Machine Gun Etiquette
by The Damned
- Type: Album
- Released: 9 November 1979
- Label: Chiswick
- Country: United Kingdom
- Length: 36:45
- Community rating: 4.54/5 from 10 ratings
Artists on this release: Algy Ward, Rat Scabies, Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible
Album Notes & Community Reviews
Following a brief split and lineup change, 'Machine Gun Etiquette' marked a major creative rebirth for The Damned, expanding their sonic palette far beyond their initial punk framework. [3, 5, 7] The album infuses proto-hardcore energy with a diverse range of styles including psychedelic rock, garage, and pop sensibilities, showcasing Captain Sensible's transition to lead guitar and keyboards. [1, 2, 4] This stylistic variety, from the high-speed rush of "Love Song" to the melodic, keyboard-driven "I Just Can't Be Happy Today," cemented the record as a definitive and influential post-punk statement.
Genres
Descriptors: fast, short, bratty, loud, unpolished, melodic, DIY, punchy, witty
Tracklist
- Love Song (02:21)
- Machine Gun Etiquette (01:49)
- I Just Can't Be Happy Today (03:43)
- Melody Lee (02:07)
- Anti-Pope (03:20)
- These Hands (02:02)
- Plan 9 Channel 7 (05:08)
- Noise, Noise, Noise (03:11)
- Looking at You (05:07)
- Liar (02:44)
- Smash It Up - Pts. 1 & 2 (05:13)
Credits
- Dave Vanian - lead vocals
- Captain Sensible - guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, bass ("i just can't be happy today", "smash it up (parts 1 & 2)"), bass solo ("anti-pope"), mandolin ("turkey song"), lead vocals ("turkey song"), inner sleeve drawing
- Rat Scabies - drums, backing vocals, lead vocals ("burglar")
- Algy Ward - bass, backing vocals, guitar ("machine gun etiquette", "liar")
- Joe Strummer - backing vocals ("noise, noise, noise"), hand claps ("machine gun etiquette")
- Topper Headon - backing vocals ("noise, noise, noise")
- Henry Badowski - backing vocals ("noise, noise, noise")
- Paul Simonon - hand claps ("machine gun etiquette")
- Lemmy Kilmister - bass, backing vocals ("ballroom blitz")
- Anthony More - synthesizer ("rabid (over you)")
- Roger Armstrong - producer
- The Damned - producer
- Ed Hollis - producer ("love song" (ed hollis version), "noise, noise, noise" (ed hollis version), "suicide")
- Alvin Clarke - engineer (sound suite)
- Mike Shipley - engineer (wessex)
- Gary Edwards - engineer (wessex)
- Jeremy Green - engineer (wessex)
- Rik Watton - engineer (workhouse)
- Damian Korner - engineer (utopia)
- G. H. Wallis - engineer (sgs)
- Vic Keary - engineer (chalk farm)
- Phil Smee - artwork
- Alan Ballard - front cover photography
- Mick Young - photography
- Martin Baker - video director ("plan 9, channel 7")