pvc. 6903 / 8 tracks / 1983

F: closer records. cl 0008 / 8 tracks / 1983

RI (LP, CD): restless records. 7 71147-1 / 11 tracks / 1988

RI (10”, CD) (UK): overground. over 76 / 8 tracks / 1998

RI (CD): triple x. 51265-2 / 8 tracks / 2000

PVC press: Printed inner sleeve. Test pressings with test press labels. Closer press: Different cover & no inner sleeve. CD rerelease on Closer in the late 80s, no bonus tracks. Restless reissue: Reverses A and B sides and adds tracks of the Gigantor 7” and I’m Okay… Overground press on 10”, green vinyl, back to 8 tracks, same sleeve like the PVC press but no black edge.

Sort of a “comeback” LP; the both sides show the band in different stages of their development. The A side (recorded in 1980) is much in the vein of the second LP - fast, witty pop punk - and has some of their best and catchiest songs (actually, all four are hits). The B side songs (recorded in 1983) are calmer and have a slicker production, still the songwriting is great and songs like Stuart, Stukas or Pretty Please Me are definitely top notch material, too.  I just wish they had played them a bit faster and rougher. [9]

Die beiden Seiten dieser LP wurden in verschiedenen Studios und zu verschiedenen Zeiten (1980 und 1983) aufgenommen, was sich auch recht deutlich im Sound niederschlägt: Die ältere A-Seite ist noch ganz im Stil der 2. LP, die B-Seite ist wieder ein Stück ruhiger und glatter; man hört natürlich immer noch, daß es die Dickies sind; daher ist selbstverständlich auch diese Platte uneingeschränkt empfehlenswert.

Tracks: // [Restless version:]// pretty please me / wagon train / if stuart could talk / stukas over disneyland // i’m okay, you’re okay / bedrock barney / gigantor / rosemary / she’s a hunchback / out of sight, out of mind / communication breakdown