Let's get the bad news out of the way first: this CD sports (pun partially intended) one of the ugliest album covers in musical history. Apart from that, there's nothing else on this CD that can be faulted, especially the fantastic tuneage found inside. The Sports were one of Australia's most... [+] Expand

Let's get the bad news out of the way first: this CD sports (pun partially intended) one of the ugliest album covers in musical history. Apart from that, there's nothing else on this CD that can be faulted, especially the fantastic tuneage found inside. The Sports were one of Australia's most exciting "new wave" exports during the late '70s, although the band's musical roots were buried knee-deep in classic rock & roll tradition. Vocalist Stephen Cummings was often compared to the various "angry young men" that dominated all the critics' lists during this time (Graham Parker, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, etc.), but his delivery was more frantic and excited than his pissed-off counterparts. The band's musical interplay was as important as Cummings' vocals, with Andrew Pendlebury's distinctive fretwork leading the way. Through four albums of varying quality, the Sports fought the good fight but ultimately fell apart when they couldn't match the success of their sophomore release, Don't Throw Stones (one of only two albums released in the U.S.). This collection compiles the best singles, a few album tracks, and alternate recordings, creating a fun stroll through the musical history of one of Australia's pub rock greats. "Who Listens to the Radio," the band's worldwide hit, remains lyrically relevant (and musically vibrant) a quarter of a century later, but is by no means the only great song the band has ever recorded. That honor can also be bestowed upon a handful of songs contained here: "Reckless" (the U.S. version), "Strangers on a Train," "Suspicious Minds" (not a cover of the Elvis classic), and "Don't Throw Stones" are equally tasty slices of power-pub rock that earned virtually no airplay outside of Australia. The recording of "When You Walk in the Room" included here (recorded for a U.K. EP) is outstanding, and much better than the original album version (from the Aussie-only Reckless album). There are a few fouls among the home runs here, including "Black Stockings (For Chelsea)," but they are hardly worth dribbling about. Puns intended. ~ Stephen SPAZ Schnee, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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