The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (album)

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The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
Soundtrack album by
Released26 February 1979
Recorded1976-1978
Genre
Length78:39
LanguageEnglish, German, French
LabelVirgin Records
ProducerDave Goodman
Sex Pistols chronology
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
(1977)
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
(1979)
Some Product: Carri on Sex Pistols
(1979)
Singles from The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
  1. "No One Is Innocent/My Way"
    Released: 30 June 1978
  2. "Something Else" b/w "Friggin' in the Riggin'"
    Released: 23 February 1979
  3. "Silly Thing" b/w "Who Killed Bambi"
    Released: 30 March 1979
  4. "C'mon Everybody" b/w "The God Save the Queen (symphony)/Watcha Gonna Do About It"
    Released: 22 June 1979
  5. "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle" b/w "Rock Around the Clock"
    Released: 5 October 1979
  6. "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone/Pistols Propaganda (movie trailer voice-over)"
    Released: 6 June 1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
Christgau's Record Guide(B+) link
Rolling Stone(Not Rated) link
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[1]

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle is the soundtrack album of the film of the same name by the Sex Pistols.

Production[edit]

By the time the soundtrack was being prepared, Johnny Rotten (Lydon) had left the band and refused to participate in the project. Manager Malcolm McLaren was left with a major problem - how to sell a double LP soundtrack with no songs featuring the Sex Pistols' dynamic, original vocalist. Desperate for a "workaround", McLaren discovered an October 1976 rehearsal session by the original lineup. In an effort to keep up their "chops", the band would rehearse during downtime at Wessex Studios while attempting to record the 'Anarchy In The UK' 7" single for EMI with producer Dave Goodman in October 1976. Goodman secretly caught the rehearsal on tape. The band ran through some cover songs, many of which were staples at early Sex Pistols shows, along with a few more obscure tracks. Unfortunately, the recording was raw and being a simple four-track recording, it was not suitable for commercial release. McLaren then decided to take John Lydon's vocal track along with Glen Matlock's (also long gone from the band) original bass track and combine them with newly re-recorded guitar and drum tracks performed by Steve Jones and Paul Cook. McLaren suddenly had "new" Sex Pistols material suitable for release and performed exclusively by the original lineup. Better still, fans of the band had never heard these recordings. This tactic also gave the impression that the original band was still together. McLaren used this confusion and the "new" material to market and promote not only the movie soundtrack, but the film itself. The original rehearsal recording (without the newly recorded, overdubbed tracks) eventually appeared, in its entirety, on the Sex Pistols Box Set released by Virgin Records in 2002.[2]

The double album features a significant number of tracks that omit Lydon entirely, most of them written and recorded after he had left the band. These include Sid Vicious singing cover songs, two new original songs ("Silly Thing", sung by Cook and "Lonely Boy", sung by Jones), tracks Cook and Jones recorded with Ronnie Biggs, the title track and "Who Killed Bambi?" sung by Edward Tudor-Pole, and numerous novelty tracks including French street musicians playing "Anarchy in the UK" and a medley of several Sex Pistols songs covered by a disco band.

Two further tracks were recorded along with "Lonely Boy" and "Silly Thing" between May and July 1978; "Black Leather" and "Here We Go Again". While the two songs did not end up on either the film or the soundtrack, both were later released on a 7" single as part of the Sex Pistols "Pistols Pack" 6 single plastic wallet collection (released as a box set in Greece), as well as on the Japanese "The Very Best Of Sex Pistols" LP.[2]

Along with Rotten, people who sang on The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle include:

This album would be the last compiled recordings to feature Sid Vicious in the studio due to his death three weeks before the album's release and after only playing an overdubbed bass guitar on "Bodies" on the Never Mind the Bollocks album would also be his sole studio recordings as a vocalist (his subsequent appearances as a singer would be only in live recordings of concerts recorded in the months leading up to his death). This would also be the first set of recordings to feature guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook in roles as lead vocalists before they would form the Professionals, and the final album of new material credited to the Sex Pistols, albeit it technically not being a second studio album due to various guests and other artist featuring on it.

Variations[edit]

The album has been released in different variations featuring different track listings. There have been two main versions, which were featured on double-album vinyl and CD. The biggest differences between the track lists is that the songs are re-arranged and version A features "I Wanna Be Me" and the Dave Goodman produced version of "Anarchy in the UK" while version B features "Watcha Gonna Do About It" and the Chris Thomas produced version of "Anarchy in the UK". Version A was the most common track list until 1992, afterwards version B is the most common. A 2012 reissue by Universal incorporates both track lists, as it features the Version A track list with "Watcha Gonna Do About It" added on to the end.

Additionally, a single-album version was released in May 1980 to tie in with the release of the film, and featured a different cover and a pared-down track list, which excluded all of Johnny Rotten's tracks. Early releases came with a copy of the original movie poster.

