Various – No Wave

No. 06087 is my records number wonder if theres lower numbered ones

it's a pity that this collection gave a meaningful name to a famous style that was out of the mainstream and did not cave in popularity ... I suggest a slogan (you can add a sticker to the cover) not NO WAVE, but pop-rock ...))

Why is everyone so confused? These acts are gathered here as they were all signed to A&M in the States circa 78, so it's a sampler of their 'New Wave' acts. At this time the term No Wave was hardly known outside NYC and 'New Wave' itself was just coming into use, though originally Malcom McClaren was using it as he preferred it to 'Punk Rock' (which was already in use) as 'New Wave' has French modernist connotations (it was first used for French Films in the early sixties, then British experimental literary Science Fiction in the mid to late sixties) as Situationism - McClaren's key influence - was French. It's a good little album, with great stuff from The Stranglers, the best Squeeze single, the best Police single and Stewart Copeland's novelty
'Punk' hit as Klark Kent. The Joe Jackson stuff is Ok, The Secret are the weakest and The Dickies are fun if infantile. Love it, myself...

On the shrink wrap a hype sticker reads: HEY VINYL JUNKIES... THIS RECORD'S MADE OUT OF SPECIAL COLOURED VINYL THAT KINDA LOOKS LIKE WATER Printed in U.S.A. SP-4728.

Bought this when it came out - the name was just a play on "New Wave" - I doubt any of the suits knew anything about the Downtown scene. Traded it for T Rex - Light of Love first pressing. Never regretted getting rid of it. Though the Dickies are priceless.

What’s weird about this release is it’s a US label but the bands on the record are from the UK and No Wave was probably just becoming a thing in NYC right around the time this record was put out. A very misleading album indeed. Seems like someone was taking a piss. Record sounds awesome though and has some great songs so let it be.

Not really No Wave. But give them credit for putting the Dickies on a compilation with some fairly mainstream acts.

Anyone know if the promo version was ever issued w/o the cover? I have a copy that is housed in a thick clear poly envelope.

The people who put this compilation together obviously had no idea what No Wave was. Most likely a bunch of middle aged record execs threw this together and slapped that name on it in the hopes that they could cash in on something they heard the kids talking about. Not a single song or performer included here was even remotely related to the No Wave genre/movement.