This eclectic, budget-priced 'keepsake' showcases the varied offerings of a record label founded in 1997 by concert promoter Stéphane Bismuth as an indirect consequence of coaxing Love's Arthur Lee out of retirement to perform with Shack.
Michael Head of that Liverpool quartet subsequently made the album 'The Magical World Of The Strands' which became Megaphone's first release. Something Like You from this album is the first of the eleven tracks presented on this compilation.
All of the remaining tracks are from artists signed to the label except for Dolaytrim by singer and multi-instrumentalist Angil.
We are connected to the past via Karen Dalton, an artist who was scandalously underrated during her all too brief lifetime. She is represented with two tracks from the late 1960s, Ribbon Bow and a live recording of It's Alright.
Megaphone pride themselves on championing underdogs and on not being confined to English language artists. From France there's Lecube's Shoot The Nanny, Silvain Vanot's Hawaii and French duo Teppaz & Naz performing Serge Gainsbourg's Ballade De Melody Nelson.
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An Italian trio Antarte also weigh in with the mellow Nessuno and, more exotic still, Iraqi lutist Omar Bashir performs Maqam Hijaz / Maqam Awj.
In addition, there's a touch of traditional Calypso with Better Be Safe Than Sorry by Blind Blake And The Royal Victoria Hotel.
Poor People, Simon Dalmais' cover of a song by Alan Price which contains the line that gives the album its title.
The dull sleeve design doesn't sell the record very well but since most will come to these tracks through streaming sites perhaps this isn't so important. The CD itself is a pleasantly varied mix and worth a listen even though it's probably designed for the record store bargain bin.
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