Track listing[edit]

Version A
No.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength
1."God Save the Queen" (orchestral rendition with spoken word over the music about how punk rock and the Sex Pistols were "invented" (alternate title: God Save The Queen (Symphony)")Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Paul CookMalcolm McLaren3:23
2."Johnny B Goode"Chuck BerryJohnny Rotten2:36
3."Roadrunner"Jonathan RichmanJohnny Rotten3:47
4."Black Arabs" (disco medley, includes "Anarchy in the UK", "God Save the Queen", "Pretty Vacant" and "No One is Innocent")Rotten, Jones, Matlock, Cook, Ronnie BiggsBlack Arabs4:51
5."Anarchy in the UK" (Mike Thorne remix (beef-ed up drums) of previously unreleased session from October 1976)Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookJohnny Rotten4:00
6."Substitute"Pete TownshendJohnny Rotten3:10
7."Don't Give Me No Lip, Child" (cover of Dave Berry, 1964)Barry Richards, Jean Thomas, Don ThomasJohnny Rotten3:27
8."(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"Tommy Boyce, Bobby HartJohnny Rotten3:06
9."L'Anarchie pour le UK" (performed by a trio of French street musicians with accordion and fiddle, lyrics translated by Louis Brennon. (alternate title: "Anarchie pour le UK"))Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookJerzimy3:28
10."Belsen Was a Gas" (alternate title: "Einmal war Belsen Vortrefflich")Rotten, Jones, Sid Vicious, CookJohnny Rotten2:12
11."Belsen Vos a Gassa" (alternate title: "Einmal war Belsen wirklich Vortrefflich")Rotten, Jones, Vicious, CookRonnie Biggs2:17
12."Silly Thing"Jones, CookPaul Cook2:51
13."My Way"Paul Anka, Claude François, Jacques RevauxSid Vicious4:06
14."I Wanna Be Me"Matlock, Cook, Jones, RottenJohnny Rotten3:03
15."Something Else"Bob Cochran, Sharon SheeleySid Vicious2:14
16."Rock Around the Clock"Max C. Freedman, James E. MyersEdward Tudor-Pole2:04
17."Lonely Boy"Jones, CookSteve Jones3:07
18."No One Is Innocent"Jones, Cook, BiggsRonnie Biggs3:04
19."C'mon Everybody"Eddie Cochran, Jerry CapehartSid Vicious1:56
20."EMI" (orchestral rendition with Steve Jones speaking the lyrics (alternate title: "EMI (Orch)"))Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookSteve Jones3:44
21."The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle"Jones, Cook, Julien TempleEdward Tudor-Pole, Steve Jones, Paul Cook & others4:21
22."Friggin' in the Riggin'"Traditional; arranged by JonesSteve Jones3:37
23."You Need Hands"Max BygravesMalcolm McLaren2:54
24."Who Killed Bambi?"Edward Tudor-Pole, Vivienne WestwoodEdward Tudor-Pole3:07
Version B
No.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength
1."God Save the Queen (Symphony)" (orchestral rendition with spoken word over the music about how punk rock and the Sex Pistols were "invented")Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Paul CookMalcolm McLaren3:23
2."Rock Around the Clock"Max C. Freedman, James E. MyersEdward Tudor-Pole2:04
3."Johnny B Goode"Chuck BerryJohnny Rotten2:36
4."Roadrunner"Jonathan RichmanJohnny Rotten3:47
5."Black Arabs" (disco medley, includes "Anarchy in the UK", "God Save the Queen", "Pretty Vacant" and "No One is Innocent")Rotten, Jones, Matlock, Cook, Ronnie BiggsBlack Arabs4:51
6."Watcha Gonna Do About It?"Ian Samwell, Steve Marriott, Ronnie LaneJohnny Rotten1:55
7."Anarchy in the UK" (Chris Thomas produced version of "Anarchy in the UK", the 7" single version)Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookJohnny Rotten3:32
8."Silly Thing"Jones, CookPaul Cook2:51
9."Substitute"Pete TownshendJohnny Rotten3:10
10."Don't Give Me No Lip, Child"Barry Richards, Jean Thomas, Don ThomasJohnny Rotten3:27
11."(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"Tommy Boyce, Bobby HartJohnny Rotten3:06
12."Lonely Boy"Jones, CookSteve Jones3:07
13."Something Else"Bob Cochran, Sharon SheeleySid Vicious2:14
14."L'Anarchie pour le UK" (performed by a trio of French street musicians with accordion and fiddle, lyrics translated by Louis Brennon. (alternate title: "Anarchie pour le UK"))Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookJerzimy3:28
15."Einmal war Belsen Vortrefflich"Rotten, Jones, Sid Vicious, CookJohnny Rotten2:12
16."Einmal war Belsen wirklich Vortrefflich"Rotten, Jones, Vicious, CookRonnie Biggs2:17
17."No One Is Innocent"Jones, Cook, BiggsRonnie Biggs3:04
18."My Way"Paul Anka, Claude François, Jacques RevauxSid Vicious4:06
19."C'mon Everybody"Eddie Cochran, Jerry CapehartSid Vicious1:56
