9 (Public Image Limited album)

9 was the seventh studio album by Public Image Limited, released in May 1989 on the Virgin Records label (see 1989 in music). Though the title may initially appear confusing, the album is in fact the ninth PiL album if their two live records are included.

The band that recorded 9 consisted of John Lydon, bassist Alan Dias, guitarist John McGeoch and drummer Bruce Smith. Former guitarist Lu Edmonds, who had left the band by the time the album was recorded due to problems with tinnitus, received a writing co-credit on all tracks, although he does not play on the album. The band's replacement for Edmonds, Ted Chau, is also absent.

The album was produced by Stephen Hague, Eric "ET" Thorngren, and the band. During the process of recording, renowned Jamaican dub producer Scientist mixed a session for the band; however, his involvement with them went no further and the fate of the session (if, indeed, a copy was kept) is uncertain. Bill Laswell, who had produced Album three years earlier, had originally been lined up to produce '9'. However, the tension between he and Lydon after the recording of that album, coupled with Laswell's desire to once again use his own cast of session musicians on 9 and his dissatisfaction with Public Image's new line-up, lead to the agreement being cancelled. Laswell's withdrawal reportedly left the band $80,000 in debt to Virgin Records.

The track "Sand Castles in the Snow" was originally titled "Spit", and was so listed in various Virgin pre-release information; however, by the album's release the title had officially changed.

"Disappointed" reached #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart the week of July 29, 1989.

[edit] Track listing

"Happy?" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 3:57
- Produced by Stephen Hague
"Disappointed" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith/S. Hague) – 5:34
- Produced by Stephen Hague
"Warrior" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 4:17
- Produced by Stephen Hague
"U.S.L.S. 1" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 5:37
- Produced by Eric "ET" Thorngren
"Sand Castles in the Snow" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 3:44
- Produced by Stephen Hague
"Worry" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 3:54
- Produced by Stephen Hague
"Brave New World" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 4:19
- Produced by Eric "ET" Thorngren
"Like That" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 3:40
- Produced by Eric "ET" Thorngren
"Same Old Story" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 4:19
- Produced by Eric "ET" Thorngren
"Armada" (A. Dias/L. Edmonds/J. Lydon/J. McGeoch/B. Smith) – 4:43
- Produced by Eric "ET" Thorngren