Album (Public Image Ltd album)
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| - | '''''Album''''' (also known as '''''Compact Disc''''' or '''''Cassette''''' depending on the format) is the fifth album by the English [[rock music|rock]] band [[Public Image Ltd]], released on 27 January 1986. A departure from their previous releases, [[John Lydon]] was advised by trusted music producer [[Bill Laswell]] to take on an all-star cast of session and trusted musicians, including [[Steve Vai]], [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]], [[Tony Williams (drummer)|Tony Williams]] and [[Ginger Baker]]. The resulting album gave PiL one of its highest charting songs, "Rise". | + | '''''Album''''' (also known as '''''Compact Disc''''' or '''''Cassette''''' depending on the format) is the fifth album by the English [[rock music|rock]] band [[Public Image Ltd]], released on 27 January 1986. A departure from their previous releases, [[John Lydon]] was advised by trusted music producer [[Bill Laswell]] to take on an all-star cast of session and trusted musicians, including [[Steve Vai]], [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]], [[Tony Williams (drummer)|Tony Williams]] and [[Ginger Baker]]. The resulting album gave PiL one of its highest charting songs, "[[Rise (Public Image Ltd song)|Rise]]". |
| - | == Composition credits == | ||
| - | Most of the songs were written by Lydon with Mark Schulz and Jebin Bruni and registered in September and October 1985, such as "Round And Round (European Cars)",<ref>''United States Copyright Office'' website (song registered on 9 September 1985)</ref> "Fairweather Friend",<ref name="United States Copyright Office' 1985">''United States Copyright Office'' website (song registered on 10 September 1985)</ref> "Fishing",<ref name="United States Copyright Office' 1985"/> "Black Rubber Bag",<ref name="ReferenceA">''United States Copyright Office'' website (song registered on 9 October 1985)</ref> and "Things In Ease".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> "Fairweather Friend" featured originally music written by Schulz and Bruni. An unrecorded Lydon/Schulz composition "Animal"<ref name="ReferenceA"/> was registered too. Schulz and PIL tour bassist Bret Helm had previously registered a further (presumably non-PIL, therefore unused) composition called “Cat Rap”.<ref>''United States Copyright Office'' website (song registered on 30 July 1985)</ref> | ||
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| - | John Lydon: “Most of the songs on the 'Album', for instance, were written at home and put onto demonstration tapes. But I didn't think the [1984/85 touring] band were good enough or experienced enough really to, like, record the song properly. And that's why I use session people. [By using session musicians] the songs obviously changed — their shape, and not their direction.”<ref>[[Richard Skinner (broadcaster)|Richard Skinner]]: “John Lydon Interview” ([[BBC Radio 1]], 18 January 1986)</ref> “I had a live band before recording took place and a lot of material together before going into the studio. But the band was totally inexperienced, they would have put the budget up by an incredible amount. So we decided to use session people.”<ref>Howard Johnson: “Feature” (''[[Kerrang!]]'', 20 February 1986)</ref> “I make records for myself. I want them to be completely precise. Accuracy is very important to me. Otherwise it's bad work and a waste of my time, and I really don't want to waste my time. There must be a conclusion to what you do, no vagueness. There must be a sense of completeness. Every song is an emotion and it has to succeed as that, otherwise you've failed. It's bad work. That annoys me. Bad work from anyone just annoys me. I just don't need it.”''<ref name="NME86a">[[Paul Morley]]: “This Is What You Want” (''[[New Musical Express]]'', 8 February 1986)</ref>'' | ||
