Fear (John Cale album)

Fear is a 1974 album by John Cale. It was the first of three albums for Island Records, all of which were released in a period of just over a year. During this time Cale was also producing records for other artists, working on albums such as Squeeze's eponymous debut and Horses by Patti Smith, one of the most influential of all protopunk records.

In addition to his lead vocals on Fear, Cale also played keyboards, guitars, viola, violin and bass, and was joined by Richard Thompson, Roxy Music's Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera, and other artists signed to Island.

Keith Morris was responsible for the photography.

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Cale

Original 1974 release

Side A

1. "Fear is a Man's Best Friend" (3:53)
2. "Buffalo Ballet" (3:29)
3. "Barracuda" (3:48)
4. "Emily" (4:23)
5. "Ship of Fools" (4:38)

Side B

6. "Gun" (8:05)
7. "The Man Who Couldn't Afford to Orgy" (4:35)
8. "You Know More Than I Know" (3:35)
9. "Momamma Scuba" (4:24)

Bonus track 1996 remaster

The album was remastered in 1996 as part of the 2CD release The Island Years, containing also Slow Dazzle and Helen Of Troy. It contained the following bonus track:

• "Sylvia Said" (remix)

Single

"The Man Who Couldn't Afford To Orgy" b/w "Sylvia Said" 7" UK 1974.

Personnel

• John Cale - bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, viola, vocals
• Phil Manzanera - guitar, slide guitar on "Momamma Scuba"
• Fred Smith - drums
• Eno - Eno
• Archie Leggatt - bass
• Michael Desmarais - drums on "Momamma Scuba"and "Fear"
• Richard Thompson - slide guitar on "Momamma Scuba"
• Bryn Haworth - slide guitar on "Momamma Scuba"
• Brian Turrington - bass on "Momamma Scuba"
• Irene Chanter - background vocals
• Doreen Chanter - background vocals
• Liza Strike - background vocals, girl's choir
• Judy Nylon - vocals on "The Man Who Couldn't Afford to Orgy"

Executive Producers: Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno

Engineered and mixed by John Wood