The Fall – Hip Priest And Kamerads (1985)

On a visit to Stamford yesterday, I popped into Oxfam, to see their CD wares, and had to think about this one. On the one hand, it's a compilation of their output on Kamera Records, drawing lots from Hex Enduction Hour and they want a fiver, on the other, there may be something I don't have in the bonus tracks. No contest.

So what's here? Well, there are three songs from Hex - The Classical, Fortress and Hip Priest, and a couple from its follow up Room To Live (watch this space, I also bought that yesterday, another story) - Room To Live and Hard Life In Country, together with four tracks from the singles of that era The Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul / Fantastic Life (a personal favourite) and Look, Know / I'm Into CB. Nothing there that you wouldn't want to hear any day of the week.

There are also (which I used to justify buying this) live versions of Who Makes The Nazis, Just Step Sideways, Mere Pseud Ed Mag, Jawbone And The Air Rifle, as well as a full fifteen minutes of And This Day, every one of these worth the listen and up to the album versions.

Did I need this? Of course not. Am I glad I bought it? You bet. It's a fine compilation, which might be worthy of a five star rating, but for the self imposed rules which don't allow live albums or compilations that honour.

Link to album tracks

4* - a superb compilation showcasing the mighty Fall live and in the studio 1981-83