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| - | Producer [[Bill Laswell]]: “When we did PiL he had put a band together in California of some kids. And I had sort of decided to make a heavy group, so I invited Tony Williams, Ginger Baker, Steve Vai, and all these people came. We fired John's band and there were many nights of really harsh arguing in bars. When the smoke cleared, we made sort of a classic record, an unusual record for the time.”<ref name="PM">John Garratt: “Do Or Die: An Interview with Bill Laswell” ([[PopMatters]] website, 20 February 2012)</ref> Ginger Baker's inclusion was coincidental, given that the New Musical Express had published an April Fools joke press release in 1981 indicating that Baker was joining the band. | ||
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| - | == Artwork and packaging == | ||
| - | The album's artwork was deliberately generic, with each release being named after its format. The original LP and 7" labels simply read "Label". The packaging concept was a pastiche of the [[generic brand]] products manufactured in the early 1980s; it was visually similar to those sold at the [[Ralphs]] supermarket chain (dark-blue lettering and light blue stripe over white ground) in the USA. | ||
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| - | In 1982, [[Flipper (band)|Flipper]], a punk band from [[San Francisco, California]], had released an album with the same concept and a near-identical name, ''[[Album - Generic Flipper]]'', a pastiche of generic products manufactured for [[Lucky Stores]] supermarket chain (black lettering over yellow ground). Later in 1986, Flipper retaliated by releasing a live album entitled ''[[Public Flipper Limited Live 1980-1985]]''. | ||
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| - | The packaging concept was used on several other releases by the band from this period. The 7" single of "Rise" was called "Single" whilst the 12" single was called "12-inch Single". The music video had the title card "Video", and a 1986 compilation of music videos by the band was titled ''Videos''. Each release used the same basic design as the LP, CD and cassette covers, although second single "Home" was issued under its own name. A 1990 boxed set of Public Image Limited albums was called ''Box'',<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Public-Image-Limited-Box/release/2139972 Discogs: Public Image Limited: Box]</ref> and a 2010 deluxe reissue of the album included "Poster" - an art print - and a making-of book entitled "Book".<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Public-Image-Ltd-Album/release/9854116 Discogs.com: Album, Super Deluxe Edition]</ref> The 2012 CD remaster of the album is titled ''Album'' when it should correctly, if following the original scheme, read ''Compact Disc''. There is also a Public Image Ltd. tribute album whose cover is designed in homage to the album cover style, titled ''Tribute''.<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Various-Tribute-A-Tribute-To-Public-Image-Limited/master/57256 " Various – Tribute: A Tribute To Public Image Limited"]</ref> | ||
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| - | == Recording sessions == | ||
| - | The album was recorded in late 1985 in [[New York City|New York]]. Ginger Baker's and Tony Williams' drums were recorded at [[Avatar Studios|The Power Station]] by engineer Jason Corsaro. Steve Vai's lead guitar parts were recorded at [[Electric Lady Studios]] and the rest of the album at RPM Studios and Quad Recording Studios, all engineered by Robert Musso. The recording took three weeks, followed by one week of mixing the album at The Power Station.<ref>Jim Bessman:''“Sidebar”'' (''[[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]'', June 1986)</ref> | ||
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| - | In the liner notes of PiL's ''Plastic Box'' compilation (1999), Lydon remarked that ''Album'' was "almost like a solo album" since he was working on his own with several musicians. He said that [[Miles Davis]] came into the studio while the album was being recorded and commented that Lydon sang like Davis played the trumpet. Lydon said it was "still the best thing anyone's ever said to me."<ref name="PlasticBox">John Lydon liner notes ([[Public Image Ltd.]]: ''“Plastic Box”'' compilation, [[Virgin Records]], 1999)</ref> | ||
