This Is Mod - Complete CollectionReviewer: Chris Woodstra, All Music GuideThe British mod revival may have been a fad, driven by fashion and most of the time too derivative, but it did produce some fun singles. Since many of the bands that jumped on the bandwagon only released singles or poorly distributed albums for independent labels, much of this music has been hopelessly lost over the years; This Is Mod, Vol. 1 collects many of the admittedly third-rate (though enjoyable) revival bands for the first time on CD. In 21 tracks, this disc provides the nearly complete recorded output of the Circles, the Amber Squad, the Cigarettes, the Deadbeats, the Letters, the Nips, the Odds, and the Sussed (whose novelty record, "I've Got Me Parka" takes a fun look at the fad) -- with each band receiving detailed biographical sketches. For specialists and fetishists, this disc is essential. For most, it's simply excessive.
The second volume of the This Is Mod series covers more mod revivalists: the Killermeters, the Exits, the V.I.P.'s, the Crooks, the Same, Teenage Filmstars, Terry Tonik, and the Purple Hearts. Only the Purple Hearts came close to being major contenders, but all provide a fascinating look at the short-lived genre.
Volume three of the This is Mod Series focuses on the short-lived Diamond Records, a London-based label which sought to keep the mod revival on life support during the mid-'80s -- and nearly all of the label's output is here with the exception (thankfully) of the obscure Oi! band, the Business. Most of the bands, which includes the Scene, Long Tall Shorty, the Moment, the B Team, the Way Out, and the Rage, were more '60s purists than the Jam, but it's not much of a stretch to lump these groups in with their late-'70s predecessors. It is, however, hard to believe this stuff was being done as late as 1986.
Modities continues the series' exhaustive mining of mod revival rarities, ranging from the more distinctive and noteworthy Lambrettas, Merton Parkas, and the Accidents to the hopelessly obscure Directions, the Nightriders, the Onlookers, the Reputation, and the Untouchables (U.K.). As with the first three installments, this may be excessive but it sure is fun.
The strength of Modulations gains momentum with each release. This release combines a further 22 tracks of rare Mod tracks from the Mod revival period of 1979-1983, with most of the tracks appearing on CD for the first time. Acts featured include Log Tall Shorty, The Purple Hearts, The Killermeters, The Teenbeats and Amber Squad.
The Volume 6 of this mod collection takes us to America. The album features 23 tracks all taken from the Mod revival period of the early 80'sand all by bands from the U.S.A.
This Is Mod, Vol. 1: The Rarities 1979-1981Size: 55 MbBit Rate: 128 KbpsTrack List:1. Opening Up - Circles
2. Billy - Circles
3. We Can Go Dancing - Amber Squad
4. You Should See What I Do To You In My Dreams - Amber Squad
5. Can't Sleep At Night - Cigarettes
6. It's The Only Way To Live - Cigarettes
7. All I Want Is Your Money - Cigarettes
8. I've Forgotten My Number - Cigarettes
9. They're Back Again - Cigarettes
10. Choose You - Deadbeats (1)
11. Julies New Boyfriend - Deadbeats (1)
12. Oh No - Deadbeats (1)
13. Nobody Loves Me - Letters
14. Don't Want You Back - Letters
15. Happy Song - Nips
16. Nobody To Love - Nips
17. Saturday Night - Odds
18. Not Another Love Song - Odds
19. Circles - Circles
20. Summer Nights - Circles
Download This Is Mod Vol. 1This Is Mod, Vol. 2: More Rarities 1979-1982Size: 76 MbBit Rate: 256 KbpsTrack List:1. Twisted Wheel - The Killermeters
2. Sx225 - The Killermeters
3. Plane Crash - Purple Hearts
4. Scooby Doo - Purple Hearts
5. Gun Of Life - Purple Hearts
6. Fashion Plague, The - The Exits
7. Chem - The Exits
8. Need Somebody To Love - The V.I.P.'s
