Rating:
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 11/03/1998

Two-CD, 40-song compilation that draws from all of their albums (including the ones from the 1990s) and a couple of early EPs, throwing in eight previously unreleased live performances, demos, and remixes (as well as the 7" single version of "To Hell With Poverty"). Although this is only two discs, it opens itself up to the usual box set criticisms. It's likely that anyone who has followed Gang of Four has already picked up the albums they want, and will thus need to shell out more money than they want for a bunch of not-too-essential rarities. For those who just want a compilation, the single-disc Brief History of the Twentieth Century is better and more economical, even though it has no '90s material. Most puzzling is the decision to present the tracks out of chronological sequence, meandering from 1979 to the 1990s and back again while visiting all points in between. All this taken into consideration, there's a lot of music here that Gang of Four fans will consider among the band's most essential, and the package is made more appealing with a 52-page booklet that has a lengthy band history by noted British punk historian Jon Savage.

~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

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Gang of Four - Group
Gang of Four - Producer
Gang of Four - Main Performer
Alyson Williams - Vocals (Background)
Gail Ann Dorsey - Vocals (Background)
Howard Albert - Producer
Ron Albert - Producer
Dave Allen - Bass
Dave Allen - Vocals
Dave Allen - Producer
Greg Allen - Photography
Jon Astrop - Bass
Hugh Brown - Photography
Hugo Burnham - Percussion
Hugo Burnham - Drums
Hugo Burnham - Vocals
Hugo Burnham - Producer
Hugo Burnham - Assistant
Dave Clarke - Vocals (Background)
Jimmy Douglass - Producer
Chuck Kirkpatrick - Vocals (Background)
Andrew Gill - Bass
Andrew Gill - Guitar
Andrew Gill - Drums
Andrew Gill - Vocals
Andrew Gill - Producer
Andrew Gill - Assistant
Steve Goulding - Drums
Dan Hersch - Remastering
Mike Howlett - Producer
Bill Inglot - Remastering
Stevie Lange - Vocals (Background)
Stevie Lange - Research Assistant
Nick Launay - Producer
Steve Monti - Drums
Gary Peterson - Discographical Annotation
Frank Tontoh - Drums
Brenda White - Vocals (Background)
Joy Yates - Vocals (Background)
Alfa Anderson - Vocals (Background)
Rick Walton - Producer
Dave Axford - Drums
Jon King - Vocals
Jon King - Melodica
Jon King - Producer
Jon Savage - Liner Notes
Rob Warr - Producer
Paula West - Vocals (Background)
Patrick Milligan - Project Director
Sara Lee - Bass
Sara Lee - Vocals
Norma Edwards - Editorial Research
Steven Chean - Editorial Supervision
Anton Corbijn - Photography
Pennie Smith - Photography
Steve Woolard - Research Assistant
Rick Brodey - Compilation Producer
Fran Pelzman - Photography
Michael Johnson - Discographical Annotation
Lisa Haun - Photography
Deborah Schow - Photography
Martin Ford - Drums
Andy Corrigan - Photography
Hiromi - Vocals (Background)

Bouncing Off the Satellites
    The B-52's / CD / 1986
A Brief History of the Twentieth Century
    Gang of Four / CD / 1990
Add It Up (1981-1993)
    Violent Femmes / CD / 1993
In the Pink
    The Psychedelic Furs / CD / 1996
Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology
    Devo / CD / 2000

Release Date: 11/03/1998
Genre: rock