Almost Red is Killing Joke's second EP released in November 1979, one month after their Turn to Red

Turn to Red

Turn to Red, is the original version of Killing Joke's debut EP, released in October 1979. It lacked the track "Almost Red", which would appear a month later on the 12" release...

EP. The album was originally sold at gigs on tour for their upcoming debut album, Killing Joke

Killing Joke (1980 album)

Killing Joke is the debut studio album of the London post-punk band Killing Joke. Released in August, 1980 worldwide under E'G Records, Killing Joke was self-produced and was considered an underground album. The album was recorded in early 1980, shortly after a small tour promoting the Almost Red EP...

, to be released the following year in the UK. Each EP sold was marked as "factory sample".

Production and release

A 12" vinyl, Almost Red has the same tracks as Turn to Red, but includes a new song, entitled "Almost Red". This release is perhaps the definitive statement of Reggae Dub and Punk influences underpinning Martin Youth and Paul Ferguson's ground breaking rhythm section (over 10 years ahead of its time). A very scarce reworking of "Are You Receiving" with new guitar sections added by Geordie was recorded during their legendary debut Capital Radio

Capital Radio

Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...

 session and appeared on the semi-official Bum's Rush LP the following year. It was then selected by Geordie for inclusion in the 2003 Unperverted Pantomime CD which combined the best of Bum's Rush. The incredibly scarce Unperverted Pantomime cassette, with only 500 releases, comprised a full 1979 live set and tracks from several early sessions. They include Turn to Red and Are You Receiving.

Album Cover

The album cover for Almost Red and Turn to Red are almost identical. Only the title is different, for the font for Turn to Red is larger, and has only three tracks listed. Almost Red has a smaller font for the title, and four tracks are listed.

Track listing

Side A:

1. "Almost Red" – 03:48
2. "Nervous System" – 04:10

Side B:

1. "Are You Receiving" – 04:50
2. "Turn to Red" – 04:10

Personnel

• Jaz Coleman
  Jaz Coleman
  Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
  
   - vocals, synthesizer
  Synthesizer
  A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
  
  
• Kevin "Geordie" Walker
  Geordie Walker
  Kevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
  
   - guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  
• Martin "Youth" Glover
  Martin Glover
  Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
  
   - bass guitar
  Bass guitar
  The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
  
  
• Paul Ferguson
  Paul Ferguson
  Paul Ferguson is a rock drummer, best known for his work in the post-punk/industrial group, Killing Joke, and cult English punk band, Pink Parts. Ferguson was a founder member of Killing Joke, and was their drummer from 1978 to 1987, and was known as 'Big Paul Ferguson' during this period...
  
   - drums
  Drum kit
  A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
  
  , vocals