154 (album)

154
154
Studio album by Wire
Released	September 1979
Recorded	April—May 1979
Studio	Advision Studios, West London, England, United Kingdom
Genre	Post-punk, art punk, experimental rock
Length	44:41
Label	Harvest
Producer	Mike Thorne
Wire studio album chronology
Singles from 154
	"Map Ref. 41°N 93°W"; Released: 26 October 1979;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[2]
The Guardian	^[3]
Mojo	^[4]
Pitchfork	9.1/10^[5]
Q	^[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[7]
Smash Hits	7½/10^[8]
Uncut	^[9]
The Village Voice	B^[10]

154 is the third album by the English post-punk band Wire, released in 1979 (see 1979 in music) on EMI imprint Harvest Records in the UK and Europe and Warner Bros. Records in America. Branching out even further from the minimalist punk rock style of their earlier work, 154 is considered a progression of the sounds displayed on Wire's previous album Chairs Missing, with the group experimenting with slower tempos, fuller song structures and a more prominent use of guitar effects, synthesizers and electronics.

154 peaked at number 39 in the UK Albums Chart, the highest position the band has achieved.^[11] It was first issued on CD in 1987 by EMI Japan and later reissued by Restless Records in 1989. First editions of the vinyl album were accompanied by an EP, the tracks from which are included on the Harvest CD, issued in 1994, along with an additional bonus track. The new remastered release, released by Pinkflag as digipacks in 2006, does not contain any extra tracks, because, according to the band, such additions dishonour the "conceptual clarity of the original statements."^[12] The album is so named because the band had played 154 gigs in their career at the time of the album's release. Pitchfork listed 154 as 85th best album of the 1970s.^[13]

Track listing

Side One
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Should Have Known Better"	Graham Lewis	3:52
2.	"Two People in a Room"	Colin Newman, Bruce Gilbert	2:00
3.	"The 15th"	Newman	3:05
4.	"The Other Window"	Lewis, Gilbert	2:07
5.	"Single K.O."	Lewis	2:23
6.	"A Touching Display"	Lewis	6:55
7.	"On Returning"	Newman	2:06

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
8.	"A Mutual Friend"	Lewis, Newman	4:28
9.	"Blessed State"	Gilbert	3:28
10.	"Once Is Enough"	Newman	3:23
11.	"Map Ref. 41°N 93°W"	Lewis, Newman, Gilbert	3:40
12.	"Indirect Enquiries"	Lewis, Newman	3:36
13.	"40 Versions"	Gilbert	3:28

Bonus EP (included on 1979, 1987, 1989, 1994 and 1995 releases)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Song 1"	Robert Gotobed, Newman, Desmond Simmons	3:02
15.	"Get Down (Parts 1 and 2)"	David, Gotobed, Newman, Simmons, TV Smith	4:27
16.	"Let's Panic Later"	Lewis	3:20
17.	"Small Electric Piece"	Gilbert	3:33

Bonus track (included on 1994 and 1995 releases)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
18.	"Go Ahead"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	4:01

Bonus tracks (1995 Japanese release only)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
19.	"Stepping Off Too Quick"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:22
20.	"Indirect Inquiries" (sic)"	Lewis, Newman	3:18
21.	"Map Ref. 41°N 93°W"	Lewis, Newman, Gilbert	3:49
22.	"A Question of Degree"	Lewis, Newman	2:56
23.	"Two People in a Room"	Newman, Gilbert	2:02
24.	"Former Airline"	Gilbert	1:12

Tracks 19–24 are demo versions that have also appeared on compilations such as Behind the Curtain and After Midnight.

2018 Special Edition

Disc one (Original Album)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Should Have Known Better"	3:52
2.	"Two People In A Room"	2:11
3.	"The 15th"	3:05
4.	"The Other Window"	2:08
5.	"Single K.O."	2:24
6.	"A Touching Display"	6:56
7.	"On Returning"	2:06
8.	"A Mutual Friend"	4:28
9.	"Blessed State"	3:28
10.	"Once Is Enough"	3:23
11.	"Map Ref. 41ºN 93ºW"	3:40
12.	"Indirect Enquiries"	3:27
13.	"40 Versions"	3:29
Total length:		44:48

Disc two (Singles, B-sides & Studio Recordings)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Question Of Degree" (single A-side)	3:09
2.	"Former Airline" (single B-side)	3:19
3.	"Go Ahead" (single B-side)	4:03
4.	"Our Swimmer" (single A-side)	3:29
5.	"Midnight Bahnhof Cafe" (single B-side)	4:30
6.	"2nd Length (Our Swimmer)" (single B-side)	2:49
7.	"Catapult 30" (single B-side)	5:05
8.	"Song 1" (154 EP)	3:02
9.	"Get Down (Parts I + II)" (154 EP)	4:27
10.	"Let's Panic Later" (154 EP)	3:19
11.	"Small Electric Piece" (154 EP)	3:31
Total length:		40:43

