Killing Joke (1980 album)
Killing Joke | ||||
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Studio album by Killing Joke | ||||
Released | August 1980 | |||
Recorded | 1980 at Marquee Studios, London, England | |||
Genre | Post-punk | |||
Length |
35:10 39:51 (US edition) | |||
Label | E.G. | |||
Producer | Killing Joke | |||
Killing Joke chronology | ||||
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Singles from Killing Joke | ||||
Killing Joke is the debut studio album by English rock band Killing Joke. It was released in August 1980 by record label E.G.
Recording
Killing Joke was recorded in early 1980 at Marquee Studios in London, shortly after a small tour promoting the Almost Red EP. The album was self-produced by the band.
Content
The lyrics of the album were written by frontman and vocalist Jaz Coleman, and expressed his opinions on issues such as politics, death, hypocrisy, human nature, pollution and exile.
The artwork was based on a photograph by Don McCullin of young rioters trying to escape from clouds of CS gas released by the British Army in Derry, 8 July 1971 during the Troubles.[1]
Release
Killing Joke was released in August 1980 by record label E.G. It reached number 39 on the UK Albums Chart in 1980.[2]
The album produced three singles: "Wardance", "Change" and "Requiem".
The 2005 and 2008 reissues of Killing Joke featured several tracks such as previously released as B-sides and demo tracks. The tracks were listed in addition to the UK original release, being that "Change" was track nine instead of track seven, as it was in the original US release. The 2008 reissue was dedicated in memory of bassist Paul Raven who performed his last album with Killing Joke in 2006. Raven died of heart failure in October 2007. Since then, every reissue of Killing Joke's studio albums have been dedicated to him.
Reception
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Austin Chronicle | [4] |
Drowned in Sound | 3.5/5[5] |
In his retrospective review, Bradley Torreano of AllMusic praised the album, writing "Since 1980, there have been a hundred bands who sound like this, but before Steve Albini and Al Jourgensen made it hip, the cold metallic throb of Killing Joke was exciting and fresh", calling it an "underground classic" that "deserves better than its relative unknown status."[3]
Legacy
Several musicians, including Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Tool, Soundgarden, Metallica[6] and Marilyn Manson[7] have been influenced by Killing Joke.
"The Wait" was covered by Metallica on the Garage Days Re-Revisited EP in 1987.
"Primitive" was covered by Helmet in 1993 as the A-side to their "Primitive" single, and later added to their "Born Annoying" compilation album.
"Requiem" was covered by Foo Fighters in 1997 as a B-side to the "Everlong" single.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Jaz Coleman, all music composed by Killing Joke (Coleman, Kevin "Geordie" Walker, Martin "Youth" Glover, Paul Ferguson), except as noted.
Side A | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Music | Length | |||||||
1. | "Requiem" | 3:45 | ||||||||
2. | "Wardance" | 3:49 | ||||||||
3. | "Tomorrow's World" | 5:31 | ||||||||
4. | "Bloodsport" | Walker, Glover, Ferguson | 4:46 |
Side B | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
1. | "The Wait" | 3:45 | ||||||||
2. | "Complications" | 3:08 | ||||||||
3. | "S.O.36" | 6.52 | ||||||||
4. | "Primitive" | 3:37 |
Re-issue bonus tracks | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
9. | "Change" | 4:01 | ||||||||
10. | "Requiem (Single Version)" | 3:47 | ||||||||
11. | "Change (Dub)" | 4:00 | ||||||||
12. | "Primitive (Rough Mix)" | 3:35 | ||||||||
13. | "Bloodsport (Rough Mix)" | 4:50 |
- Note: The original US release featured the track "Change" in between tracks "Complications" and "S.O.36". "Change" was later released as an unofficial single.
Personnel
- Killing Joke
- Jaz Coleman – vocals, synthesizer, production
- Kevin "Geordie" Walker – guitar, production
- Martin "Youth" Glover – bass guitar, production
- Paul Ferguson – drums, vocals, production
Charts
Year | Chart | Peak position |
---|---|---|
1980 | UK Albums Chart | 39[2] |
References
- ↑ Williams, Olivia (30 December 2011). "Don McCullin: Celebrated War Photographer on the Value of His Craft". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Killing Joke | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Torreano, Bradley. "Killing Joke [1980] – Killing Joke | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ↑ Gray, Christopher (16 December 2005). "Review: Killing Joke, What's THIS For ...?, Revelations, Ha! – Music – The Austin Chronicle". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ↑ Lancaster, Nick (11 July 2005). "Album Review: Killing Joke – Reissues / Releases / Releases // Drowned in Sound". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ↑ Knowles, Christopher (1 October 2010). The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll. Cleis Press. p. 182. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ↑ Hartmann, Graham (2 March 2012). "Marilyn Manson Calls New Album His 'Grandest Concept Record' + Disputes 'Shock Rock' Label". loudwire.com. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
External links
- Killing Joke (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
- Killing Joke at Discogs (list of releases)
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