Anything (The Damned album)
Encyclopedia
Anything was The Damned's seventh studio album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, released in 1986.
Between July and August 1985 the band and producer Jon Kelly
Jon Kelly
Jon Kelly is a British music producer who has produced albums and singles for Chris Rea, The Damned, Kate Bush, Pele , The Beautiful South, Prefab Sprout, Deacon Blue, Heather Nova, The Levellers, Fish, Lynsey De Paul and Nolwenn Leroy.-References:...
decamped to Puk Recording Studios in Gjerlev, Denmark to record their follow-up. In contrast to the straightforward sessions for their previous album, recording was rife with problems. Kelly attempted to steer the band towards the 'Goth Opera' style that had served them so well, but the band wanted to move in a new direction, with a psychedelic rock flavour – epitomised by their cover of Love
Love (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
’s "Alone Again Or".
The album received lackluster reviews, and, considering the expenditure involved, was a commercial flop, peaking at #40 on the UK charts and spending just two weeks in the Top 100. It would lead to the band’s contract with MCA
Music Corporation of America
MCA, Inc. was an American talent agency. Initially starting in the music business, they would next become a dominant force in the film business, and later expanded into the television business...
being terminated, and would be the band’s last album for a decade.
The distinctive carving on the cover was made by Howard Rayhoult. On some pressings of the vinyl release this was unpainted, while some were coloured by Jef Hartley and Booce. The CD version of the album uses the coloured cover.
Anything spawned the UK hit singles "Anything" (#32), "Gigolo" (#29) and "Alone Again Or" (#27).
It was re-released on CD in 2009, and contained many extra tracks of remixes and live performances.
Tracklisting
All songs by Jugg/Merrick/Scabies/Vanian except as noted.- "Anything" (Crowley/Jugg/Merrick/Scabies/Vanian) - 4:47
- "Alone Again Or" (Bryan MacLeanBryan MacLeanBryan MacLean was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, most known for his work with the influential rock band Love. His famous compositions for Love include "Alone Again Or" and "Old Man".-Early life:...
) - 3:38 - "Portrait" - 3:50
- "Restless" - 4:57
- "In Dulce DecorumIn Dulce Decorum"In Dulce Decorum" was a single released by The Damned in 1987.The song was originally recorded for the Anything album, but was issued as a single to promote the MCA retrospective Light at the End of the Tunnel. The track was inspired by Wilfred Owen's poem Dulce et Decorum Est, and began with an...
" - 4:47 - "Gigolo" - 6:02
- "The Girl Walks Down" - 4:35
- "Tightrope Walk" - 4:21
- "Psychomania" - 4:03
Singles
- "Anything" (#32 UK)
- "Gigolo" (#29 UK)
- "Alone Again Or" (#27 UK)
- "In Dulce DecorumIn Dulce Decorum"In Dulce Decorum" was a single released by The Damned in 1987.The song was originally recorded for the Anything album, but was issued as a single to promote the MCA retrospective Light at the End of the Tunnel. The track was inspired by Wilfred Owen's poem Dulce et Decorum Est, and began with an...
"
Personnel
- ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
:- Jon KellyJon KellyJon Kelly is a British music producer who has produced albums and singles for Chris Rea, The Damned, Kate Bush, Pele , The Beautiful South, Prefab Sprout, Deacon Blue, Heather Nova, The Levellers, Fish, Lynsey De Paul and Nolwenn Leroy.-References:...
- Jon Kelly
- MusicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s:- Dave Vanian: Vocals
- Roman JuggRoman JuggRoman Jugg is a keyboard player and guitarist. He began his career in the Welsh punk band Victimize in the late 1970s....
: GuitarGuitarThe 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...
, KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Vocals - Rat ScabiesRat ScabiesChristopher Millar , better known by his stage name Rat Scabies, is a musician best known for his tenure as the drummer for The Damned....
: DrumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s - Bryn MerrickBryn MerrickBryn Merrick is a musician who was a member of Cardiff-based punk band Victimize and who later joined The Damned between 1983 and 1989. He recorded the bass for albums Phantasmagoria and Anything. He replaced Paul Gray in 1983, when Paul went to UFO...
: BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Vocals
- Guest MusiciansMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
- Blue WeaverBlue WeaverBlue Weaver is a British keyboard player, session musician, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:...
: Keyboards - Paul "Shirley" Shepley: Keyboards
- Paul "Wix" WickensPaul WickensPaul "Wix" Wickens is a keyboardist and composer from Essex, United Kingdom. Wickens has worked with musicians such as Paul McCartney, Nik Kershaw, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bon Jovi and many other artists. Wickens has been a member of McCartney's touring band since 1989.-Career:Wickens began...
: Keyboards - Suzie O’List: Backing vocals
- Kurt Holm: TrumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Blue Weaver