Mark Deming of AllMusic gave the compilation four stars out of five, saying that it succeeds "for the most part" in presenting a coherent picture of the Damned's initial run, and that the chronologically ordered tracking portrays the group as "constantly growing and evolving, mutating from speed-addled punk marauders into a surprisingly radio-friendly blend of pop, goth, and hard rock at journey's end."[1] While criticizing the inclusion of the 17-minute "Curtain Call" as desirable only to rabid fans, he remarked "this collection not only serves the band's history quite well, but also the evolution of their profile in the world of music from upstarts to veterans of the pop charts."[1]
Track listing
Disc 1
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Length
1.
"New Rose" (from "New Rose", 1976, included on Damned, Damned Damned, 1977)
Dave Vanian – lead vocals on all tracks except "Silly Kids Games"
Brian James – guitar and backing vocals on tracks from "New Rose", Damned Damned Damned, "Stretcher Case Baby", and Music for Pleasure
Captain Sensible – bass guitar and backing vocals on tracks from "New Rose", Damned Damned Damned, "Stretcher Case Baby", and Music for Pleasure; guitar, keyboard, and backing vocals on tracks from Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album, "Lovely Money", and Strawberries; lead vocals on "Silly Kids Games"
Rat Scabies – drums and backing vocals on all tracks; guitar on "Drinking About My Baby"; synthesizer on tracks from Strawberries
Lu Edmonds – guitar on tracks from Music for Pleasure
Algy Ward – bass guitar and backing vocals on tracks from Machine Gun Etiquette
Paul Gray – bass guitar and backing vocals on tracks from The Black Album, "Lovely Money", and Strawberries
Roman Jugg – keyboard on tracks from Strawberries and Anything; guitar on tracks from Phantasmagoria, "Eloise", and Anything
Bryn Merrick – bass guitar and backing vocals on tracks from Phantasmagoria, "Eloise", and Anything
Additional musicians
Lol Coxhill – saxophone on tracks from Music for Pleasure