AMG Review of Volume, Contrast, Brilliance... Sessions & Singles, Vol. 1

Alex Ogg
All Music Guide

This is another compilation, but back in 1983 this hugely rewarding record acted as a roundup of the group's career to date and was of immeasurable value to fans. It's aged well, too, and worth hunting down for some (quite radically different) radio versions of songs, oddities, and jocular moments, including John Peel introducing "Fat Fun" and thinking aloud that those Monochrome boys might be having a pop at him. The fact that it includes a wish list of the band's best songs (with the possible exception of "The Midas Touch" and "The Mating Game") to this point in their career is another reason to recommend it. [The 1991 CD version adds two bonus tracks.]