The Damned / The Black Album
Artist The Damned
Album Title: The Black Album
Album Cover:
Primary Genre Alternative & Punk: Indie
Format Vinyl 180 gm (2)
Released 10/00/1980
Reissue Date 00/00/2016
Label Ace
Catalog No WIK2334
Bar Code No 0 29667 43341 9
Packaging LP Sleeve
Tracks
The Black Album (Disc 1)
A1. Wait For The Blackout (3:51)
A2. Lively Arts (2:55)
A3. Silly Kids Games (2:15)
A4. Drinking About My Baby (3:27)
A5. Twisted Nerve (4:35)
A6. Hit Or Miss (2:36)
B1. Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde (4:31)
B2. Sick Of This And That (1:47)
B3. History Of The World Part 1 (3:52)
B4. 13th Floor Vendetta (5:04)
B5. Therapy (6:11)
The Black Album (Disc 2)
A1. Curtain Call (17:12)
B1. Love Song (2:10)
B2. Second Time Around (1:46)
B3. Smash It Up (Parts 1 And 2) (4:24)
B4. New Rose (1:29)
B5. I Just Can't Be Happy Today (3:55)
B6. Plan 9 Channel 7 (5:12)
Date Acquired 01/26/2017
Personal Rating
Acquired from Ernie B's Reggae
Purchase Price 14.99

Web Links

Discogs entry:
All Music Guide entry:

Notes

Artwork [Concept], Design – D, Vanian
Bass – Paul Grey
Engineer – Hugh Jones
Photography – A. Ballard
Producer – The Damned (tracks: A1 to B2, B4 to D6)
Producer [Overproduced] – Hans Zimmer (tracks: B3)
Vocals – David Vanian*
Vocals, Drums – Rat Scabies
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards – Captain Sensible

Reviews
AllMusic Review by Ned Raggett:

The fact that one of its songs is called "Hit or Miss" is quite appropriate for the double-vinyl Black Album; while not perfect, it's definitely got some high points on it. Given the intentionally parodic reference to the Beatles' own two-disc sprawler, perhaps the semi-schizophrenia is perfectly intentional. Some of the numbers show the band following their original punk vein, but by this point the four (joined here by a new bassist, Paul Gray) were leaving straight, three-chord thrash to the cul-de-sac revivalists. The album begins with a Damned classic, "Wait for the Blackout," a dramatic psych/punk surge infected with Vanian's glorious croon, celebrating the joys of the night while steering clear of overtly-serious goth affectations. After that, things start to vary, but tracks of note are still thick on the ground, including "Lively Arts," a nicely barbed take on culture with some harpsichord to match, and the goofy but still enjoyable "Drinking About My Baby." Regardless, things get a bit restful at points, and while Vanian often steps forward to continue carrying it along, sometimes even the band isn't happy with the results. "History of the World (Part One)" has always carried the credit "overproduced by Hans Zimmer" because they felt the guest synth player did just that! However, the final two studio tracks are doozies: "Therapy," a Sensible/Vanian-sung romp with a great chorus, and the sidelong "Curtain Call," perhaps the most unlikely thing the Damned ever did. That said, it's still a surprisingly good blast, a tour de force for Vanian particularly and a chance for the band to try everything from straightforward rock to gentler atmospherics.


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