A–Z (album)

A–Z is the debut studio album by Colin Newman, lead singer of post-punk band Wire. It was released in October 1980, through record label Beggars Banquet. "A-Z was planned as the fourth Wire album, but EMI [Wire's label] cancelled studio time in the wake of failed negotiations with the band."[1]

For the series of songs by Ash, later released as compilations, see A–Z Series.

A–Z
Studio album by
Colin Newman
ReleasedOctober 1980
Recorded1980
StudioScorpio, London, England
GenrePost-punk
Length43:43
LanguageEnglish
LabelBeggars Banquet
ProducerMike Thorne
Colin Newman chronology
A–Z
(1980)		 Provisionally Entitled the Singing Fish
(1981)

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[3]
Pitchfork8.2/10[4]
Record Mirror[5]
Smash Hits7/10[6]
Uncut9/10[7]

A–Z has been well received. Jim Derogatis and Wilson Neate, writing in Trouser Press, called Newman's solo work "the most rewarding" of any Wire member's projects outside the main band. Discussing A-Z and Not To, they wrote, "Both albums are inventive and full of hooks, and they continue the cinematic style of Chairs Missing and 154."[8] In his retrospective review for AllMusic, Andy Kellman wrote, "A–Z truly deserves to be held in the same regard as Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154".[2] Jason A. Parkes of Head Heritage wrote that it was "probably the best album [released] between the first and second phases of Wire".[9] Richard Cook of the British music magazine NME was less positive, calling the album, along with Newman's subsequent work Provisionally Entitled the Singing Fish, "erratic and needlessly fussy affairs that creak under pretensions to alchemy when studio pottering is nearer the mark."[10]

Legacy

"Not Me" and "Alone" were covered by This Mortal Coil on the albums It'll End in Tears and Filigree & Shadow, respectively. "S-S-S-Star Eyes" was covered by P-Model and released as a supplementary cassette to an issue of the band's fan club newsletter. "Alone" was used in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Colin Newman, except where noted

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I've Waited Ages" 5:05
2."& Jury"
  • Newman
  • Desmond Simmons
2:47
3."Alone"
3:57
4."Order for Order" 2:44
5."Image" 4:18
6."Life on Deck" 3:12
Side B
No.TitleLength
7."Troisieme"4:09
8."S-S-S-Star Eyes"2:09
9."Seconds to Last"7:07
10."Inventory"2:11
11."But No"3:06
12."B"2:58
Total length:43:43
Additional tracks on CD release (1988)
No.TitleLength
13."The Classic Remains"3:52
14."Alone on Piano"1:56
15."This Picture"3:31
16."Not Me"2:39
17."Don't Bring Reminders"2:22
Total length:58:03

Personnel
  • Colin Newman – guitar, vocals, album cover
  • Desmond Simmons – bass guitar, guitar
  • Mike Thorne – synthesizer, keyboards, production
  • Robert Gotobed – drums
  • Charles Bullen – clarinet on "Troisieme"

Technical

  • A. Newman – album cover
  • Harvey Goldberg – engineering
  • Dennis Weinreich – engineering
  • Steve Parker – engineering
  • Malti Kidia – sleeve layout and typography
  • Jack Skinner – cutting

References
  1. Green, Jim (June 1981). "Colin Newman". Trouser Press. Vol. 8, no. 4. New York. p. 18. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  2. Kellman, Andy. "A–Z – Colin Newman". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1990). "Colin Newman: A–Z". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  4. Sandlin, Michael. "Colin Newman: A–Z". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. Perry, Mark (11 October 1980). "Colin Newman: A–Z". Record Mirror. p. 19.
  6. Taylor, Steve (30 October 1980). "Colin Newman: A–Z". Smash Hits. Vol. 2, no. 22. p. 33.
  7. Dale, Jon (December 2016). "Colin Newman: A–Z / Provisionally Entitled the Singing Fish / Not To". Uncut. No. 235. p. 49.
  8. DeRogatis, Jim; Neate, Wilson. "TrouserPress.com :: Wire". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  9. Parkes, Jason A. (5 June 2007). "Colin Newman – A–Z". Head Heritage. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  10. Paul Lester (11 November 2009). Lowdown: The Story of Wire. Music Sales. ISBN 978-0-85712-041-0.
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