The Ghost of Cain
| The Ghost of Cain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by New Model Army | ||||
| Released | 1986 | |||
| Genre | Rock, post-punk | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Producer | Glyn Johns | |||
| New Model Army chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| Robert Christgau | A−[1] |
The Ghost of Cain is the third studio album of British rock band New Model Army. Released in 1986, The Ghost of Cain propelled the band to the forefront of the alternative rock scene in the 1980s. Not least thanks to the widely acclaimed underground hit song, "51st State", which is the only song by the band to date to feature lyrics not written by the band themselves; the lyrics were written by Ashley Cartwright of The Shakes.
It was the first album to feature new bassist, Jason 'Moose' Harris. It also features former Nine Below Zero member Mark Feltham as a guest musician on harmonica on songs "Poison Street" and "Ballad".
Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura covered the song "The Hunt" on their 1993 album, Chaos A.D..[2] UK folk metal band Skyclad covered the song "Master Race" on their Oui Avant-Garde á Chance album in 1996.
Singles and EPs
The tracks which have featured on the album which and have been released as singles are 51st State" and "Poison Street".
An EP was also released in the U.S., featuring the tracks "Lights Go Out" (extended mix), "Poison Street" (extended mix), "Poison Street" (single mix), "Courage" and "Lights Go Out" (dub mix).
Versions
The album was originally released as an LP and cassette in September 1986 with 10 tracks. The album was soon after released on CD in April 1987.
A remastered version with a bonus disc containing rarities, B-sides and live tracks was released in May 2005.
Track listing
Original album
- "The Hunt" (Justin Sullivan, Robert Heaton) – 4:11
- "Lights Go Out" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:55
- "51st State" (Ashley Cartwright, New Model Army) – 2:32
- "All of This" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:32
- "Poison Street" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:04
- "Western Dream" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:53
- "Lovesongs" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:00
- "Heroes" (Sullivan) – 4:04
- "Ballad" (Sullivan) – 3:53
- "Master Race" (Sullivan) – 2:59
2005 CD bonus tracks
- "Brave New World" (Sullivan, Heaton, Jason Harris, Joolz Denby) – 3:27
- "Brave New World 2" (Sullivan, Heaton, Harris, Denby) – 3:26
- "R.I.P" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 4:11
- "Ten Commandments" (Sullivan) – 3:43
- "Courage" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:18
- "Poison Street" (12" Version) (Sullivan, Heaton) – 4:05
- "Lights Go Out" (US mix) (Sullivan, Heaton) – 6:31
- "The Hunt" (live) (Sullivan, Heaton) – 4:21
- "All of This" (live) (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:50
- "Lovesongs" (live) (Sullivan, Heaton) – 4:00
- "51st State" (live) (Cartwright, New Model Army) – 2:35
Personnel
Production
- Glyn Johns – producer, engineer
- Stuart Stawman – engineer
- Ethan Johns - additional engineering
- Joolz Denby – cover design
- Francesca Sullivan – cover photography
Musicians
- Justin Sullivan – vocals, guitar
- Robert Heaton – drums
- Jason 'Moose' Harris – bass
- Mark Feltham – harmonica on "Poison Street" and "Ballad"
Trivia
The slogan "Only stupid bastards use heroin" can be read on top of the jacket shown on the front-cover, although some parts are hidden by the belt. This slogan was used by the band in the early days to fight the then fashionable drug. (See also liner-notes for 'Heroin' on the B-Sides and Abandoned Tracks album.) UK anarcho-punk Band Conflict modified this slogan to give title to their 1986 live-LP 'Only stupid bastards help EMI' released on the meaningful "New Army Records" label. This was an attack against the band and its relationship to their record company. The trademark 'stencil' band name logo was hand painted on to the bottom panel of the jacket by Brett Selby.
References
- ↑ Christgau, Robert. "New Model Army". Robert Christgau.
- ↑ "Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Retrieved 3 August 2014.