Brinsley Schwarz - Thinking Back, The Anthology 1970-1975 [2023] (7 x CDs)

BRINZLEY SCHWARZ

Brinsley Schwarz - Thinking Back, The Anthology 1970-1975 [2023] (7 x CDs)

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to the 1970s, a time when the English pub rock band Brinsley Schwarz was making some serious waves in the music scene. In the vibrant music scene of the 1970s, the English pub rock band Brinsley Schwarz carved out a unique space. Named after their guitarist, the band was a musical collective that included talents like Nick Lowe on bass and vocals, keyboardist Bob Andrews, drummer Billy Rankin, guitarist Brinsley Schwarzand and later, Ian Gomm on guitar and vocals. Their journey began as the 1960s pop band Kippington Lodge, but they soon evolved into something much more.

While the name Brinsley Schwarz might not ring a bell for many, their influence on the late '70s and early '80s music scene is undeniable. With original recordings of hits like “Cruel To Be Kind” and “(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” they left an indelible mark on the industry. These songs found success elsewhere as re-recordings, but it was Brinsley Schwarz and Bob Andrews who were the driving force behind them. They were also key members of Graham Parker and The Rumour during their peak.

Between 1970 and 1974, Brinsley Schwarz released six albums, showcasing their hidden talent. On November 24, 2023, Lemon Recordings (Via Cherry Red UK) released a 7CD Box set, “Thinking Back, The Anthology 1970-1975,” which includes all their albums and a seventh one recorded in 1975 but not released until 1988. This anthology also features 62 bonus tracks, including live cuts, outtakes, and other rarities, many of which were previously unreleased.

Brinsley Schwarz may not have invented pub rock, but they certainly defined it, paving the way for punk in the mid-'70s. Their anthology charts their journey from tentative folk-rockers to boisterous house rockers, anchored by the pure pop smarts of Nick Lowe. Lowe’s big hit “Cruel to Be Kind” was first attempted by the Brinsleys, and his song “(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” was turned into a standard by Elvis Costello, the band’s number one fan.

The band’s collective spirit is evident throughout their music, whether it’s the earnest material styled after the Band or the rollicking, funny rockers that kept them flying high through the 1970s. Their sound was streamlined and hardened by Dave Edmunds, resulting in a radio-ready record that never found the radio. Yet, they’re more than a historical footnote. Brinsley Schwarz made wonderful, openhearted rock & roll that still sounds robust and raucous years later, cementing their legacy as progenitors of punk.

So, while they might be a footnote in history for some, to me, Brinsley Schwarz is a band that made heartwarming, foot-tapping rock & roll that still gets your head bobbing years later. They’re the unsung heroes and their music legacy lives on. Rock on, Brinsley Schwarz! (B)

Included in this set are the following:

