http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008SK41QS/?tag=imwan-20

Seven Days in Sammystown / Happy Planet / The Ugly Americans in Australia (Double CD) (RVCD-359)

Raven presents on a great value Double CD, three original, innovative albums by the highly regarded group WALL OF VOODOO: Seven Days in Sammystown (I.R.S., 1985), Happy Planet (I.R.S. 1987) and The Ugly Americans in Australia (I.R.S., 1988). These unique albums have been long unavailable and are ripe for re-evaluation. Wall of Voodoo emerged from the late 1970s Los Angeles alternative scene with a unique blend of machine-age junk music and off-kilter pop-rock. Like Devo, Wall of Voodoo’s sound was always challenging and entertaining or as once described, “like classy Halloween music, scary but pleasantly so”. Featuring Stan Ridgway as front man, the group made a big splash with clattering, expressive pop songs such as ‘Back in Flesh’, ‘Call of the West’ and the unlikely hit single ‘Mexican Radio’.

There was great intelligence at work and a bite to the music that continued when Ridgway left to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Andy Prieboy. Third album Seven Days in Sammystown yielded the hit single ‘Far Side of Crazy’ while the fourth Happy Planet boasted a demented re-working of the old Beach Boys fave ‘Do It Again’. The band was particularly popular in Australia which is where the rambunctious live album The Ugly Americans in Australia was recorded while they were on tour. Also available on Raven by Wall of Voodoo Dark Continent / Call of the West (2-for-1) (RVCD-309) and Stan Ridgway solo Mosquitos... Expanded (RVCD-355). With 140 minutes of superb audio, 35 tracks (including three rare bonus cuts), detailed liner notes and colour booklet this is an impressive package.

TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE
Seven Days in Sammystown (1985)
1. FAR SIDE OF CRAZY
2. THIS BUSINESS OF LOVE
3. FADED LOVE
4. MONA
5. ROOM WITH A VIEW
6. BLACKBOARD SKY
7. BIG CITY
8. DARK AS A DUNGEON
9. MUSEUMS
10. TRAGIC VAUDEVILLE
11. (Don’t Spill My) COURAGE
Happy Planet (Part 1) (1987)
12. DO IT AGAIN
13. HOLLYWOOD THE SECOND TIME
14. EMPTY ROOM
15. CHAINS OF LUCK
16. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT
DISC TWO
Happy Planet (Part 2) (1987)
1. COUNTRY OF MAN
2. JOANNE
3. ELVIS BOUGHT DORA A CADILLAC
4. THE GRASS IS GREENER
5. AIN’T MY DAY
The Ugly Americans in Australia (1988)
6. RED LIGHT
7. CRAZY, CRAZY MELBOURNE
8. WRONG WAY TO HOLLYWOOD
9. LIVING IN THE RED
10. BLACKBOARD SKY
11. PRETTY BOY FLOYD
12. THE HEART NEVER CAN TELL
13. FAR SIDE OF CRAZY
14. RING OF FIRE
15. MEXICAN RADIO
16. THE GRASS IS GREENER
Bonus Tracks
17. BACK IN THE LAUNDROMAT
18. SHOULDN’T HAVE GIVEN HIM A GUN FOR CHRISTMAS
19. DEEP IN THE JUNGLE

Wow-how sweet but I hate 2 fers! Still, I sold my Happy Planet CD a couple of years ago for around $70 so I could justify this especially as I dig these albums very much.
Do Raven do good work? I've heard that they do, but I've never purchased anything from them.

Surprised IP you do not have anything on Raven. They are good, sometimes very good. The ones that I have I have been always been pleased with. Actually I just ordered the Expanded Issue of Stan Ridgeway's "Mosquitos" earler this week.

Don't know much about Wall of Voodoo after Stan left. I do have the GHs comp that released not to long ago though.

Rick A.