Oh Yes We Can Love: The History Of Glam Rock

Ok, let's start with the Gary Glitter 'thing'.Other reviewers suggest Glitter's absence from what is actually an excellent collection chronicling the singular world of glam rock, somehow entirely invalidates the 80-odd other tracks here. I very strongly disagree.The reasons why Glitter is absent are both understandable and right given the very serious nature of his crimes. And by the way, the compilers do include Angel Face by the Glitter Band, thus giving an entirely respectable nod to early 70's glam - the very same territory occupied by the (solo artist) Gary Glitter.So, what about the rest of this generous collection? Well, the first thing to say is it's about time someone did a decent and comprehensive retrospective of one of the most vibrant, joyous and, yes, sometimes slightly daft, indeed camp, musical genres. This is unquestionably the best collection of glam rock out there and I suspect it won't be bettered for many years to come.What makes this set so good is the way the evolution of glam rock is explored and probed. The very first track is 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen' by Noël Coward and, yes, I know at this point you're thinking what I was thinking when I first saw this was the suggested, or perhaps more accurately, implied 'start' of glam rock - crazy! But, somehow, when you listen to Coward's clipped and stylised tones, followed by the remaining CD's in this collection, right up to modern day artists like Morrissey and Goldfrapp, then beginning with an arch English playwright, actor and singer, isn't crazy at all. It actually seems right.It was a brave step by the people who put this box set together to commence with a song that is really associated with music hall, for I suspect they knew some would just turn away right there. But I am happy to tell you, here is one reviewer who urges you to stick with this collection for it will reward you handsomely. The compilers take you through a truly magical voyage of crunching chords and distinctive double drumming that is unmistakably all 'glam'.It is simply not possible to comment on all the tracks here but I can say this; there is such variety one will certainly never get bored with this collection. It's also worth noting that although some artists in the collection are not perhaps labelled 'glam', their rightful inclusion demonstrates that, for all the sniffiness that is sometimes thrown at it, serious and highly influential musicians like Bowie, Mick Ronson, Lou Reed and Elton John were all proud to write and perform 'real' glam rock.So, if you want to explore a brilliant musical style that remains, in my view, as relevant as any other out there, then buy this box set. Oh and yes, almost all of the songs on this 5-disc set will bring a big, wide smile to your face. Enjoy.

Yes, omitting Gary Glitter was a serious oversight.However, that being said, many critics of this box set on the history of glam are avoiding the truth about glamSure, there were some great highly listenable classic albums, like Ziggy Stardust, Electric Warrior, and Desolation BoulevardBut, other than these and a few others, in a more minor way, the rest of glam was overly simplistic, repetitive, and only listenable in small dosesThis box set reviews a broad history of glam, it's roots, and it's evolution, and it does a good job, and makes a fairly good case that some early Chuck Berry and Little Richard influenced glam in a significant wayAnyone who wants to enjoy the best of glam should listen to the aforementioned albums by Bowie, T-Rex, and Sweet, and look up a very limited few, but reasonable, works which fit this genreThe aim of this box set is to provide a thorough history, and other than missing Gary Glitter, it does a fairly good job in this respectThe only suggestion is that people be in the mood when they listen to the 5 discs, and for heavens sakes, listen in small doses, as too much sugar can get nauseating and lead to cavities!

Some oddities, some surprises, some standard stuff that you will have a million times already - but together with the nice booklet this, makes a great collection.

Great gift.

First of all I would like to say that this box set makes a decent fist of covering what was a fairly diverse genre and all sorts of artists that went with it. And with a collection such as this, there was always going to be those disappointed that certain tracks or artists were ommitted. Even the compilers of this set in the accompanying book stated that, in putting all these tracks together, they looked forward to the debate it would inspire. And I for one would have loved for Rock & Roll part 2 to have been included but lets be brutally honest with ourselves here - we knew that no way was this (or any other GG track) going to be included and we all know why! So lets just get over it and feast on everything else thats here (and there is plenty of it!). This should in no way ruin the party for everybody else that appears here and there are some great memories here. The box set itself is of good quality - it is in exactly the same format/style that the 10cc Tenology box was put together for those interested in that sort of thing. The music is by and large great but I don't like every single track that is on there - but thats my personal taste! So four stars I think is fair and it would be churlish to give it a miserly 1 or 2 stars just because one track (or artist) is 'ommitted'. Oh yes, we can get over it!

