Wreckless Eric-Big Smash! (1980)

Wreckless Eric is one of the pioneers of British new wave, although he never achieved the same commercial or popular recognition as some of his contemporaries. In his early days in the mid-70s, Eric began playing bass in a band called Addis and The Flip Tops. In 1976, he submitted a demo to the independent label Stiff Records, and was immediately signed. The following year, they released his first singles, most notably "Whole Wide World", produced by Nick Lowe. A year later, Stiff Records toured England with some of its bands, a tour in which Wreckless Eric became a sensation, leading to the recording of his self-titled debut album in 1978. This first album, along with "The Wonderful World of Wreckless Eric", became a favorite with thousands of fans across the UK, thanks to John Peel's broadcasts on BBC Radio 1. Eric's third album was a double LP that cleverly combined the first two albums into a kind of compilation, spanning two of the four vinyl sides. On it, Eric gave new fans the opportunity to hear some of his best songs, such as "Whole Wide World" and "Reconnez Cherie", where his distinctive vocal style blended seamlessly with the minimalist accompaniment. New tracks included "Pop Song", "Broken Doll", "Excuse Me", and "Out of the Blue". From this point on, his carefree new wave style would become established within that genre, but in a discreet background, far removed from the charts and media stardom.