The Fall – Singles 1978-2016 (2017)

Joining the ranks of the six-disc The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004 and the five-disc The Fall Box Set, Singles 1978-2016 is another ambitious repackaging of the seemingly endless catalog of Mancunian post-punk institution the Fall, collecting seven CDs’ worth of tracks from their countless singles and EPs. The first three discs (also released separately as A-Sides 1978-2016) present the A-sides in order, from “Bingo-Master” (which was actually the second track from the group’s 1978 debut EP, Bingo-Master’s Break-Out!) to 2016’s “Wise Ol’ Man.” The first disc contains the group’s most abrasive, confrontational singles for labels like Step Forward and Rough Trade, ending up during the group’s most accessible period, when leader Mark E. Smith’s then-wife Brix Smith was a major contributor to the band’s sound, and Beggars Banquet was releasing their records. Disc two continues with this era, including their hit…

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…covers of R. Dean Taylor’s “There’s a Ghost in My House” and the Kinks’ “Victoria,” then runs until the late ’90s, including some of the group’s occasional forays into dance music. The tracks on disc three often have more of a raw, garage rock-influenced sound, but there’s still plenty of bizarreness, such as the synth-heavy Record Store Day single “Victrola Time.”

The remaining four discs focus on B-sides, again in chronological order. These include plenty of tracks that are entirely crucial to the band’s oeuvre, including “Repetition” and “No Bulbs” — considering how many times these songs have been anthologized before, it might be easy to forget that they initially appeared as B-sides. The set includes a detailed booklet displaying all of the singles’ artwork, label scans, track lists, and recording information, listing every last format of each release and mentioning any additional promo items, such as the miniature tequila bottle that came with the promo 7″ of the band’s cover of the Big Bopper’s “White Lightning.” It also reveals that not every single B-side is present on this set — plenty of remixes, alternate versions, live takes, and non-album cuts are omitted, particularly from the EPs and multi-format releases. Also, 1981’s Slates 10″ is apparently considered an LP rather than an EP, and is unrepresented.

Including everything would have required at least ten discs, and while most hardcore fans would probably prefer it this way, what’s most important is that nearly everything here is brilliant. Highly recommended for anyone with the urge to plunge deeper into the Fall’s tremendous body of work.

Disc 1: Singles 1978-1985

1. Bingo-Master
2. It’s the New Thing
3. Rowche Rumble
4. Fiery Jack
5. How I Wrote ‘Elastic Man’
6. Totally Wired
7. Lie Dream of a Casino Soul
8. Look, Know
9. The Man Whose Head Expanded
10. Kicker Conspiracy
11. Marquis Cha-Cha
12. Oh! Brother
13. C.R.E.E.P.
14. Draygo’s Guilt
15. Couldn’t Get Ahead
16. Cruiser’s Creek

Disc 2: Singles 1986-1996

1. Living Too Late
2. Mr. Pharmacist
3. Hey! Lucian!
4. There’s a Ghost in My House
5. Hit the North Part 1
6. Victoria
7. Jerusalem
8. Cab It Up
9. Telephone Thing
10. Popcorn Double Feature
11. White Lightning
12. High Tension Line
13. Free Range
14. Ed’s Babe
15. Why Are People Grudgeful?
16. Behind The Counter
17. 15 Ways
18. The Chiselers

Disc 3: Singles 1998-2016

1. Masquerade
2. Touch Sensitive
3. F-‘oldin’ Money
4. Rude (All The Time)
5. Susan Vs. Youthclub
6. (We Wish You) A Protein Christmas
7. Theme From Sparta F.C. #2
8. Distilled Mug Art (Mix 15)
9. I Can Hear The Grass Grow
10. Reformation (Uncut)
11. Slippy Floor (Mark Mix)
12. Bury! #2+4
13. Laptop Dog
14. Victrola Time
15. Sir William Wray (Single Mix)
16. The Remainderer
17. Wise Ol Man

Disc 4: B-Sides 1978-1984

1. Psycho Mafia
2. Repetition
3. Various Times
4. In My Area
5. 2nd Dark Age
6. Psykick Dancehall #2
7. City Hobgoblins
8. Putta Block
9. Fantastic Life
10. I’m Into C.B.
11. Ludd Gang
12. Wings
13. Room To Live
14. God-Box
15. O! Brother

Disc 5: B-Sides 1984-1986

1. Pat-Trip Dispenser
2. C.R.E.E.P
3. Clear Off
4. No Bulbs
5. Rollin’ Dany
6. Petty (Thief) Lout
7. L.A.
8. Vixen
9. Hot Aftershave Bop
10. Living Too Long
11. Lucifer Over Lancashire
12. Auto Tech Pilot
13. Entitled
14. Shoulder Pads #1B

Disc 6: B-Sides 1987-1999

1. Haf Bound Bormann
2. Hit The North Part 2
3. Tuff Life Booogie
4. Acid Priest 2088
5. Dead Beat Descendant
6. British People In Hot Weather
7. Butterflies 4 Brains
8. Zandra
9. Blood Outta Stone
10. Xmas With Simon
11. Everything Hurtz
12. Pumpkin Head Xscapes
13. Glam Racket
14. War
15. Hey! Student
16. The $500 Bottle Of Wine
17. Chilinist
18. Masquerade (PWL Mix)
19. Touch Sensitive (Dance Mix)
20. Antidote

Disc 7: B-Sides 1999-2016

1. Perfect Day (New Version)
2. I Wake Up In The City
3. Janet Vs. Johnny
4. (We Are) Mod Mock Goth
5. My Ex Classmate’s Kids (Live)
6. I Wake Up In The City (Mix 5)
7. Clasp Hands
8. Over Over (Rough Mix)
9. Hot Cake – Part 2
10. Cowboy Gregori
11. Cosmos 7
12. Monocard (Lunatic Mix)
13. Taking Off (Live)
14. Jetplane
15. Hittite Man (Single Mix)
16. Amoratori
17. All Leave Cancelled