I don't know about the last disc but overall, this is a fabulous comp for novices or those who lived through it the first time. Well worth the money!CD 11. Mad Dogs And Englishmen - Noël Coward2. Around And Around - Chuck Berry3. Ooh My Soul - Little Richard4. Brand New Cadillac - Vince Taylor & Ses Play-Boys5. Gurney Slade - Max Harris6. Bee-Bom - Anthony Newley7. Jealousy - Billy Fury8. You'll Be Mine - Howlin' Wolf9. Amsterdam - Jacques Brel10. I'm Waiting For The Man - The Velvet Underground11. London, Bye, Ta Ta - David Bowie12. 1969 - The Stooges13. Lola - The Kinks14. Neanderthal Man - Hotlegs15. Burundi Black - Burundi Black16. Back Street Luv - Curved Air17. Charity Ball - Fanny18. Magpie - The Murgatroyd Band19. Son Of My Father - Chicory Tip20. Hot Love - T. Rex21. Coz I Luv You - SladeCD 21. All The Young Dudes - Mott The Hoople2. Walk On The Wild Side - Lou Reed3. Virginia Plain - Roxy Music4. Metal Guru - T. Rex5. Crazy Horses - The Osmonds6. Andy Warhol - Dana Gillespie7. Can The Can - Suzi Quatro8. Looking For A Kiss - The New York Dolls9. This Flight Tonight - Nazareth10. Ballroom Blitz - Sweet11. Dance With The Devil - Cozy Powell12. Rock On - David Essex13. Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad) - Wizzard14. Bennie And The Jets - Elton John15. Dancin' (On a Saturday Night) - Barry Blue16. My Coo Ca Choo - Alvin Stardust17. The Man Who Sold The World - Lulu18. Growing Up And I'm Fine - Mick Ronson19. Judy Teen - Cockney RebelCD 31. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us - Sparks2. Tell Him - Hello3. Tiger Feet - Mud4. Bish Bash Bosh - The Jook5. The 'In' Crowd - Bryan Ferry6. Piss Factory - Patti Smith7. Tumbling Down - Cockney Rebel8. Angel Face - Glitter Band9. The Bump - Kenny10. Sugar Baby Love - The Rubettes11. Only You Can - Fox12. Rock And Roll All Nite - Kiss13. A Glass Of Champagne - Sailor14. Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Album Version) - Ian Hunter15. I Love Rock 'N' Roll - The Arrows16. Saturday Night - Bay City RollersCD 41. Rip Her To Shreds - Blondie2. Ships In The Night - Be-Bop Deluxe3. Cherry Bomb - The Runaways4. Rockaria! - Jeff Lynne5. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - Ramones6. The Crunch - Rah Band7. OK? - Rock Follies8. Rockwrok - Ultravox!9. New York Groove - Ace Frehley10. Take On The World - Judas Priest11. Rasputin - Boney M.12. Valley Of The Dolls - Generation X13. Rock 'N' Roll / Night Clubbing - The Human League14. The Light Pours Out Of Me - Magazine15. Antmusic - Adam & The Ants16. Solid Gold Easy Action - Department S17. Ziggy Stardust - Bauhaus18. That's The Way (I Like It) - Dead Or AliveCD 51. Love Missile F1-11 - Sigue Sigue Sputnik2. Up Around The Bend - Hanoi Rocks3. Emma - The Sisters Of Mercy4. Glamorous Glue - Morrissey5. Metal Mickey - Suede6. Glam-Racket - The Fall7. Glam Rock Cops - Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine8. Everybody Up! - The Glam Metal Detectives9. Star - Saint Etienne10. The S.A.S. And The Glam That Goes With It - Earl Brutus11. To Earth With Love - Gay Dad12. The Dope Show - Marilyn Manson13. We Are The Boys - Pulp14. Growing On Me - The Darkness15. Strict Machine - Goldfrapp16. Clamour For Glamour - The Ark17. Unstoppable - Foxy Shazam

Diese liebevoll ausgestattete und solide hergestellte 5-CD-Box schlägt einen weiten Bogen um das Thema Glamrock von der Herleitung begonnen bei den Extravaganzen eines Noel Coward über Little Richard ins London der 60er Jahre mit einem jungen David Bowie, den Kinks, sogar den Hotlegs bis hin zur Hochzeit des Glamrock in der ersten Hälfte der 70er Jahre. Dort begegnen dem Hörer auf Plateausohlen und geschminkt viele alte Bekannte: T.Rex natürlich, Sweet, Slade, Mott The Hoople, Wizzard, Cockney Rebel - die Party Helden der Jugend jener Zeit, Hitmusik mit ganz viel Attitüde. Auch unbekanntere Interpreten wie The Arrows, The Jook, und die Rah-Band sind vertreten und machen die Box so zur Entdeckungsreise in bisher kaum Gehörtes. Der Bogen schließt sich zum Kreis durch einen Bezug zur Jetztzeit mit Marilyn Manson oder The Darkness. Hörenswert, macht Vergnügen, eine schöne Sache für die Ohren und die Erinnerung.

The first disc is a bit of a mess, but the other four are outstanding.

Fantastic box set. Booklet is a highlight with tons of information. Great retrospective of the glam era. Sound (remastering) is awesome.

this is a must for fans of the UK 70's glam/glitter scene, which was sadly ignored by U.S. radio at the time; it was America's loss..you'll get months of enjoyment (and knowledge) out of owning this set..