Review of D.I.Y.: Teenage Kicks: UK Pop 1 (1976-79)

This is really a joy to listen to. So many classic tracks on this compilation. Somewhere between Punk's inspiration and pop's dance ability there were many wondrous pop/rock classics written in the late 70's and a lot of them are here, including the best Pub-Rock/Punk anthem ever from 'Eddie & the Hot Rod's' with "Do Anything you wanna do", the most singalongable song from 77' with 'Tom Robinson Band's' "2-4-6-8 Motorway", the yobbish almost punk stylings of the 'Skids' 'Into the Valley' which kicks off with one of the best opening bass lines in punk/pop history to the completely incomprehensible but insanely singalongable chorus line, the bubbly frantic fun of the 'Rezillo's' "Top of the Pops", the unbelievably wonderful 'Undertones' "Teenage Kicks" (John Peel's favorite record) which is probably worth the price of admission all on it's own, the sexy pulsating punk/pop of 'XTC's' "This is Pop" and the first signs of the huge talents to come from the team of Difford/Tilbrook with the 'Squeeze's' "Take me I'm yours".

Hey I could single out every single track here. This was a time when the '45' was king and that little 7" piece of vinyl had a special place in all our hearts. A truly magical time in the post-punk era showing the best of what the U.K. had to offer. You can't go wrong with this compilation.