Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls (album)
Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls (sometimes called Untitled) is the only album made by Penetration singer Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls, John Cooper Clarke's backing band. It was released in September 1980 on the RSO label.
Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls | ||||
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![]() 1980 LP sleeve | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 1980 | |||
Recorded | July 1980 | |||
Studio | Strawberry Studios, Stockport, England | |||
Genre | Synthpop Gothic rock Post-punk | |||
Label | RSO, Illusive Records | |||
Producer | Martin Hannett, Steve Hopkins | |||
Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls chronology | ||||
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Singles from Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Alongside core members Martin Hannett on bass and record production, Steve Hopkins on keyboards and Paul Burgess on drums, the band included several musicians from other Manchester bands: The Durutti Column's Vini Reilly and Dave Rowbotham on guitar, John Maher from Buzzcocks on drums, Dave Hassell on percussion and Murray's boyfriend Robert Blamire on bass. Like Murray, Blamire had been a member of Penetration until it dissolved in late 1979. With Blamire in the band, Hannett moved from bass to keyboards.
Track listing
![](../I/Pauline_Murray_in_1981.jpg.webp)
Original LP content
All tracks composed by Pauline Murray and Robert Blamire; except where indicated
Side one
- "Screaming in the Darkness"
- "Dream Sequence 1"
- "European Eyes"
- "Shoot You Down"
- "Sympathy"
- "Time Slipping" (Martin Hannett, Steve Hopkins)
Side two
- "Drummer Boy"
- "Thundertunes"
- "When Will We Learn"
- "Mr. X"
- "Judgement Day"[2]
1993 CD reissue
The three songs from the single "Searching For Heaven" are included as bonus tracks.
- "Screaming in the Darkness" – 3:36
- "Dream Sequence 1" – 3:19
- "European Eyes" – 3:20
- "Shoot You Down" – 2:07
- "Sympathy" – 2:47
- "Time Slipping" – 4:04
- "Drummer Boy" – 3:03
- "Thundertunes" – 3:23
- "When Will We Learn" – 3:35
- "Mr. X" – 4:27
- "Judgement Day" – 4:25
- "The Visitor" – 3:44
- "Animal Crazy" – 3:16
- "Searching for Heaven" – 2:59
The version of "Dream Sequence 1" on this CD differs from the one on the original vinyl release. It may be a completely different take or possibly a different vocal recording over the same backing.
![](../I/Pauline-Murray_Photo-Jos-van-Vliet.jpg.webp)
Singles
- "Dream Sequences", 7", 10", Illusive Records, 1980, IVEX1
- "Dream Sequence I"
- "Dream Sequence II"
- Produced and arranged by the Invisible Girls including Martin Hannett, Robert Blamire, Steve Hopkins, with thanks to Alan Rawlings
- Published by Quarry Music.
- Cover by Peter Saville and Trevor Key
- Released through RSO Records Limited
- "Mr. X", 7", Illusive Records, 1980, IVE2
- "Mr. X"
- "Two Shots"
- Written by Pauline Murray and Robert Blamire
- Recorded in the Big Room
- Mixing – Martin Hannett
- Produced and arranged by the Invisible Girls
- Released through RSO Records Limited
- "Searching for Heaven", 7", 10", Illusive Records, 1981, IVEX3
- "Searching for Heaven" (Murray, Blamire, Wayne Hussey)
- "Animal Crazy" (Murray)
- "The Visitor" (Murray)
- Bass – Robert Blamire
- Keyboards – Steve Hopkins
- Guitar – Wayne Hussey
- Drums – John Maher
- Uncredited guitar – Bernard Sumner on "Searching for Heaven"
- Producer – Martin Hannett
- Photography – Sheila Rock
- Design – Martyn Atkins
- Cover – Peter Saville and Trevor Key
- Thanks also to Alan Rawlings
- Published by Quarry Music
- Released through RSO Records Limited
Wayne Hussey had been recruited via a Melody Maker advertisement at the end of 1980 and Martin Hannett recruited Bernard Sumner to execute the guitar solo in "Searching for Heaven" as New Order were waiting to use the studio.
Personnel
- Pauline Murray – lead vocals
- The Invisible Girls
- Robert Blamire – bass
- Martin Hannett – keyboards, producer
- Steve Hopkins – keyboards, producer
- Vini Reilly – "special guest" guitar
- John Maher – drums
- Paul Burgess – drums
- Dave Rowbotham – guitar
- Dave Hassell – percussion
- Alan Rawlings – guitar (only 12)
- Wayne Hussey – guitar (only 12 and 13)
- Bernard Sumner – guitar (only 14)
- Technical
- Chris Nagle – engineer
References
- Allmusic review
- "Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls – Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls (1980, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.