MC5

Babes In Arms collects unreleased songs and alternate versions of this ridiculously influential band's best music. MC5 recorded a bunch of these tunes before they turned their "maximum R&B" into the pre-punk/hard rock hybrid that became the blueprint for so many bands that followed them.

Despite all the rare mixes and original versions adduced in the notes, the only great track totally unfamiliar to this proud (and lucky) owner of the 5's three albums is a cover of Them's "I Can Only Give You Everything." The rest of the obscure stuff merely augments a superbly paced compilation. 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. And drummer Dennis Thompson was a motherf*cker. (Grade - A-)