The Correct Use of Soap

The Correct Use of Soap
Studio album by Magazine
Released	May 1980
Recorded	1980
Genre	Post-Punk
Length	40:05
Label	Virgin
Producer	Martin Hannett
Magazine chronology
Secondhand Daylight (1979) The Correct Use of Soap (1980) Magic, Murder and the Weather (1981)

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Allmusic

The Correct Use of Soap is the third album by British post-punk band Magazine, released by Virgin Records in 1980. It marks a return to form of sorts to the punkier riffs and faster rhythms of Real Life after their more experimental album Secondhand Daylight. As such, it contains some of Magazine's best-known and most popular songs, including the singles "A Song from Under the Floorboards" and "Sweetheart Contract" and their cover of Sly & The Family Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)". This was their last album with original guitarist John McGeoch, who left the band after the release of the album and joined Siouxsie And The Banshees then moved on to Visage, formed by his bandmates Dave Formula and Barry Adamson. He was replaced by Robin Simon (ex-Ultravox, now with Ajantamusic) to the world tour, promoting the album. Magazine would go on to release one more studio album; 1981's Magic, Murder and the Weather, but this album is generally regarded as the end of Magazine and Devoto's most productive and innovative period.

A different version of this album was released in Canada in 1980, by then distributor Polygram Records. This version was titled An Alternative Use of Soap.

The single "A Song from Under the Floorboards" was featured on Rhino's box-set Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the 80s Underground, and has been covered many times in concert by fellow Mancunian Morrissey and recorded by Australian band My Friend the Chocolate Cake on their ARIA Music Award-winning album Brood (1994). It was also covered by Simple Minds on the 2CD Edition of their 2009 album Graffiti Soul.

On the 1 September 2009, Magazine performed the original album in its entirety in the first half of their show at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Track listing

All songs by Barry Adamson/Howard Devoto/John Doyle/Dave Formula/John McGeoch, except where noted.

1. "Because You're Frightened" – 3:54
2. "Model Worker" – 2:51
3. "I'm a Party" – 3:01
4. "You Never Knew Me" – 5:23
5. "Philadelphia" – 3:54
6. "I Want to Burn Again" – 5:16
7. "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" (Sylvester Stewart) - 3:48
8. "Sweetheart Contract" – 3:18
9. "Stuck" – 4:04
10. "A Song from Under the Floorboards" – 4:07

2007 remastered edition bonus tracks

1. "Twenty Years Ago" - 3:03
2. "The Book" - 2:22
3. "Upside Down" - 3:47
4. "The Light Pours Out Of Me - Version" - 3:28

An Alternative Use of Soap

Music by Magazine / Lyrics by Howard Devoto, except where noted.

Side A

1. "Because You're Frightened" – 3:54
2. "The Light Pours Out of Me" (Howard Devoto, John McGeoch, Pete Shelley) – 3:28
3. "You Never Knew Me" – 5:23
4. "Upside Down" – 3:48
5. "Sweetheart Contract" – 3:18

Side B

1. "A Song from Under the Floorboards" – 4:07
2. "Philadelphia" – 3:54
3. "I Want to Burn Again" – 5:16
4. "Stuck" – 4:04
5. "Thank You (Fallentinme Be Mice Elf Again)" (Sylvester Stewart) - 3:48

Personnel

• Howard Devoto – vocals
• John McGeoch – guitars
• Barry Adamson – bass guitar
• Dave Formula – keyboards
• John Doyle – drums
• Laura Teresa - additional backing vocals