New York in 1975 was a far cry from the cultural, bustling metropolis it is today. The city was in the depths of a financial crisis, strikes and slowdowns crippled most public services leading to an estimated 58,000 tons of rubbish on the streets, and crime rates soaring. Add into the melting pot a serial killer on the loose known as Son Of Sam, power cuts leading to looting and arson, and you have the perfect recipe for disenchanted citizens to take matters into their own hands and forge something new.
Out of this chaos emerged a new kind of club in one of the cheapest areas of Downtown Manhattan, below 14th St, which over time radiated towards an ethos of anything goes, a world apart from the traditional rock norms of elongated guitar solos and pomposity. Initially booking Country, Blue Grass and Blues artists (CBGBs) when it opened at 315 Bowery, that idea was given short shrift by a blossoming scene of musicians inspired by avant-garde composers, a rejection of traditional pop and rock, and fuelled by a desire to create something exciting and futuristic.
Within the first fifteen months of opening, CBGBs had seen Television, The Ramones, Blondie, Patti Smith and Talking Heads grace the stage, although it wasn’t exactly the kind of music owner Hilly Crystal wanted to book “No one is going to like you guys but I’ll have you back” he told Joey Ramone, At Television’s first gig in 1974 they shared a bill with country singers Elly Greenberg and Erik Fransen, in line with Kristal’s remaining vision to book country artists, yet with the new modern rock crowd, the beers flowed and most nights the place was packed!
This compilation pulls together some of the major players who played live between 1975 and 1986 with some who maybe only had a few gigs or singles but who were still a part of the influential NY music scene during that time, plus touring artists from out of town whose musical ethos fitted in with CBGBs vision. However, what truly made CBGBs thrive, was that is was a place where everyone and anyone could go with a diverse mix of pioneering artists from all genres and backgrounds, as Patti Smith said “Hilly wanted the people that no one else wanted”.
With one hundred and one tracks across four CDs, there’s plenty here for your ears to enjoy. Highlights for me include Suicide’s ‘Ghost Rider’ which is as mean and moody as the Bowery streets of the late 70’s, all fuzzed guitars and pummelling drums, and the much underrated Rat At Rat R with their edgy track ‘Assassin; which blasts out of the speakers as eerie and ominous as the mean mid 80’s NY streets after dark. Bands like Bad Brains and Heart Attack (featuring Jesse Malin) provide invigorating hardcore tunes, elsewhere former Labelle member Nona Hendryx gives us a synth powered, funk slab of brilliance on ‘Transformation’, The Bush Tetras ‘Things That Go Boom In The Night’ is an apocalyptic piece of post punk delights and Sonic Youth’s timeless pioneering tune ‘The World Looks Red’ exemplifies the No Wave scene of the early 80’s.
Last time I was in NY I went back to CBGBs, now a clothes store with some remnants of the old club still on the walls, another great lost music venue which sadly couldn’t be saved from commerce, yet although the name and logo have become synonymous with the NY of the late 70’s/early 80’s, I doubt that when the likes of Television, Blondie, Suicide, The Ramones and Sonic Youth played there back in the day, with the smell of urine from the often broken toilets permeating the air, and the damp graffiti strewn walls reverberating to the sounds of the day, that one day the venue’s name would be emblazoned on t-shirts in high street clothes shops around the world.
In the 1980’s CBGBs found most of the initial bands who found fame under its roof had moved on, as their audiences grew, bigger venues beckoned, but still the following years found bands from all over the globe playing this legendary club right up to its closure in 2006. You may think you know what CBGBs is all about, yet this 4 CD box set shines a light on the rarely told stories behind the club, and the plethora of bands whose music shone brightly, if only for a brief moment, in addition to the bands who went on to influence generations of musicians many years after they played here.
Sometimes the music centred around a city, at a particular point in time, takes on a significance which only becomes apparent many years later. CBGBs was the grass roots venue of its era in NY, allowing bands to take their early steps into live music, and as grassroots music venues, across the UK in particular, often struggle to keep the doors open, brilliant compilations like this are a timely reminder of what a music venue brings to a city. A sublime box set which captures perfectly the city’s rich musical heritage.
CBGB A New York City Soundtrack 1975-1986: Out 30th January 2026 (Cherry Red)
From the early days of creating handmade zines, in a DIY paper and glue style, interviewing bands around town, then pestering Piccadilly Records to sell them, to writing for various independent mags such as Chimp and Ablaze, writing about the music I love is still a great passion. After testing the music industry waters in London with stints at various labels, being back in my hometown again, writing about this city’s vibrant music scene is as exciting as ever. All time favourite bands include Sonic Youth, Nick Cave, Patti Smith although anything from electro to folk via blues and pysch rock will also do nicely too. A great album, is simply a great album, regardless of whatever musical cage you put it in.