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| - | Lead guitarist [[Steve Vai]]: "Bill Laswell, the producer, called and I flew in and out of New York from [[Alcatrazz]] shows to cut the parts. I did basically all the guitar parts in two days. Bill Laswell took a very interesting approach to the production of this disc. Some of the material I'd never heard and just went in and started playing on it. At the end, Johnny Lydon came in and liked it [...] There was the consideration of putting a band together — him, myself, Bill Laswell on bass and [[Ginger Baker]] on drums. Would have been quite a band.”''<ref>[http://www.vai.com/AllAboutSteve/disconotes_pil.html] Steve Vai: ''“Notes: Public Image Limited”'' (''Vai.com'' website, last update 18 January 2006)</ref> ''“I went in a day and did everything, then I flew back out on tour. And then I went in for another half-day, and Lydon came in on the second day. He's just like ultracool and it's the first time he's heard any of my parts and he goes 'This is fucking great, man, how did you fucking know I wanted it like that?' [...] We were thinking about turning it into a band — me, him, Bill Laswell and [[Ginger Baker]], but well, I was doing some other things, you know? It would have been cool. To this day that's one of the projects I'm most proud of.”''<ref>[[Ben Myers]]: ''“John Lydon - The Sex Pistols, PIL & Anti-Celebrity”'' (''Independent Music Press'', 2004, pages 152,154)</ref> ''“John Lydon came in when I was done, they were playing a track back, and he made a grimace and said 'Fookin' great man!' in that way of his. So that was funny. I'd obviously done okay.”<ref>Simon Sweetman: ''“The Steve Vai Interview”'' (''Stuff.co.nz'' website, 15 March 2012)</ref> | ||
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| - | Roger Trilling (Bill Laswell's manager): "I wasn't there, but apparently [[Ginger Baker|Ginger]] played for [[Bill Laswell|Bill]] in his barn. Just solo with the horses there, apparently the trees swayed and the flowers cried. The drum god would return. One small step for Ginger, one giant leap for John Lydon. The rest of the cast was quickly assembled — Tony Williams, Steve Vai, [[Bernie Worrell|Bernie]], [[Nicky Skopelitis|Nicky]], [[Aïyb Dieng|Aïyb]]. First we recorded the drums, with Jason Corsaro in the [[Avatar Studios|Power Station]] and its huge concrete resounding garage. Then we moved over to Quad for bass, keyboards and rhythm guitar. I would give [[John Lydon|John]] bulletins as we drank beer in bars — 'Today [[Steve Turre]] blew into conch shells, tomorrow a didgeridoo. Oh, [[Ryuichi Sakamoto|Sakamoto]] did great today!' [[John Lydon|John]] grew wary, restive, even aggravated. Howard Thompson, in charge for [[Elektra Records|Elektra]], was even more importunate, I remember at one point physically barring him from getting into the elevator. We recorded a few days of [[Steve Vai|Vai]] at [[Electric Lady Studios|Electric Lady]], and then moved over to RPM for three days of vocals. [[John Lydon|John]], I think, got a cassette the evening before. The idea was to get him on the initial take, and if it didn't work, keep the tapes, which was [[Bill Laswell|Bill's]] music anyway. Well, [[John Lydon|John's]] declamations were eloquent ones and no less aggressive or irritating than the music. Everyone was pleased, and though I remember [[John Lydon|John's]] presence in the anteroom during the mix, what I mostly remember is an all-night Korean restaurant, where we would start drinking at three, four, or five in the morning."<ref>Peter Wetherbee: ''“Axiom History, Part Two: Memory Serves”'' (''Music.Hyperreal.org'' website, 1999)</ref> | ||
| ==Track listing== | ==Track listing== | ||
| Listed on the album cover as "Ingredients" | Listed on the album cover as "Ingredients" | ||
| - | {{Track list | ||
| |title1 = F.F.F. | |title1 = F.F.F. | ||
| |writer1 = [[John Lydon]], [[Bill Laswell]] | |writer1 = [[John Lydon]], [[Bill Laswell]] | ||
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| |writer7 = Lydon, Bruni | |writer7 = Lydon, Bruni | ||
| |length7 = 8:09 | |length7 = 8:09 | ||
| - | }} | ||
