The Stooges: Now Playing (translucent orange crush vinyl) [RHINO]

Why you'll love it

This Rhino Now Playing edition comes on translucent orange crush vinyl with a die-cut inner sleeve. Ten songs from The Stooges and Fun House make it the quickest route into the band that lit the fuse for punk.

This edition

• Translucent orange crush vinyl
• Rhino Now Playing series
• Die-cut inner sleeve
• Pressed in the Czech Republic

About the album

Progenitors of punk, The Stooges made some of the most rambunctiously abrasive celebrations of rock 'n' roll excess long before the arrival of the punk explosion in 1977. Now Playing collects material from The Stooges' groundbreaking self-titled debut and their second album, Fun House.

The band's ferocious mix of 60s garage rock and psychedelia, blues, primal distortion and raw lyricism created some of the most memorable proto-punk songs of the late 60s and early 70s, including "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and "Dirt," both of which are here. Side one sticks mostly to the 1969 debut, with "No Fun," "1969" and the snarling "Down on the Street" lined up beside it, while side two brings the Fun House heat of "T.V. Eye" and "1970" alongside the debut's "Real Cool Time" and "Little Doll." Iggy Pop prowls, Ron Asheton's guitar buzzes and roars, and Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander keep it all thumping.

Every song here was written by the band, and the Sex Pistols liked "No Fun" enough to cover it. Think of it as the starter kit, with the warning that very few people stop at the starter kit.

Also at Kops: more The Stooges on vinyl · browse Punk

Tracklist

Listen

On Elektra / Rhino (cat# RCV1 726579), the 2024 compilation.