A Million in Prizes: The Anthology - Iggy Pop

Artist
Type	Compilation
Released	July 19, 2005
Rating	4.09

"He's gonna do another strip tease..."

Like the similarly influential Lou Reed, the former James Newell Osterberg Jr has been repackaged and anthologised many times in the past with mixed results, but it's only recently that a truly worthwhile compilation has been available. For Reed it was the programmed-by-a-fool NYC Man - The Ultimate Collection 1967 - 2003, for Iggy it's the remarkably solid A Million In Prizes.

Like Reed, it's probably fair to say that without being a significant part of one of the most influential bands of all time, Iggy probably would not have made it as a solo star. This is something underlined by the ten Stooges cuts that open this chronological compilation (Pop one, Reed nil) and while disc 1 closes with Pop's two most enduring post-Stooges tunes in "Lust for Life" and "The Passenger", it's an erratic listen, taking in the brilliance of the likes of "Kill City" and "China Girl", but also a clutch of strangely anonymous cuts.

It's notable that disc 1 covers the first ten years of Iggy Pop's career and the second disc covers the late 70s onwards (i.e. the best part of three decades), which indicates that like so many of his contemporaries, Iggy lost momentum after his initial success as a solo artist. You wouldn't guess it by listening to the second disc of this compilation though, as it skims the cream from a patchy 80s era, throws in a couple of splendid duets with Katie Pierson of The B-52's and Deborah Harry, a pair of splendid live cuts from the early 90s and cherry picks from his various albums since then.

I didn't really know what to expect when I purchased A Million In Prizes, as I've always felt that Iggy Pop is best listened to in short, sharp blasts rather than over a long haul so a two disc compilation does seem excessive and to a point that's true, as I for one don't have the endurance to listen to it in one sitting. That said I do now have a certain level of respect for Iggy Pop that I didn't have before. Sure, chances are I won't be buying any of his solo albums in the near future, but that's only because A Million In Prizes does its job so well.

Better than the equivalent Lou Reed compilation.

"I'm sick of keeping quiet and I am the wild boy,
But if I have to die here first I'm gonna make some noise."