Sid Sings

by Steve HueySid Vicious left a very small recorded legacy, and it's easy to see why. These are live recordings with terrible sound quality and equally bad vocals from Vicious, who is prone to stealing Johnny Rotten's vocal mannerisms. The only track he had a hand in is the Pistols' collaboration "Belsen"; the other nine songs are covers (including a hilarious rearrangement of "My Way"). This album shows Sid Vicious as a follower, not an innovator. He had no originality or intelligence and displayed an astounding lack of talent, augmented by total contempt for his audience. But given punk's ideology, it may make perfect sense that he should become its most celebrated icon. If you follow the logic, Sid Sings is absolutely essential; if not, don't bother.