Machine Gun Etiquette
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Classic Rock | [2] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[3] |
| Record Collector |  [4] |
Machine Gun Etiquette is the third studio album by English punk rock band The Damned. It was released in November 1979 by Chiswick Records.
Background
The album was the group's first since reforming with a new lineup of Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on lead guitar, Rat Scabies on drums and Algy Ward on bass guitar. On Machine Gun Etiquette, the band became more experimental; without original guitarist Brian James, the songwriting was more democratic, resulting in a blend of punk, psychedelic rock and pop styles.[citation needed]
The voice at the album's start is Jack Howarth, taken from his 1971 recording of Lancastrian monologues "'Ow Do". The mispronounced album name would later be used in fusion with Thee Headcoats name as the Japanese band name Thee Michelle Gun Elephant by their former bassist.
Reception
AllMusic's retrospective review reported that when it was released, Machine Gun Etiquette was "deservedly hailed as another classic from the band". The website praised the variety of styles explored and the group's typically strong wit.[1] Scott Rowley of Classic Rock magazine, reviewing the 25th Anniversary Edition of the album, defined it as "a riotous, ballsy rush of an album [...] the sound of a band coming into its own", adding that "while the Clash looked to America for inspiration, the Damned remained resolutely British", perhaps ironically given that the front cover depicted the band in a New York street scene..[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by the Damned (Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, Algy Ward), except as noted
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love Song" | 2:21 |
| 2. | "Machine Gun Etiquette" | 1:48 |
| 3. | "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" (The Damned, Giovanni Dadomo) | 3:42 |
| 4. | "Melody Lee" | 2:07 |
| 5. | "Anti-Pope" | 3:21 |
| 6. | "These Hands" | 2:03 |
| 7. | "Plan 9 Channel 7" | 5:08 |
| 8. | "Noise, Noise, Noise" | 3:10 |
| 9. | "Looking at You" (MC5 cover, Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred "Sonic" Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) | 5:08 |
| 10. | "Liar" | 2:44 |
| 11. | "Smash It Up (Part 1)" | 1:59 |
| 12. | "Smash It Up (Part 2)" | 2:53 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Ballroom Blitz" (Sweet cover) | Mike Chapman, Nicky Chinn | 3:30 |
| 14. | "Suicide" | 3:14 | |
| 15. | "Rabid (Over You)" | Rat Scabies, Captain Sensible, Dave Vanian, Andy Le Vien | 3:41 |
| 16. | "White Rabbit (Extended Version)" | Grace Slick | 5:13 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Burglar" | 3:33 |
| 14. | "I Just Can't be Happy Today (DJ Edit)" | 3:00 |
| 15. | "Ballroom Blitz" | 3:28 |
| 16. | "Turkey Song" | 4:04 |
| 17. | "Plan 9, Channel 7" (video clip) | 6:18 |
Note:
- Later reissues gave co-writing credits to Jennet Ward ("Noise, Noise, Noise") and Phillip Burns ("Anti-Pope").
- Joe Strummer and Topper Headon of The Clash provided backing vocals on "Noise, Noise, Noise", while Lemmy of Motörhead played bass and provided backing vocals on "Ballroom Blitz".
Personnel
- The Damned
- Dave Vanian – vocals
- Captain Sensible – guitars, vocals, keyboards
- Rat Scabies – drums, vocals
- Algy Ward – bass guitar
References
- ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Machine Gun Etiquette – The Damned : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. AllRovi. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ a b Rowley, Scott (February 2005). "Damned Fine". Classic Rock. 76. London, England: Future Publishing Ltd: 106.
- ^ Robbins, Ira (15 March 1991). "Machine Gun Etiquette Review | Music Reviews and News | ew.com". ew.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ Shooman, Joe. "Machine Gun Etiquette –The Damned |". recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
External links
- Machine Gun Etiquette at Discogs (list of releases)