Phantasmagoria (The Damned album)
Phantasmagoria | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 1985 | |||
Recorded | March - June 1985 | |||
Studio | Eel Pie Recording Studios (London) | |||
Genre | Gothic rock | |||
Length | 39:19 | |||
Label | Off Beat | |||
Producer | Jon Kelly, Bob Sargeant, The Damned | |||
The Damned chronology | ||||
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Singles from Phantasmagoria | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Phantasmagoria is the sixth album by the Damned, released by MCA in July 1985. Special editions were available on white vinyl or picture disc; some versions included a free 12" of their No. 3 hit "Eloise".
History[]
After much wrangling, the Damned received a new contract with MCA Records in October 1984 on the strength of the song "Grimly Fiendish",[2] issued as a single the following March. They recorded the album in Eel Pie Studios between March and June 1985. It reached No. 11 in the charts, and was the band's highest charting album ever, until the release of Evil Spirits in 2018, which cracked the top-ten at No. 7. The non-album single "Eloise," (a Barry Ryan cover), released six months later, became a huge UK hit, reaching No. 3.
The Damned centred the entire album around David Vanian's deep voice, giving much of the album a gothic feeling.[3] The album was remastered and reissued by Geffen Records in Japan in 2007, featuring replicas of the LP's outer and inner sleeves and a CD label resembling the white vinyl edition. In 2009, an expanded edition was issued by Universal Music Group in Europe.[4]
Artwork[]
The cover image of Susie Bick (future wife of Nick Cave) was taken by photographer Bob Carlos Clarke[5] at Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road.
Track listing[]
All tracks are written by Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies, Roman Jugg and Bryn Merrick, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Street of Dreams" | 5:38 | |
2. | "Shadow of Love" | 3:51 | |
3. | "There'll Come a Day" | 4:15 | |
4. | "Sanctum Sanctorum" | 6:27 | |
5. | "Is It a Dream" | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Captain Sensible | 3:27 |
6. | "Grimly Fiendish" | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Clive "Doctor" Jackson | 3:50 |
7. | "Edward the Bear" | 3:37 | |
8. | "The Eighth Day" | 3:46 | |
9. | "Trojans" | 4:53 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
10. | "Grimly Fiendish" (The Bad Trip Mix) | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Jackson | 5:11 |
11. | "The Shadow of Love" (Ten Inches of Hell Mix) | 6:41 |
- Note
- The non-album single "Eloise" appeared as a bonus track on the 1986 re-issued LP versions in Australia, Germany and Italy.
Personnel[]
- The Damned
- Dave Vanian – lead vocals
- Roman Jugg – guitar, keyboards, lead vocals (7), backing vocals
- Bryn Merrick – bass, backing vocals
- Rat Scabies – drums
- Additional musicians
- Paul Shepley – additional keyboards (8)
- Andy Richards – additional keyboards
- Luís Jardim – percussion
- Gary Barnacle – saxophone and brass
- Steve Nieve – keyboard inspiration (4)
- Production
- Jon Kelly – production, engineering
- Chris Ludwinsky – additional engineering
- Bob Sargeant – production (6)
- The Damned – production (6)
- Bob Carlos Clarke – cover photography
- Booce – cover artwork
References[]
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ "Smashing It Up: A Decade of Chaos with the Damned by Kieron Tyler
- ^ "30 Years Ago: The Damned End a 10-Year Run with 'Anything'".
- ^ "The Damned - Phantasmagoria / Anything Reappraised | the Skinny".
- ^ "Susie Bick - the Fashion Spot". Forums.thefashionspot.com. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- 1985 albums
- Albums produced by Jon Kelly
- The Damned (band) albums
- Gothic rock albums by English artists