Disc three (Sixth Demo Sessions, December 1978, Riverside Studios, London)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"40 Versions"	3:19
2.	"Ignorance No Plea (I Should Have Known Better)"	4:02
3.	"Blessed State"	3:11
4.	"A Touching Display"	5:19
5.	"The 15th"	2:30
6.	"A Mutual Friend"	3:56
7.	"Once Is Enough"	2:39
8.	"The Other Window"	2:09
9.	"Stepping Off Too Quick"	1:22
10.	"Indirect Enquiries (Version 2)"	3:15
11.	"Map Ref. 41°N 93°W"	3:50
12.	"Single KO"	2:24
13.	"On Returning"	1:49
14.	"A Question Of Degree"	3:02
15.	"Former Airline"	1:12
16.	"Two People In A Room"	2:03
Total length:		61:02

Personnel

Wire

B. C. Gilbert – guitars, spoken word on "The Other Window", sleeve concept
Robert Gotobed – drums
Graham Lewis – vocals, bass guitar, sleeve concept
Colin Newman – vocals, guitar

Additional personnel

Hilly Kristal – bass vocals on "A Mutual Friend"
Kate Lukas – alto flute
Tim Souster – electric viola on "A Touching Display"
Mike Thorne – keyboard, synthesizer, production
Joan Whiting – cor anglais on "A Mutual Friend"

Production

Dave Dragon – art direction
Paul Hardiman – engineer
Brian Harris – typographic design
Ken Thomas – assistant engineer

References

^ Huey, Steve. "154 – Wire". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 29 February 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
^ Simpson, Dave (3 March 2006). "Wire, 154". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
^ Myers, Ben (June 2018). "Wire: 154". Mojo. No. 295. p. 104.
^ Tangari, Joe (5 May 2006). "Wire: Pink Flag / Chairs Missing / 154". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
^ Harris, John (July 2018). "Dawning of a New Era". Q. No. 386. pp. 120–21.
^ Gross, Joe (2004). "Wire". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. pp. 883–84. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
^ Starr, Red (18–31 October 1979). "Wire: 154". Smash Hits. p. 29.
^ "Wire: 154". Uncut. No. 106. March 2006. p. 106.
^ Christgau, Robert (25 February 1980). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
^ "Wire | full Official Chart History" (select "Albums" tab). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 April 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Pitchfork staff (23 June 2004). "Staff Lists: Top 100 Albums of the 1970s". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 August 2013.

External links

154 at Discogs (list of releases)
Lyrics for the album on Wire's official website
The making of Wire's 154 album
Accolades archived at Acclaimed Music

[1] Huey, Steve. "154 – Wire". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 29 February 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)

[2] Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.

[3] Simpson, Dave (3 March 2006). "Wire, 154". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 February 2012.

[4] Myers, Ben (June 2018). "Wire: 154". Mojo. No. 295. p. 104.

[5] Tangari, Joe (5 May 2006). "Wire: Pink Flag / Chairs Missing / 154". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 February 2012.

[6] Harris, John (July 2018). "Dawning of a New Era". Q. No. 386. pp. 120–21.

[7] Gross, Joe (2004). "Wire". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. pp. 883–84. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[8] Starr, Red (18–31 October 1979). "Wire: 154". Smash Hits. p. 29.

[9] "Wire: 154". Uncut. No. 106. March 2006. p. 106.

[10] Christgau, Robert (25 February 1980). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 29 February 2012.

[11] "Wire | full Official Chart History" (select "Albums" tab). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

[12] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 April 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[13] Pitchfork staff (23 June 2004). "Staff Lists: Top 100 Albums of the 1970s". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 August 2013.

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v t e Wire
Robert Grey Graham Lewis Colin Newman Matthew Simms Bruce Gilbert George Gill Margaret Fiedler McGinnis (touring only)
Studio albums	Pink Flag Chairs Missing 154 The Ideal Copy A Bell Is a Cup IBTABA Manscape The Drill The First Letter Object 47 Red Barked Tree Change Becomes Us Wire Nocturnal Koreans Silver/Lead Mind Hive
Live albums	Document and Eyewitness Wire on the Box: 1979 The Scottish Play: 2004 Live at the Roxy, London – April 1st & 2nd 1977/Live at CBGB Theatre, New York – July 18th 1978 Legal Bootleg Series: 14 Sept 2002 Metro, Chicago The Black Session: Paris, 10 May 2011
Compilations	On Returning (1977–1979) The Peel Sessions Album 1985–1990: The A List Behind the Curtain Turns and Strokes Coatings Send 10:20
EPs	Snakedrill Kidney Bingos Silk Skin Paws The Third Day Read & Burn 01 Read & Burn 02 Read & Burn 03
Songs	"The 15th" "Heartbeat" "Outdoor Miner"
Related articles	Discography Dome A.C. Marias Githead Swim It Hugs Back Fitted