Artists starting with Various Artists

Various Artists, “Chicas! Spanish Female Singers, 1962-74” (Vampi-Soul, 2011)
If you like the glossy/brassy ‘60s beat-girl-pop of the French yé-yé singers or Southeast Asian “a-go-go” sound, you’ll probably love these Spanish variants, from ’64 to ’72; I know I do. This stuff is campier, more garish and kooky than its sister-model across the Pyrenees, but just as gracefully kicky.
Try 1, 5, 10, 11, 12, 20, 24
2/28/12

Various Artists, “Extreme Music From Japan” (Susan Lawly, 1994)
Whitehouse’s label put together this truth-in-album-titling collection, which actually induced my poor cats to flee the room, while wreaking havoc on my tinnitus. Power electronics/industrial, sporting howling sheets of high-frequency white noise. Best is Masonna, who sounds like Iggy Pop caught in a metal-shard storm and shredded to ribbons.
Try 1, 2, 9, 12
8/23/12

Various Artists, “Funky Favorites” (Ronco, 1977)
Another selection of rock’n’roll novelty classics from the folks at Ronco. The chronological range (1950s through 1970s) gives it a bit of a grab-bag feel stylistically, but with material that’s supposed to be wacky and irritating that doesn’t really matter, and most of the songs are undeniable greats.
Try 1/1, 1/ 4, 1/6, 1/8
4/7/19

Various Artists, “Good Vibrations: The Punk Singles Collection” (Anagram, 1994; original release 1978-1980)
Good Vibrations was a Belfast record store that stocked punk records early on, then ended up releasing stuff by the local talent. The ‘70s were the worst decade of Northern Ireland’s long sectarian war, and punk was one of the only things to bring kids from both sides together (sometimes under threat from the rival paramilitaries, each of which paranoiacally suspected punk of being disposed toward the other). The sheer sense of accomplishment from making this happen, and of finding an outlet to let out frustration and meet people (perhaps especially romantic partners) made for some of the most energetic, positive, alive music punk ever generated, rooted in early-to-mid-‘60s British Invasion melodic rock and roll, but with a raw drive and commitment that set it apart.
My favorite is 14 (the Moondogs, “Ya Don’t Do Ya”), which ranks with the greatest punk heartaches of the Jam or Buzzcocks, but 1, 7, 8, and 13 are nearly as good.

Various Artists, “GS I Love You” (Big Beat, 1996; original releases mid- to late 1960s)
In mid-to-late ‘60s Japan, garage-punk was referred to as “Group Sounds.” Supposedly, early Japanese-made electric guitars were lightweight in such a way that they were conducive to a dizzy, speed-balled sound, and sure enough, this is frenzied stuff.
Best of an excellent collection:
1, “You Gat A Call Me” [sic] (catchy, almost Slade-like stomp-and-shout)
13, “Suki Nanda” (minor-key surf-harmony rocker with insane, spidery tremolo-guitar lead)
17, “I Saw Her Standing There” (spiraling, race-to-the-stratosphere Beatles cover with haunted-house-maniac vocals)
21, “Hold On, I’m Comin’” (an impassioned buzzsaw-soul testimonial that would have left Sam and Dave impressed, if perplexed)