Guts is a retrospective compilation album by the Welsh rock musician John Cale, released in February 1977 by Island Records. It includes the songs "Leaving It Up to You", which was deleted from Helen of Troy (1975), and the previously unreleased "Mary Lou". It was compiled by Howard Thompson.
On the evolution of his cover art from the "extremely soft focus" of 1973's Paris 1919 to the brasher look of Helen of Troy and Guts, Cale told Slash in 1979 that "it was important at one point to always do something different in every album."
Reception AllMusic favorably described Guts as "a solid reminder of the three albums he cut for Island earlier in the decade—and which predicted the power and promise of punk with a passion that not one of the movement's other putative godfathers had ever truly communicated."
Writing in Creem, Robert Christgau gave the album an "A," remarking that Guts "is how Island makes up for withholding [a] U.S. release of Helen of Troy, and I think we're better off." He noted that "Pablo Picasso" and "Leaving It All Up to You" are "Cale at his mad best" and that "Cale's Island music epitomizes the cold, committed dementia of the best English rock."
The Los Angeles Times wrote that Guts was "a fine opportunity to experience Cale's violent, intense, and engrossing music." The critic added that the "tracks chosen cover too narrow a stylistic range, but songs like 'Guts,' 'Fear is a Man's Best Friend,' and a frightening version of 'Heartbreak Hotel' are riveting examples of how Cale makes darkly memorable music from the verge of emotional frenzy."
John Rockwell of The New York Times also authored a positive review, noting that Guts "contains some superb music, well worth the attention of anyone who liked Roxy Music in its glory years—not to speak of those who saw Mr. Cale's New York club dates and concerts this year."
Track listing Side A "Guts" "Mary Lou" "Helen of Troy" "Pablo Picasso" "Leaving It Up to You"
Side B "Fear Is a Man's Best Friend" "Gun" "Dirty Ass Rock 'n' Roll" "Heartbreak Hotel"
Personnel John Cale − vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass, percussion Chris Spedding − guitar Phil Manzanera − guitar Archie Leggatt − bass Pat Donaldson − bass Trevor Burton − bass Timi Donald − drums Fred Smith − drums Keith Smart − drums Phil Collins − drums Raymond Duffy − drums Tony Carr − percussion Andy Mackay − saxophone Brian Eno − synthesizer John Wood − synthesizer Geoff Muldaur − backing vocals Barry St. John − backing vocals Liza Strike − backing vocals
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