Since most of their songs were short, snappy numbers, the Buzzcocks' early material was custom-made for the stage, and the 2005 release Small Songs with Big Hearts certainly reinforces this point. Recorded in 1979 at {~the Rainbow Theatre} in London, this high-energy 17-track set was previously available as disc one of the 2001 double-disc release Beating Hearts/Small Songs with Big Hearts. As longtime fans know, this was the period when the Buzzcocks were at the top of their game -- having just released three back-to-back classic full-lengths (1978's Another Music in a Different Kitchen and Love Bites, plus 1979's A Different Kind of Tension), as well as a string of extraordinary singles. As a result, the performances on Small Songs are comparable to one long adrenaline rush, as such early favorites as "Ever Fallen in Love," "Harmony in My Head," and "What Do I Get?" are featured in all their sweaty glory. But from a "more bang for your buck" perspective, you'd probably be better off tracking down a copy of the aforementioned Beating Hearts/Small Songs with Big Hearts double disc, since it contains another fine show from this era (a 1978 performance at {~the Apollo Theatre} in Manchester, England). ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide