Way back before the '90s heyday of DIY, there was a label in England called Stiff, run by a couple of guys whose only rule was: Put out what you like. Sure, lots of labels since have said that, but most of them obviously don't have any taste. Beginning in 1976 Stiff released seven-inch slabs of wax by future stars like Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ian Dury, the Damned, Madness, and Devo, as well as more obscure artists like Wreckless Eric, the Belle Stars, Dr. Feelgood, Furniture, and even Tracey Ullman. No wonder it took four CDs to cover it all. It's like Freedom Rock for aging punks.

Susan Gale