Doug and the Slugs: Slugcology 101(1979-1988) Plus the Entire Discography! (almost)

Last week I spent $2.00 at flea market for a copy of Doug and The Slugs greatest hits, a.k.a. Slugcology 101. And it wasn't just for a quick post material either; since I've started this series the band is the highest it's been in my regard since 1980 when I heard a radio concert where Doug did a long monologue about how he was accosted by a mysterious stranger in a bar who told him he had to become the greatest rock singer of all time (the memories are pretty dim, I confess).

Doug never did fulfill that mission. Despite being a lyricist who could combine Elvis Costello's angry acuity with Dashiell Hammit's obsession with sleazy-living and leading a band that, when not showing off for American radio, will remind you of some of those other Pub Rock vets turned New Wave aggregation like Nick Lowe's Rockpile or Graham Parker's Rumour.

Still, some might resent Doug and The Slugs for profiting from the New Wave, while fellow Vancouver-ites of the era, like Art Bergmann, D.O.A., The Pointed Sticks et al, never got their due. But that sick injustice does not diminish these clever, catchy, well-crafted songs (even those late eighties hits, which sound much better when jumbled up non-chronologically on Slugcology). And if any one thinks a band selling 50,000 copies of their hit records and being on the Meatballs II soundtrack back in the eighties had it made, they should read this quote from Doug Benet buried in in the Slugcology liner notes: "Thanks to...our children to whom Dad was often 'that guy with the funny hair who's always away or asleep."

Call me mushy-headed but I think it's Slug Time!

 
Slugcology 101 is now available at iTunes


Biopunk commented "I had no idea you posted so much Doug and the Slugs! " and in case anyone wants to know just how much, here's their entire discography (minus their less-known 1992 album Tales From Terminal City, for which I would require a rip n 'scans from some generous reader). Just click on the links provided and you'll get a slug!

Cognac and Bologna is here











Wrap It! is here











Music for the Hard of Thinking is here











Popaganda is here












Doug Bennett's Solo album, Animato, is here.











Tomcat Prowl is here.











And, by the way, ViaComClosedMeDown... over at Down Underground has posted a cassette rip of a strange looking Doug and the Slugs release (likely a repackage) here.

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