Secondhand Daylight

Secondhand Daylight
Studio album by Magazine
Released 30 March 1979
Recorded January 1979 at Good Earth Studios, London
Genre Post-punk
Length 42:33
Label Virgin
Producer Colin Thurston
Magazine chronology

Real Life
(1978)		 Secondhand Daylight
(1979)		 The Correct Use of Soap
(1980)
Singles from Secondhand Daylight
  1. "Rhythm of Cruelty" b/w "TV Baby"
    Released: February 1979

Secondhand Daylight is the second studio album by English post-punk band Magazine. It was released on 30 March 1979 by record label Virgin. One single, "Rhythm of Cruelty", was released from the album.

Writing

Unlike the group's former album Real Life, Howard Devoto did not contribute to writing the music for all tracks. Instead the writing credits were split evenly between the band-members. Devoto, John McGeoch and Dave Formula each wrote songs alone and in collaboration with Barry Adamson. Consistent with the debut LP, Devoto again provided lyrics for all compositions with the exception of the instrumental "The Thin Air" reputedly because the group ran out of studio time.

Recording

The new line up was stable until mid-1980 and consisted of Devoto (vocals), McGeoch (guitar and saxophone), Adamson (bass), Formula (keyboards) and newly recruited drummer John Doyle. The first release with Doyle had been the "Give Me Everything" single from November 1978.

The album was recorded in January 1979 at Good Earth Studios in London and using Virgin Records' mobile studio, which was used at Farmyard Studios. The album was produced and engineered by Colin Thurston. The album was Thurston's first production job, significantly he had worked as an engineer for David Bowie's "Heroes" and Iggy Pop's The Idiot.

Release

The album was originally released an LP (with a gatefold sleeve) and a cassette in March 1979. It peaked at number thirty-eight on the UK Albums Chart.[1] The album was subsequently released as a budget album on LP, Cassette and CD in the late-eighties. A remastered edition of the album was released by Virgin/EMI in 2007, along with the other three of the band's first four studio albums, including four bonus tracks and liner notes by Kieron Tyler. The original artwork featured an illustration by Ian Pollack, photography by Richard Rayner-Canham and typography by Malcolm Garret.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
Robert Christgau (C)[3]
NME Very positive[4]
Smash Hits 6/10[5]
Uncut [6]

Upon its release, Secondhand Daylight received mixed reviews. A glowing review appeared in NME. Music Journalist Nick Kent described songs like "Feed The Enemy" as "very Low-period Bowiesque", due to the "stray saxophone bleats and lulling synthesiser chords".[4] Sounds were less positive; music journalist Gary Bushell declared that Magazine were in "retreat to the '70s progressive lie".

Track listing

All lyrics written by Howard Devoto; with the exception of "The Thin Air" and "I Love You, You Big Dummy". 

Side one
No. TitleMusic writer(s) Length
1. "Feed the Enemy"  Dave Formula 5:45
2. "Rhythm of Cruelty"  John McGeoch, Barry Adamson 3:03
3. "Cut-Out Shapes"  Devoto 4:43
4. "Talk to the Body"  McGeoch 3:34
5. "I Wanted Your Heart"  Formula, Adamson 5:13
Side two
No. TitleMusic writer(s) Length
6. "The Thin Air"  Devoto, McGeoch 4:10
7. "Back to Nature"  Formula 6:40
8. "Believe That I Understand"  Devoto, Adamson 4:00
9. "Permafrost"  Devoto 5:25
2007 remastered edition bonus tracks
No. TitleMusic writer(s) Length
10. "Give Me Everything"  Devoto 4:23
11. "I Love You, You Big Dummy"  Don Van Vliet (music and lyrics) 3:54
12. "Rhythm of Cruelty" (original single version)McGeoch, Adamson 3:04
13. "TV Baby"  Formula 3:48

Personnel

Magazine
Technical
  • Colin Thurston – production, engineering
  • Tony Wilson – production on "Give Me Everything" and "I Love You, You Big Dummy"
  • JJ Allom – engineering
  • Bill Aitken – engineering on "Give Me Everything" and "I Love You, You Big Dummy"
  • Ian Pollock – sleeve illustration
  • Richard Rayner-Canham – sleeve photography
  • Malcomb Garrat – sleeve typography and images

Chart positions

Chart (1979) Peak
position
UK Album Chart 38[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Chart Stats - Magazine". chartstats.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  2. ↑ "Secondhand Daylight - Magazine". Allmusic.
  3. ↑ "CG: Magazine". Robert Christgau.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kent, Nick. "Magazine's Mad Minstrels Gains Momentum (Album review)". NME (31 March 1979): 31.
  5. ↑ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (May 3–16, 1979): 25.
  6. ↑ "Magazine - Reissues - Review". Uncut.

External links