Hammer and Tongs
Encyclopedia
Hammer and Tongs is the second album from the Scottish rock group Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie
. It was recorded in Germany
in 1989, at Berlin
's Hansa Ton Studios just as the Fall of the Berlin Wall occurred. The album sat on the shelf for almost 18 months, in which time the band were transferred across EMI
record labels, from Capitol
to Parlophone
, who released two singles
from the album in 1990. Parlophone sold the band's record deal to Radioactive Records
and MCA
, who released Hammer and Tongs in the United Kingdom
in early 1991 and encouraged the band to record a new song "Now We Are Married
" to promote the release.
Later that year, Radioactive, and their partners MCA
, repackaged the album for international release by including several stand-out tracks from the band's debut album Good Deeds and Dirty Rags
and eponymously re-titling the album as Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie.
Unreleased Parlophone version
2006 Cherry Red re-issue bonus tracks
Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie
Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie were a Scottish 1980s and 1990s rock group formed in Bathgate, near Edinburgh, Scotland...
. It was recorded in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1989, at Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
's Hansa Ton Studios just as the Fall of the Berlin Wall occurred. The album sat on the shelf for almost 18 months, in which time the band were transferred across EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
record labels, from Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
to Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
, who released two singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album in 1990. Parlophone sold the band's record deal to Radioactive Records
Radioactive Records
Radioactive Records was an American record label. It was formed as a joint venture between talent manager Gary Kurfirst and MCA Records, and it is now out of business....
and 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...
, who released Hammer and Tongs in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in early 1991 and encouraged the band to record a new song "Now We Are Married
Now We Are Married
"Now We Are Married" is a 1991 single by Scottish alternative rock group Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie. It was their first single release for MCA's Radioactive Records label. "Now We Are Married" was taken from the band's second studio album Hammer and Tongs which it preceded the same year.In 1991, after...
" to promote the release.
Later that year, Radioactive, and their partners 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...
, repackaged the album for international release by including several stand-out tracks from the band's debut album Good Deeds and Dirty Rags
Good Deeds and Dirty Rags
Good Deeds and Dirty Rags is the first album from the Scottish group Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie. It was released in the UK in 1989 and is therefore from the same era as a number of other Scottish bands including Deacon Blue, Hue and Cry and Danny Wilson...
and eponymously re-titling the album as Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie.
Track listing
All songs written by Metcalfe and Kelly, except where noted.- "Blacker Than Black"
- "Bold John Barleycorn"
- "Diamonds"
- "The Burning"
- "Now We Are Married"
- "Sick Baby" (Metcalfe/Kelly/Scobie/Wilson/Duncan)
- "Down to the Minimum" (Metcalfe/Kelly/Scobie/Wilson/Duncan)
- "She's Strong"
- "Love Child"
- "Tongue-Tied"
Unreleased Parlophone version
- "Working on a Shoe-fly"
2006 Cherry Red re-issue bonus tracks
- "Friday's Child" (Hazelwood)
- "Candelstick Park II
- "Candy Says" (ReedLou ReedLewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
) - "Now We Are Married" (Extended version)