This is perhaps more McLaren's album than that of the Sex Pistols. It's a mess, it's in bad taste, but at least it's an interesting mess. The God Save The Queen Symphony with vocals by McLaren is truly strange. The French version of Anarchy by one Jerzimy accompanied by an accordian is poignant but bizarre, while the two version of Einmal war Belsen Vortefflich (the second with vocals by Ronnie Biggs, is beyond redemption). The famous My Way a la Sid Vicious has a certain tragic charm and does not seem out of place amid all the weirdness. The orchestral version of EMI with vocal by Steve Jones is quite impressive with its sinister lyrics, while Friggin' in the Riggin' , sung by Steve Jones is crude and vulgar. This is followed by the entirely pointless You Need Hands by Malcolm McLaren. The album concludes with Tenpole Tudor's messy but at least enthusiastic Who Killed Bambi. Bearing in mind that this is a soundtrack and that the group had already split up at its release, it's still probably one of the worst second albums in history. Whereas the first album mocked the establishment and the music business, this one mocked the Sex Pistols themselves. It's a very interesting piece of rock 'n roll history but not a great listening experience.

The Great Rock 'N Roll Swindle soundtrack has moments of Sex Pistol's brilliance, and Malcolm McClaren injected stupidity. The soundtrack is to the pseudo-documentary of the same name. The film is about how Malcolm supposebly orchestrated the entire punk movement, by manufacturing The Sex Pistols to exploit the music scene. The movie is complete and total crap. The Sex Pistols were not a manufactured band and Malcolm is a complete and total idiot. The soundtrack has some great early Sex Pistol cover songs like "Stepping Stone, and "Substitute." It also features a great live performance of "Belsen Was A Gas," one of the Sex Pistols best songs. I don't care whether people find it offensive or not; great song. "I Wanna Be Me," is a direct attack on the media and how they blew punk way out of proportion. Sid's version of "My Way," is now a punk guilty pleasure. The title track is pretty decent as well, even though the lyrics are not what the Sex Pistols were about at all. Steve Jone's "Friggin and Riggin," is done in campy fun, as well as "Silly Thing." Now the downside of the album. All the French versions of "Anarchy in the U.K.," are terrible. Sid's cover songs of "Something Else," and 'C'om Everybody" are terrible, but they are suppose to be. Ronnie Bigg's version of "Belsen Was A Gas," is downright more sick and offensive than the original song that was penned by Johnny Rotten. Also Bigg's horrible "No One Is Innocent," is just god-awful. Why did The Sex Pistols agree to sing with this guy, he is just terrible. Rotten by this time had already left the group, and Steve and Paul thought they could continue the Sex Pistol's name, boy were they ever wrong. McClaren's "You Need Hands," is just terrible, we'll leave it at that.
Overall, extremely disappointing album, that seemed to be more organized by McClaren. The album has some shining moments, but just not enough to keep it afloat till the end. The movie is also totally untrue. McClaren did not manufacture and use The Sex Pistols as marketing technique. The Sex Pistols were for real, and are still the best punk band of all time. Don't buy into McClaren's ..., it is totally false. Buy Never Mind the Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols: the best punk rock record of all-time.

Sure, absolutely, Johnny Rotten/Lydon was the Pistols' visionary (but let's not forget Glen Matlock), but I always laugh my fool head off listening to Sid's "My Way." He even does passable covers of two Eddie Cochran rockabilly classics. The live "Belsen Was a Gas"--tasteless, sure, a definite sign the band had distintegrated beyond repair--is notable because it's from their last show, in SF, 1978. "Be a man, kill someone, be a man, kill yourself!" Rotten shouts as the thundering music behind him grinds to a halt, leaving a vast empty chasm of amorality (wait, sorry, reading too much Greil Marcus). Tenpole Tudor's "Who Killed Bambi," Steve Jones' obscene "Friggin' in the Riggin'" and Malcom's "You Need Hands" sound like great Benny Hill routines. Cook'n'Jones'"Silly Thing" and "Lonely Boy" are great straight-up rockers. And the version of "Anarchy in the UK" contained herein is more ferocious and exhilirating than the one on "Bollocks." True, you've got to be a pretty serious Pistols collector to buy this, but hey, what the hell? Keep the swindle going....

The Sex Pistols should only be remembered for their excellent debut album 'Never Mind the Bollocks'. This follow up album is quite simply dire and shows clearly the limitations of the band. 'Friggin in the riggin' was worth making and 'Silly thing' would have been good if they could have found some one better than Paul Cook to sing it. The French version of 'Anarchy' is quite amusing. But overall this is just a commercial rip-off from a band that had entirely run out of ideas. Even at their height the Sex Pistols were never as good as the Clash, Stiff Little Fingers or the Stranglers but this second album should never have been recorded. If you like punk don't bother with this pile of garbage...

This album is weird but is still a great album. The song's humour get old fast but so does any humour really. There are still a few good solid songs though like "Belson was a gas" and "I'm not your stepping stone". I really enjoyed "my way" sung by Sid Vicious, when I hear the line I lived a full life, I get coked up inside. I would have like more rotten though. All in all a great album but for anyone who doesn't already love the sex pistols but for anyone else get never mind the bollocks.