QUADROPHENIA: SONGS FROM THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

I saw the violent "Quadrophenia" film where the mods and the rockers went head to head with lots of brutal bashings and there was lots of language, attitude and downright nasty stuff, especially the massive battle royale on the beach. It starred Sting and a very young Toyah so is a real curio when it comes to it. Oh yes, that's right there was also a swag of 60s music on this and it was good enough to warrant purchasing the CD so I did.

The Who were the backbone of the whole movie; their music has the right amount of attitude and teenage angst capturing perfectly the 60s generation. The first few songs on this album are simply bone jarring mod rock. 'I Am The Sea' and 'The Real Me' are the definitive highlights. After this we get 'I'm One', '5:15', 'Love Reign O'er Me', 'Bell Boy' and I've Had Enough' among others. Pretty good Who numbers that are hard to find on other albums.

The unusual thing about this album is the small collection of 60s classics that are represented here. The classics from legendary soul master James Brown, the swinging sounds of The Kingsmen, The Cascades, those female harmonies from The Chiffons, The Ronettes and The Crystals. To be honest these 60s number one hit wonders are always on 60s compilations and are super easy to find so nothing special to hear them here.

However, I was delighted to get hold of one of the greats that I first heard on "The Blues Brothers" movie, 'Green Onions' by the fabulous Booker T. & The M.G.'s. It doesn't get much cooler than this instrumental, and that wonderful Hammond sound is delicious.

The booklet with the CD is full of movie pix and is quite a piece of memorabilia. Overall I have to rate this album quite low as I have rarely return to it, and if I do the skip button is worked overtime. But here it is in all its glory; a representation of the great magical 60s. Nothing prog about it at all, apart from the first three songs in a sense, but it's still great music.