Black Snake Dîamond Röle was the debut solo album by former Soft Boys

The Soft Boys

The Soft Boys were a pop band during the punk era led by Robyn Hitchcock, whose initially old fashioned music style of psychedelic/folk-rock became part of the neo-psychedelia scene with the release of Underwater Moonlight...

 frontman Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar....

.

Backed on various tracks by his former Soft Boy mates Kimberley Rew

Kimberley Rew

Kimberley Rew is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as a member of Katrina and the Waves 1981 to 1999 and of Robyn Hitchcock's Soft Boys 1978 to 1981...

, Matthew Seligman

Matthew Seligman

Matthew Seligman is an English bassist who took part of the new wave scene in the 1970s and the 1980s, best known as a member of the Soft Boys.-Biography:...

 and Morris Windsor, Hitchcock confessed satisfaction at being able to record an album with only his own artistic goals to cater for, whereas previously he had been compelled to write for 'the band'. Vince Ely of the Psychedelic Furs, Knox

Knox (musician)

Knox also known as I.M. Carnarchan is a British musician and founding member of the seminal punk band The Vibrators.-Early life:...

 and Pat Collier

Pat Collier

Pat 'Red' Collier played Gaelic football for the Meath senior football team in the 1960's. He won 1 All-Ireland titles with Meath in 1967. He played club football for Stamullen. He first played for Meath in the Right Full Back position but he is best remered as an attacking and determined Right...

 of the Vibrators

The Vibrators

- Early career:The Vibrators were founded by Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis, and drummer John 'Eddie' Edwards. They first came to public notice at the 100 Club when they backed Chris Spedding in 1976. On Spedding's recommendation, Mickie Most signed them to his...

, Gary Barnacle

Gary Barnacle

Gary Barnacle is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work Gary Barnacle (born 1959, Dover, England) is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work...

 and Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...

 also make guest backing appearances. The sessions were recorded from June 1980 to January 1981 (http://www.bighassle.com/publicity/a_robyn_hitchcock.html) at the Barge, Alaska Studios in Waterloo, London, and Music Works with Pat Collier producing ("with a little help from Matthew Seligman").

The ensuing set falls somewhere between the harder edged style of The Soft Boys and Hitchcock's more reflective and melodic work with The Egyptians a few years later. Released in May 1981, the album included ten original Hitchcock compositions. Key tracks include concert favourites "Acid Bird" and the rocker "Brenda's Iron Sledge", plus some of Hitchcock's patent comedy in "Do Policemen Sing?" and "The Man Who Invented Himself". "I Watch The Cars" was recorded on the day John Lennon was killed.

The album's working title "Zinc Pear" is retained in the cover art, although the title eventually settled on refers instead to the early Soft Boys recording "Black Snake Diamond Rock". (Another working title had it listed as "The Perfumed Corpse".) The cover art and calligraphy are Hitchcock's work (credited as "R.R.H."), and the inner sleeve of the LP featured an original, cosmic Hitchcock pen-and-ink comic titled, The Enchanted Sewer.

The album has subsequently re-emerged on CD three times, with a mixture of bonus titles, pulled from B sides and outtakes. The 2nd and 3rd CD issues include a different mix of "The Man Who Invented Himself" sans horns, the original master having been lost in the intervening fourteen years.

Side one

1. "The Man Who Invented Himself"
2. "Brenda's Iron Sledge"
3. "Do Policemen Sing?"
4. "The Lizard"
5. "Meat"

1st CD issue bonus tracks (Aftermath Records 1987)

1. "Dancing On Gods Thumb" - originally B-side to "The Man Who Invented Himself" single, 1981

2nd CD issue (Rhino Records 1995)

1. "The Man Who Invented Himself" (Zinc Pear mix)

This replaces the 'lost' mix from the original release.

2nd CD issue bonus tracks (Rhino Records 1995)

1. "Dancing On Gods Thumb" - originally B-side to "The Man Who Invented Himself" single, 1981
2. "Happy The Golden Prince"
3. "I Watch The Cars 2" (previously unissued version)
4. "It Was The Night" (previously unissued version)
5. "Grooving On A Inner Plane" (Single version)

3rd CD issue bonus tracks (Yep Roc Records 2007)

1. "All I Wanna Do Is Fall In Love" *
2. "A Skull, A Suitcase, And A Long Red Bottle Of Wine" *
3. "It Was The Night" (previously unissued version)
4. "I Watch The Cars 2" (previously unissued version)
5. "Give Me A Spanner Ralph" *
6. "It's A Mystic Trip" *
7. "Grooving On A Inner Plane" (Single version)
8. "Happy The Golden Prince"

* denotes previous availability on Invisible Hitchcock

"Dancing On Gods Thumb" is dropped.

The other bonus tracks previously available on the Rhino version have their stereo fields reversed compared to that release.

Album tracks are same as Rhino version, i.e. still Zinc Pear mix of "The Man Who Invented himself".

Personnel

• Robyn Hitchcock
  Robyn Hitchcock
  Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar....
  
   - Piano, bass, lead guitar
• Morris Windsor - Drums, backing vocal
• Gary Barnacle
  Gary Barnacle
  Gary Barnacle is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work Gary Barnacle (born 1959, Dover, England) is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work...
  
   - Saxophones
• Matthew Seligman
  Matthew Seligman
  Matthew Seligman is an English bassist who took part of the new wave scene in the 1970s and the 1980s, best known as a member of the Soft Boys.-Biography:...
  
   - Bass, overbass on "Love"
• Vince Ely - Drums on "Brenda's Iron Sledge", "Do Policemen Sing?", "The Lizard" & "I Watch the Cars"
• Kimberley Rew
  Kimberley Rew
  Kimberley Rew is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as a member of Katrina and the Waves 1981 to 1999 and of Robyn Hitchcock's Soft Boys 1978 to 1981...
  
   - Guitar on "Do Policemen Sing?", "The Lizard", "I Watch the Cars" & "City of Shame"
• Knox
  Knox (musician)
  Knox also known as I.M. Carnarchan is a British musician and founding member of the seminal punk band The Vibrators.-Early life:...
  
   - Guitar on "Out of the Picture"
• Robb Appleton - Backing vocals on "Love"
• Howie Gilbert - Backing vocals on "Love"
• Tom Dolby
  Thomas Dolby
  Thomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
  
  - Ocean on "Love"