20."EMI (Orch)" (orchestral rendition with Steve Jones speaking the lyrics)Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookSteve Jones3:44
21."The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle"Jones, Cook, Julien TempleEdward Tudor-Pole, Steve Jones, Paul Cook & others4:21
22."You Need Hands"Max BygravesMalcolm McLaren2:54
23."Friggin' in the Riggin'"Traditional; arranged by JonesSteve Jones3:37
Single-album version
No.TitleLength
1."God Save the Queen (Symphony)"3:23
2."The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle"4:21
3."You Need Hands"2:54
4."Silly Thing"2:51
5."Lonely Boy"3:07
6."Something Else"2:14
7."Rock Around the Clock"2:04
8."C'mon Everybody"1:56
9."Who Killed Bambi?"3:07
10."No One Is Innocent"3:04
11."L'Anarchie pour le UK"3:28
12."My Way"4:06
2012 re-release
No.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength
1."God Save the Queen" (orchestral rendition)Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Paul Cook 3:23
2."Johnny B Goode"Chuck BerryJohnny Rotten2:36
3."Roadrunner"Jonathan RichmanJohnny Rotten3:47
4."Black Arabs" (disco medley, includes "Anarchy in the UK", "God Save the Queen", "Pretty Vacant" and "No One is Innocent")Rotten, Jones, Matlock, Cook, Ronnie BiggsBlack Arabs4:51
5."Anarchy in the UK" (Mike Thorne remix (beef-ed up drums) of previously unreleased session from October 1976)Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookJohnny Rotten4:00
6."Substitute"Pete TownshendJohnny Rotten3:10
7."Don't Give Me No Lip, Child" (cover of Dave Berry, 1964)Barry Richards, Jean Thomas, Don ThomasJohnny Rotten3:27
8."(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"Tommy Boyce, Bobby HartJohnny Rotten3:06
9."L'Anarchie pour le UK" (performed by a trio of French street musicians with accordion and fiddle, lyrics translated by Louis Brennon. (alternate title: "Anarchie pour le UK"))Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookJerzimy3:28
10."Belsen Was a Gas" (alternate title: "Einmal war Belsen Vortrefflich")Rotten, Jones, Sid Vicious, CookJohnny Rotten2:12
11."Belsen Vos a Gassa" (alternate title: "Einmal war Belsen wirklich Vortrefflich")Rotten, Jones, Vicious, CookRonnie Biggs2:17
12."Silly Thing"Jones, CookPaul Cook2:51
13."My Way"Paul Anka, Claude François, Jacques RevauxSid Vicious4:06
14."I Wanna Be Me"Matlock, Cook, Jones, RottenJohnny Rotten3:03
15."Something Else"Eddie Cochran, Sharon SheeleySid Vicious2:14
16."Rock Around the Clock"Max C. Freedman, James E. MyersEdward Tudor-Pole2:04
17."Lonely Boy"Jones, CookSteve Jones3:07
18."No One Is Innocent"Jones, Cook, BiggsRonnie Biggs3:04
19."C'mon Everybody"Eddie Cochran, Jerry CapehartSid Vicious1:56
20."EMI" (orchestral rendition with Steve Jones speaking the lyrics (alternate title: "EMI (Orch)"))Rotten, Jones, Matlock, CookSteve Jones3:44
21."The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle"Jones, Cook, Julien TempleEdward Tudor-Pole, Steve Jones, Paul Cook & others4:21
22."Friggin' in the Riggin'"Traditional; arranged by JonesSteve Jones3:37
23."You Need Hands"Max BygravesMalcolm McLaren2:54
24."Who Killed Bambi?"Edward Tudor-Pole, Vivienne WestwoodEdward Tudor-Pole3:07
25."Watcha Gonna Do About It?"Ian Samwell, Brian PotterJohnny Rotten2:00

Charts[edit]

Chart (1979) Peak
Position
UK Albums Chart 7
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 44

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[4] Gold 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[5]
1993 release
Gold 100,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Song notes[edit]

"Johnny B Goode", "Roadrunner", "Anarchy in the UK", "Substitute", "Don't Give Me No Lip, Child", "(I'm Not) Your Stepping Stone", "I Wanna Be Me" and "Watcha Gonna Do About It?" were originally recorded in October 1976. Instrumental tracks for some of these were re-recorded in 1978 by Jones and Cook.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "Sex Pistols". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 727. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  2. ^ a b "The Swindle Years". Cookandjones.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  3. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 269. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ "British album certifications – Sex Pistols – The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle - Ost". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. ^ "British album certifications – Sex Pistols – The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 June 2022.