Babes in Arms (album)

1983 compilation album by MC5

Babes in Arms

Compilation album by

MC5

Released| 1983
Genre| Proto-punk[1]
Label| ROIR[2]
Producer| Wayne Kramer
MC5 chronology
| High Time
(1971)  | Babes in Arms
(1983)  | Do It
(1987)

|
|

Babes in Arms is a compilation album by the American rock band MC5, released in 1983.[3][4] Originally released on only cassette, it has been reissued several times.[5][6]

## Production

[edit]

The album was assembled by guitar player Wayne Kramer.[7] It contains remixes and alternate versions of songs, early singles, and an unreleased track.[4] "Looking at You" was produced by John Sinclair prior to the recording of Kick Out the Jams.[8] "Kick Out the Jams" is included in its uncensored form; "Shaking Street" appears in an acoustic version.[9][5] "I Can Only Give You Everything" is a cover of the Them song.[10] "Gold" was recorded after the release of High Time.[11]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [12]
Chicago Sun-Times| [11]
Robert Christgau| A−[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [14]
Los Angeles Daily News| [15]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [7]
Spin Alternative Record Guide| 8/10[16]
Martin C. Strong| 5/10[6]

Robert Christgau noted that "the raw songcraft and new-thing chaos of Detroit's other great protopunk band were further ahead of their time than it seemed five years ago."[13]

The Boston Globe called the album "a concise glimpse into the career of the fiercest band of the '60s," writing that "Rob Tyner was endowed with a volcanic set of lungs, which he needed to rise above the shrill but blessed sound of guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred 'Sonic' Smith."[10] The Los Angeles Daily News determined that "this well-put-together testimonial to MC5's raw power sounds even better today."[15]

The Boston Herald concluded that Babes in Arms "captures the raw energy of the now seminal Motor City band better than any of its albums from the late 60's and early '70s."[17] The Tampa Tribune considered it "perfectly on the line between the sloppy excess of the Five live show and the sometimes thin and ordinary studio records."[18]

AllMusic deemed the album "a howling, furious blast of what made the MC5 one of the finest (and most dangerous) American rock bands of the 1960s."[12] The Spin Alternative Record Guide pointed out that the MC5 "borrowed openly enough from black influences to make a person wonder at the bleaching of alternative in the years that followed."[16]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Shaking Street"|
2.| "American Ruse"|
3.| "Skunk (Sonically Speaking)"|
4.| "Tuttie Fruttie"|
5.| "Poison"|
6.| "Gotta Keep Moving"|
7.| "Tonite"|
8.| "Kick Out the Jams"|
9.| "Sister Ann"|
10.| "Future Now"|
11.| "Gold"|
12.| "I Can Only Give You Everything"|
13.| "One of the Guys"|
14.| "I Just Don't Know"|
15.| "Looking at You"|

## References

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1. ^ Cogan, Brian (2006). Encyclopedia of Punk Music and Culture. Greenwood Press. pp. 120–121.
2. ^ Callwood, Brett (October 15, 2010). MC5: Sonically Speaking : a Tale of Revolution and Rock 'n' Roll. Wayne State University Press.
3. ^ Heylin, Clinton (May 1, 2005). From the Velvets to the Voidoids: The Birth of American Punk Rock. Chicago Review Press.
4. ^ a b "MC5". Trouser Press. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
5. ^ a b Siclier, Sylvain (June 13, 2006). "MC5 Babes in Arm". Culture. Le Monde. p. 29.
6. ^ a b Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate U.S. p. 972.
7. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 461–462.
8. ^ Waksman, Steve (May 2, 2001). Instruments of Desire: The Electric Guitar and the Shaping of Musical Experience. Harvard University Press.
9. ^ The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. October 15, 2003.
10. ^ a b Reed, John (October 8, 1998). "MC5 Babes in Arms". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 8.
11. ^ a b McLeese, Don (June 15, 1990). "CD Archives". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 63.
12. ^ a b "MC5 Babes in Arms". AllMusic.
13. ^ a b "MC5". Robert Christgau.
14. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5\. MUZE. p. 596.
15. ^ a b Shuster, Fred (January 30, 1998). "MC5/'Babes in Arms'". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L25.
16. ^ a b Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 244–245.
17. ^ Johnson, Dean (May 3, 1998). "Classic Cuts". Arts & Lifestyle. Boston Herald. p. 42.
18. ^ O'Neill, Mike (March 13, 1998). "MC5, Babes in Arms". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.

* v
* t
* e

MC5

* Wayne Kramer
* Fred "Sonic" Smith
* Rob Tyner
* Michael Davis
* Dennis Thompson

* Handsome Dick Manitoba

Studio albums|

* Back in the USA
* High Time
* Heavy Lifting

Live albums|

* Kick Out the Jams
* Teen Age Lust

Compilation albums|

* The Big Bang!: Best of the MC5

Song|

* "Kick Out the Jams"

Film|

* MC5: A True Testimonial

Related bands|

* Destroy All Monsters
* Sonic's Rendezvous Band
* The New Order
* New Race

Related articles|

* John Sinclair
* White Panther Party

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