CD1 Brinsley Schwarz [1970] + 9 Bonus Tracks

CD2 Despite It All [1970] + 7 Bonus Tracks

CD3 Silver Pistol [1972] + 7 Bonus Tracks

CD4 Nervous On The Road [1972] + 7 Bonus Tracks

CD5 Please Don’t Ever Change [1973] + 11 Bonus Tracks

CD6 The New Favourites Of Brinsley Schwarz [1974] + 11 Bonus Tracks

CD7 It’s All Over Now (Recorded in 1975) [1988] + 11 Bonus Tracks

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Track lists

CD1

01 Brinsley Schwarz - Hymn To Me 4:51

02 Brinsley Schwarz - Shining Brightly 3:38

03 Brinsley Schwarz - Rock And Roll Women 3:18

04 Brinsley Schwarz - Lady Constant 7:24

05 Brinsley Schwarz - What Do You Suggest 4:46

06 Brinsley Schwarz - Mayfly 4:37

07 Brinsley Schwarz - Ballad Of A Has Been Beauty Queen 10:29

08 Brinsley Schwarz - Thinking Home 2:44

09 Brinsley Schwarz - Girl In Spanish Lace 2:35

10 Brinsley Schwarz - Thinking Back 3:27

11 Brinsley Schwarz - Seymour (I Love You) 4:37

12 Brinsley Schwarz - Funk Angel 4:39

13 Brinsley Schwarz - Crime Of Passion 7:22

14 Brinsley Schwarz - Murder On My Mind 3:45

15 Brinsley Schwarz - Mortorway Madness 3:12

16 Brinsley Schwarz - Rock And Roll Station 4:42

CD2

01 Brinsley Schwarz - Country Girl 3:11

02 Brinsley Schwarz - The Slow One 5:34

03 Brinsley Schwarz - Funk Angel 4:22

04 Brinsley Schwarz - Piece Of Home 6:18

05 Brinsley Schwarz - Love Song 4:11

06 Brinsley Schwarz - Starship 2:41

07 Brinsley Schwarz - Ebury Down 5:15

08 Brinsley Schwarz - Old Jarrow 7:16

09 Brinsley Schwarz - Intro (Live,London,1972) 1:06

10 Brinsley Schwarz - Country Girl (Live,London,1972) 3:12

11 Brinsley Schwarz - She's Got To Be Real (Live,London,1972) 3:34

12 Brinsley Schwarz - Home Work (Live,London,1972) 2:54

13 Brinsley Schwarz - Going Down The Road (Live,London,1972) 6:01

14 Brinsley Schwarz - Midnight Train (Live,London,1972) 4:24

15 Brinsley Schwarz - Private Number (Live,London,1972) 3:53

CD3

01 Brinsley Schwarz - Dry Land 2:44

02 Brinsley Schwarz - Merry Go Round 4:11

03 Brinsley Schwarz - One More Day 2:56

04 Brinsley Schwarz - Nightingale 3:06

05 Brinsley Schwarz - Silver Pistol 3:36

06 Brinsley Schwarz - The Last Time I Was Fooled 4:05

07 Brinsley Schwarz - Unknown Number 2:56

08 Brinsley Schwarz - Range War 2:35

09 Brinsley Schwarz - Egypt 5:24

10 Brinsley Schwarz - Niki Hoeke Speedway 3:30

11 Brinsley Schwarz - Ju Ju Man 3:37

12 Brinsley Schwarz - Rockin' Chair 2:22

13 Brinsley Schwarz - The Old Country 3:14

14 Brinsley Schwarz - That's What It Takes 3:56

15 Brinsley Schwarz - Stranger Feeling 2:40

16 Brinsley Schwarz - One More Day (Live,London,1972) 2:59

17 Brinsley Schwarz - Unknown Number (Live,London,1972) 2:50

18 Brinsley Schwarz - Range War (Live,London,1972) 2:23

19 Brinsley Schwarz - Silver Pistol (Live,London,1972) 3:42

CD4

01 Brinsley Schwarz - It's Been So Long 2:08

02 Brinsley Schwarz - Happy Doing What We're Doing 4:45

03 Brinsley Schwarz - Surrender To The Rhythm 3:26

04 Brinsley Schwarz - Don't Lose Your Grip On Love 4:25

05 Brinsley Schwarz - Nervous On The Road (But Can't Stay At Home) 4:59

06 Brinsley Schwarz - Feel A Little Funky 5:09

07 Brinsley Schwarz - I Like It Like That 3:07

08 Brinsley Schwarz - Brand New You 4:40

09 Brinsley Schwarz - Home In My Hand 2:56

10 Brinsley Schwarz - Why,Why,Why,Why,Why 3:50

11 Brinsley Schwarz - What Would You Do (Live,Amsterdam,1972) 5:13

12 Brinsley Schwarz - Nervous On The Road (But Can't Stay At Home) (Live,London, 1972) 5:12

13 Brinsley Schwarz - It's Just My Way Of Saying Thank You (Live,London, 1972) 6:34

14 Brinsley Schwarz - Wonder Woman (Live,London, 1972) 4:03

15 Brinsley Schwarz - I'm Ahead If Ican Quit While I'm Behind (Live,London, 1972) 4:22

16 Brinsley Schwarz - Surrender To The Rhythm (Live,London, 1972) 3:47

17 Brinsley Schwarz - Home In My Hand (Live,Paris, 1972) 5:17

CD5

01 Brinsley Schwarz - Hooked On Love 2:32

02 Brinsley Schwarz - Why Do We Hurt The One We Love? 3:47

