Jeopardy (album)

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Jeopardy
Studio album by The Sound
Released November 1980
Recorded 1980 at Elephant Studio, London
Genre Post-punk, new wave
Length 38:23
Label Korova
Producer Nick Robbins, The Sound
The Sound chronology

Physical World E.P.
(1979)		 Jeopardy
(1980)		 From the Lions Mouth
(1981)
Singles from Jeopardy
  1. "Heyday"
    Released: September 1980

Jeopardy is the debut studio album by English post-punk band The Sound. Following their EP Physical World in 1979, the band started work on a full-length album. Impressed by the demos, record label Korova signed the group, and the band started recorded throughout 1980 at Elephant Studio in London with co-producer Nick Robbins. Preceded by the single "Heyday" in September, Jeopardy was released in November 1980.

Lauded by critics upon its release but faring poorly commercially, Jeopardy failed to chart in the UK and with the band's fanbase failing to expand further than a cult following.

Background

Following their 1979 EP Physical World, the band started work on a full-length album. Impressed by the rough mixes, record label Korova signed the group. Jeopardy was recorded inexpensively at Elephant Studios in London, and was produced by The Sound themselves and Nick Robbins.[1][2] Adrian Janes, ex-member of The Outsiders along with Sound frontman Adrian Borland and Bob Lawrence, contributed writing to two tracks,[2] despite not being a member of The Sound.[1]

On the album, drummer Michael Dudley said:

I felt I had really achieved something in my life. I couldn't wait to hand out copies to family and friends [...] It was the most fun to record and the biggest challenge to work on in the studio [of all The Sound's albums].[3]

The album was preceded by the release of the single "Heyday" in September 1980. The single was well received in the press, with Dave McCullough of Sounds calling the song "one of the most exciting and most astonishingly adept big label debut singles I've heard since The Jam's 'In the City'."[4][5]

Release

Jeopardy was released in November 1980. It was lauded by critics upon its release, but fared poorly commercially, failing to chart in the UK and with the band's fanbase failing to expand further than a cult following.[6]

The album was re-released in 2002 by Renascent Records with the Live Instinct EP included.[7] The EP contains four tracks recorded live at a show at The Venue in London on 14 January 1981.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [7]
Melody Maker [8]
NME [9]
PopMatters very favourable[10]
Piero Scaruffi 6/10[11]
Sounds [12]

Jeopardy received full five-star reviews from three major music publications: NME, Sounds and Melody Maker.[1] Steve Sutherland of Melody Maker wrote: "Jeopardy is one of those records that makes me want to throw all the windows open, crank it up to full volume and blast it out to the world. It clears my head of boredom, strips away the gloom and single-handedly restores my belief in the power of pop to make people stop, think and question. [...] Jeopardy has got more spirit, more soul and more downright honesty about it than any other record I've heard this year."[8]

In its retrospective review, AllMusic called it "a caustic jolt of a debut that startles and fascinates".[7]

Track listing

Side A
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "I Can't Escape Myself"  Adrian Borland  
2. "Heartland"  Borland  
3. "Hour of Need"  Borland, Graham Bailey, Michael Dudley  
4. "Words Fail Me"  Borland, Adrian Janes  
5. "Missiles"  Borland  
Side B
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Heyday"  Borland  
2. "Jeopardy"  Borland, Bi Marshall, Bailey, Dudley  
3. "Night Versus Day"  Borland, Janes, Bailey  
4. "Resistance"  Borland  
5. "Unwritten Law"  Borland, Bailey  
6. "Desire"  Borland  

Personnel

The Sound
  • Adrian Borland – vocals, guitar, production
  • Michael Dudley – drums, production
  • Green (Graham Bailey) – bass guitar, production
  • Belinda "Bi" Marshall – keyboard, production
Technical
  • Nick Robbins – production
  • Sara Batho – sleeve artwork
  • Spencer Rowell – sleeve photography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kellman, Andy. "The Sound – Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic". AllMusic. AllRovi. Retrieved 23 June 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jeopardy (Media notes). The Sound. Korova Records. 1980. http://www.discogs.com/Sound-Jeopardy/release/613256. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Reeves, Paul Sutton (March 2002). "[The Sound biography]". Record Collector. Retrieved 23 June 2013. 
  4. ↑ "Brittle Heaven – The Official Adrian Borland Website". Brittle Heaven. Retrieved 7 July 2013. 
  5. ↑ McCullough, Dave (1980). "["Heyday" review]". Sounds. Retrieved 7 July 2013. 
  6. ↑ "The Sound Microsite". renascent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Kellman, Andy. "Jeopardy – The Sound : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. AllRovi. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sutherland, Steve (6 November 1980). "Sounding Out". Melody Maker. Retrieved 11 February 2013. 
  9. ↑ Morley, Paul (13 November 1980). "Moany Minor". NME. Retrieved 11 February 2013. 
  10. ↑ Powers, Devon (31 March 2003). "The Sound: Jeopardy | PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  11. ↑ Scaruffi, Piero. "The History of Rock Music. Sound: Biography, Discography, Reviews, Links". scaruffi.com. Retrieved 11 February 2013. 
  12. ↑ McCullough, Dave. "They're a Modern Band". Sounds. Retrieved 11 February 2013. 

External links

The Sound
  • Adrian Borland
  • Graham Bailey
  • Michael Dudley
  • Belinda "Bi" Marshall
  • Colvin "Max" Mayers
Studio albums
EPs
Live albums
Related articles
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