9. One More Chance - The V.I.P.'s
10. Stuttgart Special - The V.I.P.'s
11. Who Knows - The V.I.P.'s
12. Janine - The V.I.P.'s
13. Modern Boys - The Crooks
14. Beat Goes On, The - The Crooks
15. Wild About You - The Same
16. Movements - The Same
17. All The Time In The World - The Crooks
18. Banging My Head - The Crooks
19. Odd Man Out, The - Teenage Filmstars
20. I Apologise - Teenage Filmstars
21. Just A Little Mod - Terry Tonik
22. Smashed And Blocked - Terry Tonik
Download This Is Mod Vol. 2This Is Mod, Vol.3: A Diamond CollectionSize: 93 MbBit Rate: 192 KbpsTrack List:1. Looking For Love - Scene
2. Let Me Know - Scene
3. On The Streets Again - Long Tall Shorty
4. I Fought The Law - Long Tall Shorty
5. Promises - Long Tall Shorty
6. Something That You Said - Scene
7. Stop Go - Scene
8. In This Town - Moment
9. What's Going On - Long Tall Shorty
10. I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone - Long Tall Shorty
11. Win Or Lose - Long Tall Shorty
12. England - Long Tall Shorty
13. One Two They Fly - Moment
14. Good Lovin' - Scene
15. 2 Plus 2 What's Music - Scene
16. All I Ever Wanted - B-Team
17. Bad Day - B-Team
18. This Working Way - Way Out
19. Just The Girl - Way Out
20. Looking For You - Rage (2)
21. Come On Now - Rage (2)
22. Halleljulah - Rage (2)
Download This Is Mod Vol.3This Is Mod Vol.4: ModitiesSize: 72 MbBit Rate: 160 KbpsTrack List:1. Looking For Love - Scene
2. Let Me Know - Scene
3. On The Streets Again - Long Tall Shorty
4. I Fought The Law - Long Tall Shorty
5. Promises - Long Tall Shorty
6. Something That You Said - Scene
7. Stop Go (live) - Scene
8. In This Town - Moment
9. What's Going On - Long Tall Music
10. Stepping Stone - Long Tall Music
11. Win Or Lose - Long Tall Shorty
12. England - Long Tall Shorty
13. One Two They Fly - Moment
14. Good Lovin' - Scene
15. 2 Plus 2 What's Music - Scene
16. All I Ever Wanted - B-Team
17. Bad Day - B-Team
18. This Working Way - Way Out
19. Just The Girl - Way Out
20. Looking For You - Rage
21. Come On Now - Rage
22. I Love Her So - Rage
Download This Is Mod Vol. 4This Is Mod, Vol. 5: 1979-1983Size: 38 MbBit Rate: 128 KbpsTrack List:1. I Can't Put My Finger On You - The Amber Squad
2. Tell You A Lie - The Amber Squad
3. Why Should It Happen To Me - The Killermeters
4. Cardiac Arrest - The Killermeters
5. If You Want It - The Graduates
6. Hey Young Girl - The Graduates
7. One Way Street - The Aces
8. Why Should It Be Mine - The Aces
9. First Impressions - Small World
10. Stupidity Street - Small World
11. Tomorrow Never Comes - Small World
12. Win Or Lose - Long Tall Shorty
13. Ain't Done Wrong - Long Tall Shorty
14. Even If I Know - Sema 4
15. Messages - Sema 4
16. Actors All - Sema 4
17. Do You Know Your Friends - Sema 4
18. My Life's A Jigsaw - Purple Hearts
19. Guy Who Made Her A Star, The - Purple Hearts
20. Just To Please You - Purple Hearts
21. Strength Of The Nation - The Teenbeats
22. If I'm Gone Tomorrow - The Teenbeats
Download This Is Mod Vol. 5
This Is Mod, Vol. 6: The United States of ModSize: 53 MbBit Rate: 128 KbpsTrack List:1. Film Show - Chardon Square 65
2. Home With A View - Chardon Square 65
3. Distances Apart - The Question
4. Stare You Down - The Question
5. Easy - The Question
6. I've Seen Your Face Before - Modest Proposal
7. Nobody Says No - Modest Proposal
8. Nothing You Can Do - Manual Scan
9. American Way - Manual Scan
10. New Difference - Manual Scan
11. Anymore Jungle - Manual Scan
12. Jungle Beat - Manual Scan
13. 1/2/3, - NE1
14. Pocket Full Of Change, A - NE1
15. No Direction - Start
16. Invisible Man - Start
17. I'm Not Standing By Myself - The Edseys
18. Action Girl - The Edseys
19. I've Decided - The Edseys
20. Never Let Me Go - Dress Code
21. Something's Relly Wrong - Dress Code
22. Alcoholic - Dress Code
23. I Knew - Dress Code
Download This Is Mod Vol. 6