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The Collection - Dodgy


Year Released: 2004

Label: Spectrum

Year Bought: Can't remember

Dodgy were one of those bands kicking around in the 90s who weren't really going anywhere until Britpop took over, and then - bam. British? Play guitar? Sound a bit like the Beatles? Here you go lads, welcome to the Radio 1 A-List. 

Luckily, Dodgy did have a couple of cracking tunes, the most famous of which is 'Good Enough' - a tune that almost 30 years on is as bright, optimistic, and joyful as ever.

The three-piece always sounded like they played with smiles on their faces, with that sense of 'aren't we having a great time' as clear as a bell on songs like 'Staying Out For The Summer', 'Found You' and 'Summer Fayre'.

This 18-song release is not a singles collection, as there are omissions such as 'If You're Thinking Of Me' (the group's second-highest charting single), nor is it a best of. 

At least, I hope it's not a best of. If the Balaphon-A-Bing Bong Immigrant Mix of b-side 'The Elephant' is among the best 18 songs they ever did then that's pretty worrying. 

Same with a pointless note-for-note cover of 'Revolution'. Trust me lads, you didn't need to cover the Beatles. Pretty much every song on here sounds like the Beatles.  I was expecting a yellow submarine to sail out my speakers during the outro of 'Grand Old English Oak Tree'.

The big ballad on the record is 'Grassman' which gets the full kitchen-sink production treatment, complete with a female vocalist at the end delivering an indie version of 'The Great Gig In The Sky'.

At 18 songs, this is far too long, but there are some good songs on here I'd completely forgotten about. 'Water Under The Bridge' is a well-produced tune (thanks to Ian Broudie) with some great Who-style vocal harmonies.

'A Summer's Day in Mid January' is very Kinks/Small Faces, with wall-of-sound acoustic guitars and lyrics referencing the Norfolk Broads.

Not a brilliant collection, but if you're in the mood for some deep-dive 90s Britpop nostalgia, it's Good Enough. 

(Sorry about that.)

6/10




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