Future Shock (Gillan album)

Future Shock
Studio album by Gillan
Released	March 1981
Recorded	Kingsway Recorders, London, UK, December 1980 – January 1981
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	43:24
Label	Virgin
Producer	Paul "Chas" Watkins John McCoy Colin Towns Bernie Tormé Mick Underwood
Gillan chronology
Glory Road (1980) Future Shock (1981) Double Trouble (1981)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Future Shock is the fourth album by the British rock band Gillan. Released by Virgin in 1981, it reached number 2 in the UK album chart; this would remain the band's highest placing.

The title is taken from Alvin Toffler's book Future Shock.

The original vinyl LP had a gatefold sleeve, with centre pages. Cover painting was by Alan Daniels for Young Artists.

Reception

In 2005, Future Shock was ranked number 467 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.^[2]

Track listing

Side 1

• All songs written by Ian Gillan, John McCoy and Bernie Tormé, except where noted.

1. "Future Shock" – (3:06)
2. "Night Ride Out of Phoenix" – (5:06) (Ian Gillan/Colin Towns)
3. "(The Ballad Of) The Lucitania Express" – (3:10)
4. "No Laughing in Heaven" – (4:58) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Towns/Mick Underwood)
5. "Sacre Bleu" – (3:03)
6. "New Orleans" – (2:37) (Frank Guida/Joseph Royster) (Gary U.S. Bonds cover)

Side 2

1. "Bite the Bullet" – (4.50) (Gillan/Towns)
2. "If I Sing Softly" – (6.10)
3. "Don't Want the Truth" – (5.40)
4. "For Your Dreams" – (5.04) (Gillan/Towns)

1989 Re-release

In 1989 the album was re-released in CD format again on the Virgin label. The revised track listing, featuring several bonus tracks, was as follows:

1. "Future Shock" – (3.06)
2. "Night Ride Out Of Phoenix" – (5.06) (Gillan/Towns)
3. "(The Ballad Of) The Lucitania Express" – (3.10)
4. "No Laughing In Heaven" – (4.58) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Towns/Underwood)
5. "Sacre Bleu" – (3.03)
6. "New Orleans" – (2.37) (Guida/Royster)
7. "Bite The Bullet" – (4.50) (Gillan/Towns)
8. "If I Sing Softly" – (6.10)
9. "Don't Want The Truth" – (5.40)
10. "For Your Dreams" – (5.04) (Gillan/Towns)
11. "One For The Road" – (3.03) (Gillan/Towns)
12. "Bad News" – (3.08) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Underwood)
13. "Take A Hold Of Yourself" – (4.42) (Gillan/McCoy/Towns/Underwood)
14. "Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)" – (3.13) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Towns/Underwood)
15. "The Maelstrom (Longer Than The A Side)" – (5.07) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Towns/Underwood)
16. "Trouble" – (2.39) (Leiber/Stoller)
17. "Your Sister's on My List" – (4.07) (Gillan/Towns)
18. "Handles on Her Hips" – (2.10)
19. "Higher and Higher" – (3.42)
20. "I Might As Well Go Home (Mystic)" – (2.16) (Gillan/Towns)

2007 Re-release

In 2007 the album was re-released in CD format again on the Edsel label. This has retrospective comments by Ian Gillan and the original artwork, plus pictures of various single picture-sleeves. The revised track listing, similar to the 1989 release, is as follows:

1. "Future Shock" – (3:06)
2. "Night Ride Out Of Phoenix" – (5:06) (Gillan/Towns)
3. "(The Ballad Of) The Lucitania Express" – (3:10)
4. "No Laughing In Heaven" – (4:58) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Towns/Underwood)
5. "Sacre Bleu" – (3:03)
6. "New Orleans" – (2:37) (Guida/Royster)
7. "Bite The Bullet" – (4:50) (Gillan/Towns)
8. "If I Sing Softly" – (6:10)
9. "Don't Want The Truth" – (5:40)
10. "For Your Dreams" – (5:04) (Gillan/Towns)
11. "Trouble" – (2:40) (Leiber/Stoller)
12. "Your Sister's on My List" – (4:07) (Gillan/Towns)
13. "Mutually Assured Destruction" – (3:13) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Towns/Underwood)
14. "The Maelstrom (Longer Than The A Side)" – (5:16) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Towns/Underwood)
15. "Take A Hold of Yourself" – (4:42) (Gillan/McCoy/Towns/Underwood)
16. "One for the Road" – (3:02) (Gillan/Towns)
17. "Lucille" – (2:39) (Collins/Richard)
18. "Bad News" – (3:06) (Gillan/McCoy/Tormé/Underwood)

Other notable re-releases

In August 2012 a new collectors edition of the album was released on vinyl. The release was produced as a 12-inch hardback book, with all the lyrics, images, photos and art from the original. The records themselves are housed in black holders within the book, each in a special bag with sleeve notes detailing the story of the album. The discs were pressed at 45 rpm for clarity of sound. This edition was limited to just 1,000 copies.

Personnel

• Ian Gillan – Lead vocals.
• Colin Towns – Keyboard.
• John McCoy – Bass.
• Bernie Tormé – Guitar.
• Mick Underwood – Drums.

Production notes

• Recorded and mixed at Kingsway Recorders, London, January 1981
• Produced by K.R.
• Engineered by Paul Watkins
• Mixed by Paul Watkins, John McCoy with contributions from Colin Towns, Bernie Tormé and Mick Underwood

Sales accomplishments

Chart positions

External links

• Ian Gillan's Homepage
• The Ian Gillan Discobiography (The Highway Star)
• Edsel Records feature about Gillan's Future Shock
• Alvin Toffler's official website

References