Brinsley Schwarz didn’t invent pub rock, but they did define the genre that paved the way to punk in the mid-’70s. A seven-disc box set that effectively acts as the band’s complete recorded works — there are surviving live tapes circulating elsewhere, but this has all the studio material — “Thinking Back: The Anthology 1970-1975” charts their journey from tentative folk-rockers bearing an evident debt to CSNY to boisterous house rockers anchored by the pure pop smarts of Nick Lowe.
Although Lowe would later come to fame — his big hit “Cruel to Be Kind” was first attempted by the Brinsleys on “It’s All Over Now”, a scrapped 1975 album included here — the songwriter wasn’t quite the group’s leader: it was named after lead guitarist Brinsley Schwarz, and guitarist/vocalist Ian Gomm also contributed tunes and vocals.
That collective spirit is evident throughout “Thinking Back”, whether it’s on the goofy, earnest material styled after the Band or on the rollicking, funny rockers that kept them flying high through the 1970s. Once they met Dave Edmunds, he streamlined and hardened their sound, resulting in a radio-ready record that never found the radio. Instead, its opening track, Lowe’s “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” was turned into a standard by Elvis Costello, the band’s number one fan, which helped cement Brinsley Schwarz’s legacy as progenitors of punk. This set shows they’re more than a historical footnote: they made wonderful, openhearted rock & roll that still sounds robust and raucous years later.
Comprehensive 7CD clamshell box set that contains all of the original six albums as well as the ‘It’s All Over Now’ album that was recorded in 1975 but not released until 1988. Also included are unreleased tracks from the Warner vaults as well as live recordings and rarities from band member Ian Gomm who is also providing a mass of rare/unseen images from his archive as well as contributing to the sleeve notes.
CD1 features the band’s eponymous debut album as well as three previously unreleased tracks from the Warner vaults and rare studio recordings from Ian Gomm’s archive.
CD 2 features the band’s sophomore album ‘Despite It All’ that is accompanied by live tracks recorded at The Roundhouse in London in 1972.
CD 3 features the band’s third album ‘Silver Pistol’ and also has three rare tracks that were recorded for the album but didn’t make the final cut, there is also more live recordings from The Roundhouse in 1972.
CD 4 features the band’s fourth album ‘Nervous On The Road’ and also has live recordings from Amsterdam in 1972, Paris in 1973 and more from The Roundhouse in 1972.
CD 5 features the band’s fifth album ‘Please Don’t Ever Change’ as well as singles recorded as The Hitters and Limelight, along with live recordings from Newcastle in 1973 and Cardiff in 1974.
CD 6 features the band’s final official album ‘The New Favourites Of Brinsley Schwarz’ which includes one of Nick Lowe’s most famous songs ‘(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding’, with bonus live tracks from gigs in Sheffield, Tilburg and Cardiff, all in 1974.
CD 7 features the album ‘It’s All Over Now’, recorded in 1975 but not released until 1988. Bonus material includes the band’s last ever single, billed as The Brinsleys as well as live recordings from Groningen in 1975 as well as Koln in March 1975, recorded just nine days before the band broke up.
Remembered today mostly as the band that gave Nick Lowe his start, these British pub-rockers sizzled onstage. This 7-CD set tells their story.
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