Phantasmagoria (The Damned album)

Phantasmagoria is the sixth album by U.K. punk rock band the Damned, released by MCA in July 1985. Special editions were available on white vinyl or picture disc; some versions included a free 12-inch of their No. 3 hit "Eloise". It is the first album by the band without original member Captain Sensible, and was a style shift to gothic rock compared to the band's punk sound of its early and later career.[1]

Phantasmagoria
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1985
RecordedMarch–June 1985
StudioEel Pie, London
GenreGothic rock[1]
Length39:19
LabelMCA
Producer
The Damned chronology
Strawberries
(1982)
Phantasmagoria
(1985)
Anything
(1986)
Singles from Phantasmagoria
  1. "Grimly Fiendish"
    Released: 18 March 1985
  2. "The Shadow of Love"
    Released: 10 June 1985
  3. "Is It a Dream?"
    Released: 9 September 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

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 from March to 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 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.TitleWriter(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 Sensible3:27
6."Grimly Fiendish"Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Clive "Doctor" Jackson3:50
7."Edward the Bear" 3:37
8."The Eighth Day" 3:46
9."Trojans" 4:53
Total length:39:19
CD bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Grimly Fiendish" (The Bad Trip Mix)Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Jackson5:11
11."The Shadow of Love" (Ten Inches of Hell Mix) 6:41
Total length:51:39
Note
  • The non-album single "Eloise" appeared as a bonus track on the 1986 re-issued LP versions in Australia, Germany and Italy.

2009 expanded edition

Disc 1 bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
10."Grimly Fiendish (The Bad Trip Mix)"Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Jackson"Grimly Fiendish" 12"5:10
11."The Shadow of Love (Ten Inches of Hell Mix)" "The Shadow of Love" 10"6:42
12."Is It a Dream (Wild West Express Mix)"Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Sensible"Is It a Dream" 12"6:45
Disc 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
1."Grimly Fiendish (Spic 'n' Span Mix)"Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Jackson"Grimly Fiendish" 12"5:21
2."Edward the Bear" (B-side single version) "Grimly Fiendish" 7"3:53
3."The Shadow of Love (The Pressure Mix)" "The Shadow of Love" 12"5:34
4."Nightshift" (B-side) "The Shadow of Love" 7"2:24
5."Let There Be Rats" (Rat Scabies solo single)Scabies"The Shadow of Love" 7" double pack single2:09
6."Wiped Out" (Rat Scabies solo single)Scabies"The Shadow of Love" 7" double pack single1:34
7."Would You" (B-side)Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Vivian Mason"The Shadow of Love" 12"2:46
8."Is It a Dream (Wild West End Mix)"Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Sensible"Is It a Dream" 7"8:11
9."Street of Dreams" (Live) "Is It a Dream" 7"5:05
10."Curtain Call" (Live)Vanian, Scabies, Sensible, Paul Gray"Is It a Dream" 12"4:27
11."Pretty Vacant" (Live)Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Johnny Rotten"Is It a Dream" 12"2:04
12."Wild Thing" (Live)Chip Taylor"Is It a Dream" 12"2:14
13."The Shadow of Love" (BBC Radio 1 session) The Radio One Sessions, 19964:05
14."Is It a Dream" (BBC Radio 1 session)Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, SensibleThe Radio One Sessions3:36
15."Street of Dreams" (BBC Radio 1 session) The Radio One Sessions4:43
Notes
  • "Edward the Bear" (single version) is produced by Bob Sargeant and the Damned.
  • "Nightshift" and "Would You" are produced by the Damned.
  • "Let There Be Rats" and "Wiped Out" were originally released as a Rat Scabies 7" solo single in 1984; produced by Will Birch.
  • Live tracks recorded at Woolwich Coronet, 11 July 1985; engineered and mixed by Jon Kelly; all tracks feature Paul Shepley on keyboards; "Pretty Vacant"and "Wild Thing" features Rat Scabies on guitar and Roman Jugg on drums.
  • "The Shadow of Love", "Is It a Dream" and "Street of Dreams" recorded for Janice Long Session, 14 April 1985; produced by Harry Parked, engineered by Barry Adams and Peter Watts.

Personnel

The Damned
Additional musicians
Production
  • Jon Kelly – production, engineering (except 6)
  • Chris Ludwinsky – additional engineering
  • Bob Sargeant – production (6)
  • The Damned – production (6)
  • Bob Carlos Clarke – cover photography
  • Booce – cover artwork

References

  1. AllMusic review
  2. "Smashing It Up: A Decade of Chaos with the Damned by Kieron Tyler
  3. Wawzenek, Bryan (1 December 2016). "30 Years Ago: The Damned End a 10-Year Run with 'Anything'". Diffuser.fm.
  4. Toman, Stephen (7 April 2009). "The Damned – Phantasmagoria / Anything Reappraised". The Skinny.
  5. "Susie Bick – the Fashion Spot". Forums.thefashionspot.com. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
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