03 Brinsley Schwarz - I Worry (`'bout You Baby) 2:58

04 Brinsley Schwarz - Don't Ever Change 3:47

05 Brinsley Schwarz - Home In My Hand 5:27

06 Brinsley Schwarz - Play That Fast Thing (One More Time) 4:24

07 Brinsley Schwarz - I Won't Make It Without You 4:19

08 Brinsley Schwarz - Down In Mexico 3:48

09 Brinsley Schwarz - Speedoo 2:31

10 Brinsley Schwarz - The Version (Hypocrite) 3:02

11 Brinsley Schwarz - Hypocrite (As The Hitters) 3:02

12 Brinsley Schwarz - I Should Have Known Better (As Limelight) 3:14

13 Brinsley Schwarz - Tell Me Why (As Limelight) 3:02

14 Brinsley Schwarz - Run Rudolph Run (Live,Newcastle,1973) 3:20

15 Brinsley Schwarz - It's Been So Long (Live,Cardiff,1974) 1:58

16 Brinsley Schwarz - Happy Doing What We're Doing (Live,Cardiff,1974) 4:30

17 Brinsley Schwarz - You're So Fine (Live,Cardiff,1974) 2:38

18 Brinsley Schwarz - Hip City (Live,Cardiff,1974) 3:18

19 Brinsley Schwarz - Trying To Live My Life Without You (Live,Cardiff,1974) 3:33

20 Brinsley Schwarz - Small Town Big City (Live,Cardiff,1974) 5:03

21 Brinsley Schwarz - Honky Tonk (Live,Cardiff,1974) 2:27

22 Brinsley Schwarz - Ju Ju Man (Live,Cardiff,1974) 5:07

CD6

01 Brinsley Schwarz - (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love And Understanding 3:35

02 Brinsley Schwarz - Ever Since You're Gone 4:06

03 Brinsley Schwarz - The Ugly Things 2:49

04 Brinsley Schwarz - I Got The Real Thing 3:35

05 Brinsley Schwarz - The Look That's In Your Eye Tonight 4:12

06 Brinsley Schwarz - Now's The Time 2:07

07 Brinsley Schwarz - Small Town Big City 4:31

08 Brinsley Schwarz - Trying To Live My Life Without You 3:25

09 Brinsley Schwarz - I Like You, I Don't Love You 3:28

10 Brinsley Schwarz - Down In The Dive 4:53

11 Brinsley Schwarz - Cried My Last Tear 2:36

12 Brinsley Schwarz - (It's Gonna Be A) Bringdown 2:56

13 Brinsley Schwarz - I'll Be Doggone (Live,Tilburg,1974) 3:10

14 Brinsley Schwarz - Love Is Gone (Live,Tilburg,1974) 2:21

15 Brinsley Schwarz - Don't Lie To Me (Live,Tilburg,1974) 2:34

16 Brinsley Schwarz - Save The Last Dance For Me (Live,Tilburg,1974) 4:02

17 Brinsley Schwarz - I Ain't Never (Live,Sheffield,1974) 3:11

18 Brinsley Schwarz - Hey Bartender (Live,Sheffield,1974) 3:09

19 Brinsley Schwarz - Brown Sugar (Live,Sheffield,1974) 3:50

20 Brinsley Schwarz - Hooked On Love (Live,Cardiff,1974) 3:02

21 Brinsley Schwarz - (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love And Understanding (Live,Cardiff,1974) 3:27

CD7

01 Brinsley Schwarz - We Can Mess Around 3:02

02 Brinsley Schwarz - Cruel To Be Kind 2:47

03 Brinsley Schwarz - As Lovers Do 3:53

04 Brinsley Schwarz - I'll Take Good Care Of You 3:58

05 Brinsley Schwarz - Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song) 3:15

06 Brinsley Schwarz - Do That Cod (The Thirty Pounder) 2:24

07 Brinsley Schwarz - God Bless (Whoever Made You) 3:57

08 Brinsley Schwarz - Everybody 2:38

09 Brinsley Schwarz - Private Number 3:47

10 Brinsley Schwarz - Give Me Back My Love 3:43

11 Brinsley Schwarz - It's All Over 3:24

12 Brinsley Schwarz - There's A Cloud In My Heart (As The Brinsleys) 3:06

13 Brinsley Schwarz - You've Been Cheatin' (Live,Groningen,1975) 3:12

14 Brinsley Schwarz - You Ain't Living Until You're Lovin' (Live,Groningen,1975) 2:41

15 Brinsley Schwarz - Walking The Dog (Live,Groningen,1975) 2:26

16 Brinsley Schwarz - Snatch It Back And Hold It (Live,Groningen,1975) 2:31

17 Brinsley Schwarz - Play That Fast Thing (One More Time) (Live,Groningen,1975) 4:34

18 Brinsley Schwarz - We Can Mess Around (Live,Groningen,1975) 2:47

19 Brinsley Schwarz - I Have Cried My Last Tear (Live,Groningen,1975) 2:16

20 Brinsley Schwarz - Cruel To Be Kind (Live,Groningen,1975) 2:47

21 Brinsley Schwarz - Please Don't Ever Change (Live,Koln,1975) 3:57

22 Brinsley Schwarz - Don't Lose Your Grip On Love (Live,Koln,1975) 4:38

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