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| - | "'''Home'''" reached number seventy five on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="OCC">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18064/public-image-ltd/|title=PUBLIC IMAGE LTD | Artist | Official Charts|work=[[Official Charts Company]]|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|accessdate=6 May 2014}}</ref> [[Steve Vai]] contributed his guitar work to the track. | ||
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| - | ==Personnel== | ||
| - | *[[John Lydon]] – [[singing|lead vocals]] | ||
| - | *[[Bernard Fowler]] – [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]] | ||
| - | *[[Nicky Skopelitis]] – [[guitar]] (1-4, 6) | ||
| - | *[[Steve Vai]] – [[guitar]] | ||
| - | *[[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] – [[Fairlight CMI]] (2, 3, 5, 7) | ||
| - | *[[Bernie Worrell]] – [[organ (music)|organ]] (1, 4, 6) [[Yamaha DX7]] (3) | ||
| - | *[[Jonas Hellborg]] – [[bass guitar|bass]] (4) | ||
| - | *[[Tony Williams (drummer)|Tony Williams]] – [[drum]]s (1, 2, 6) | ||
| - | *[[Ginger Baker]] – [[drums]] (3-5, 7) | ||
| - | *[[Bill Laswell]] - bass (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), producer | ||
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| - | ==Additional personnel== | ||
| - | *[[L. Shankar|Shankar]] – [[electric violin]] on 2,4 | ||
| - | *[[Malachi Favors]] – [[double bass|acoustic bass]] on 3,5,7 | ||
| - | *[[Steve Turre]] – [[didgeridoo|didjeridu]] on 7 | ||
| - | *[[Aïyb Dieng]] – chatan [[kettle drum|pot drums]] on 4 | ||
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| - | ==Charts== | ||
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| - | ===UK=== | ||
| - | *''“Album”'' entered the [[UK album chart|UK Album Charts]], where it stayed for 6 weeks and reached #14 on 15 February 1986.<ref name="UKcharts">''Theofficialcharts.com'' website</ref> | ||
| - | *The single ''“Rise”'' entered the [[UK Singles Chart|UK Top 75]], where it stayed for 8 weeks and reached #11 on 1 February 1986.<ref name="UKcharts"/> | ||
| - | *The single ''“Home”'' briefly entered the [[UK Singles Chart|UK Top 75]], where it stayed for 1 week at #75 on 3 May 1986.<ref name="UKcharts"/> | ||
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| - | ===USA=== | ||
| - | *''“Album”'' entered the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album charts, where it stayed for 16 weeks and reached #115 on 12 April 1986.<ref>''Billboard.com'' entry</ref> | ||
| - | *The single ''“Rise”'' did not chart. | ||
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| - | ===Other countries=== | ||
| - | *In Canada, ''“Album”'' entered the [[Canadian Albums Chart]], where it stayed for 5 weeks and reached #95 on 5 April 1986.<ref>''Collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/index-e.html'' website</ref> | ||
| - | *In New Zealand, ''“Album”'' entered the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|Top 50 Albums Chart]], where it stayed for 2 weeks and reached #34 on 27 April 1986. The single ''“Rise”'' entered the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|Top 50]], where it stayed for 4 weeks and reached #29 on 30 March 1986. | ||
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Album (also known as Compact Disc or Cassette depending on the format) is the fifth album by the English rock band Public Image Ltd, released on 27 January 1986. A departure from their previous releases, John Lydon was advised by trusted music producer Bill Laswell to take on an all-star cast of session and trusted musicians, including Steve Vai, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tony Williams and Ginger Baker. The resulting album gave PiL one of its highest charting songs, "Rise".
[edit]
Track listing
Listed on the album cover as "Ingredients" |title1 = F.F.F. |writer1 = John Lydon, Bill Laswell |length1 = 5:32 |title2 = Rise |writer2 = Lydon, Laswell |length2 = 6:04 |title3 = Fishing |writer3 = Lydon, Jebin Bruni, Mark Schulz |length3 = 5:20 |title4 = Round |writer4 = Lydon, Schulz |length4 = 4:24 |title5 = Bags |writer5 = Lydon, Bruni, Schulz |length5 = 5:28 |title6 = Home |writer6 = Lydon, Laswell |length6 = 5:49 |title7 = Ease |writer7 = Lydon, Bruni |length7 = 8:09
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