also smart enough to cover Springsteen AND Abba (though their version of "The Name Of The Game" is bumped from this CD) and figure out the verisimilitude. "Where Are All The Nice Girls" was Any Trouble's shining moment, because their second album lacked the debut lp's bite, their eventual major label swan song on EMI had them ill advisedly reforming as a synth band, and Gregson's eventual solo career with the likes of Richard Thompson drifted him away from pop. Take this "Nice Girl" home, and to heart.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Lost Classic on CD (At Last)!, February 1, 2003

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Where Are All the Nice Girls (Audio CD)

Unlike many of their label-mates on Stiff Records, Any Trouble didn't get a major label distribution deal when their debut album made its first appearance. The result was this little gem got buried in the independent world of small distribution, while Wreckless Eric and Lene Lovich (to name two) got the headlines. 'Tis a shame that had to happen. Because like Squeeze, The Records, and even Elvis Costello, Any Trouble made witty and intelligent pop. This was their debut album and it stands above many of the better known flash in the pans of the period.

"Where Are All The Nice Girls" bristles with the self effacing pop of lead singer Clive Gregson, and his bespectacled appearance drew many comparisons to Elvis Costello. The trick was Gregson replaced Costello's rancor with a world weariness that sparkles on "Second Choice" and "Girls Are Always Right." It was almost like a group of folkies had decided to up the guitars to 90 mph and blister the hell out of their fingers (witness "The Hurt").

They were also smart enough to cover Springsteen AND Abba (though their version of "The Name Of The Game" is bumped from this CD) and figure out the verisimilitude. "Where Are All The Nice Girls" was Any Trouble's shining moment, because their second album lacked the debut lp's bite, their eventual major label swan song on EMI had them ill advisedly reforming as a synth band, and Gregson's eventual solo career with the likes of Richard Thompson drifted him away from pop. Take this "Nice Girl" home, and to heart.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here are all the Nice Songs, December 28, 2007

By 

Beatle Boy (Scotia, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where Are All the Nice Girls (Audio CD)

I had this album on vinyl and it was always one of my absoulute favorites from the "New Wave" era. Great lyrics and terrific hooks in the songs. A pop music smorgasborg and the extra songs are like icing on a perfect cake and I still think that "Second Choice" is one of the catchiest tunes of it's era. Along with Squeeze,the Records and the Jags,Any Trouble is one of my favorite new wave bands along with Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe and of course, Elvis Costello. They were the real followers of the Beatles.