Various Artists - One Pound Ninety-Nine

One Pound Ninety-Nine (A Music Sampler Of The State Of Things) is a defining 1985 compilation album released through the collaboration of independent UK labels Beggars Banquet and Situation Two. Designed as a budget-friendly showcase of their diverse, cutting-edge roster, the LP was famously named after and sold for its exact retail price of £1.99. This marketing strategy made the vibrant British underground music scene highly accessible to cash-strapped youth, offering a curated sonic snapshot of a pivotal era in independent music.

The tracklist bridges the worlds of post-punk, gothic rock, and alternative wave, capturing a unique transition point in 1980s music. It features seminal contributions from influential artists like Bauhaus, Peter Murphy, and Love and Rockets, alongside the raw post-punk of The Fall and the heavy rock of The Cult. By blending legendary figureheads like John Cale and Nico with rising alternative acts, the compilation serves as an essential historical artifact of the mid-1980s UK alternative landscape.

One Pound Ninety-Nine (A Music Sampler Of The State Of Things) stands as a brilliant capsule of the mid-1980s British underground, born from a clever marketing gimmick that subverted traditional industry pricing. Released jointly by Beggars Banquet and Situation Two in 1985, the compilation did exactly what it promised on the sleeve, offering a premium selection of alternative music for the literal pocket-change price of £1.99. This consumer-friendly strategy was not just a promotional stunt; it democratised access to the flourishing post-punk and gothic rock scenes, making the era's subcultures highly accessible to teenage listeners and curious outsiders alike.

Musically, the compilation functions as a remarkably cohesive journey through dark alternative sounds, balancing gothic theatricality with jagged post-punk energy. Side One establishes a brooding yet melodic atmosphere, anchored by Peter Murphy’s commanding presence on The Light Pours Out Of Me and Love and Rockets’ atmospheric epic Haunted When The Minutes Drag. The inclusion of the Ramones’ politically charged anthem Bonzo Goes To Bitburg adds a shot of high-energy American punk to the mix, preventing the record from feeling too insular or bogged down by its own melancholy.

Flip the record over, and Side Two dives deeper into the foundational pillars of the UK alternative pantheon. The Cult’s Nirvana showcases a band successfully transitioning from positive-punk roots into stadium-ready hard rock, while Bauhaus’s dub-inflected masterpiece She’s In Parties serves as a stark reminder of the label's gothic supremacy. These heavy hitters are balanced by the sharp, literary cynicism of The Fall’s Spoilt Victorian Child and the haunting, avant-garde textures provided by art-rock royalty John Cale and Nico, proving that the curation team possessed a sophisticated understanding of alternative music’s lineage.

Ultimately, One Pound Ninety-Nine is far more than a bargain-bin relic; it is an essential historical blueprint of a subcultural turning point. By capturing these artists right as post-punk was splintering into gothic rock, indie-pop, and alternative metal, the album preserves the distinct creative friction of 1985. It remains a masterclass in label curation, proving that great art does not require a premium price tag, and it continues to be a thrilling, nostalgic listen for anyone exploring the roots of modern alternative music.

Ripped to MP3 @ 320kbps

Side One:

1. The Icicle Works – Perambulator

2. Peter Murphy – The Light Pours Out Of Me

3. Gene Loves Jezebel – Worth Waiting For

4. John Cale – The Sleeper

5. Love And Rockets – Haunted When The Minutes Drag

6. Ramones – Bonzo Goes To Bitburg

Side Two:

1. The Cult – Nirvana

2. The Fall – Spoilt Victorian Child

3. Nico – Win A Few

4. Bauhaus – She's In Parties

5. The Bolshoi – Fly

6. Hank Wangford Band – Never Wear Mascara