The Flying Lizards is the 1980 debut album[4] by The Flying Lizards and was released on the Virgin Records label.[5]
The Flying Lizards | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 1980 | |||
Recorded | 1978–1979 | |||
Studio | Berry Street Studio and Brixton Academy additional recordings in NYC, Munich, Maidstone and in transit | |||
Length | 42:07 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | David Cunningham | |||
The Flying Lizards chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Record Mirror | [2] |
Smash Hits | 7½/10[3] |
Preceded by two surprise hit singles, the album reached No. 60 in the UK Albums Chart.[6]
Background
editFollowing the unexpected success of the group's 1979 singles—covers of "Summertime Blues" and "Money"—David Cunningham and Deborah Evans were offered a deal with Virgin Records.[7] New material for the album featured improvisational musicians Steve Beresford and David Toop.[7]
The album encompasses "dub-style audio experiments" and "bent interpretations of pop music constructs."[7] Critic Simon Reynolds called it "an exercise in pop absurdism" which included "a Brecht-Weill cover, Sanskrit chants, found sounds, and unlikely instrumental textures" alongside "Cunningham's penchant for excessive studio processing and daft effects."[8]
Charts
editChart (1980) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian (Kent Music Report) | 37[9] |
United Kingdom UK Albums Chart | 60[6] |
New Zealand Official New Zealand Music Chart | 28[10] |
US Billboard 200 | 99 |
Track list
edit1980 release
editAll tracks by David Cunningham except as noted
- "Der Song von Mandelay" (titled "Mandelay Song" on UK release) (Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill) - 2:27
- "Her Story" (Dave Solomon, David Cunningham, General-Strike, Vivien Goldman) - 4:37
- "TV" (David Cunningham, Deborah Evans-Stickland, General-Strike) - 3:51
- "Russia" - 6:11
- "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart) - 3:09
- "Money (That's What I Want)" (Berry Gordy, Janie Bradford) - 5:52
- "The Flood" - 4:57
- "Trouble" - 2:46
- "Events During Flood" - 3:25
- "The Window" (Vivien Goldman) - 4:52
Bonus tracks on 1995 CD
edit11. "All Guitars" ("Summertime Blues" single B-side) - 2:41
12. "Tube" (instrumental remix of "TV" - B side of "TV" single) - 5:09
13. "Money (That's What I Want)" (single edit) - 2:32
General Strike are David Toop and Steve Beresford, who also made the album Danger In Paradise with David Cunningham in the years 1979-1982[11]
Personnel
edit- David Cunningham
- David Toop
- Steve Beresford
- Michael Upton
- Deborah Evans-Stickland
- Vivien Goldman
- Julian Marshall
References
edit- "The Flying Lizards" album cover
- ^ The Flying Lizards at AllMusic
- ^ Russell, Rosalind (2 February 1980). "Lounge Lizards". Record Mirror. p. 13.
- ^ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (February 7–20): 31.
- ^ "Images for The Flying Lizards - The Flying Lizards". Discogs.com. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "The Flying Lizards - The Flying Lizards". Discogs.com. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ a b "flying lizards | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ a b c Deming, Mark. "The Flying Lizards – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ Reynolds, Simon (2005). Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. Penguin. p. 188.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 114. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "australian-charts.com - The Flying Lizards - The Flying Lizards". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "staubgold - music out of place - Danger In Paradise". Staubgold.com. Retrieved 9 May 2022.