Learning English, Lesson One
Encyclopedia
Learning English, Lesson One or Learning English, Lesson 1 (other punctuation
variations possible) is the second cover album
by the German
punk
band Die Toten Hosen
. The album includes covers of mostly British
bands, which were big influences for DTH.
This is also the first all-English
album for DTH, although the first English language studio album
came out 3 years later. This is also the album, that made the band known outside German
-speaking countries.
The album is notable for a large number of guest stars, including Johnny Thunders
, who died after recording "Born to Lose" for this album. According to band members he already wasn't looking very good, when he came to record his part.http://www.dietotenhosen.de/en/veroeffentlichungen_backkatalog_remastered_learning_english.php
The album has a central parody theme of an independent language-learning tape, where "Janet and John" are the teachers. Janet and John
are heard in short humorous introductions.
"
1991: "Baby Baby"
1992: "Whole Wide World
"
1992: "If the Kids Are United
Punctuation
Punctuation marks are symbols that indicate the structure and organization of written language, as well as intonation and pauses to be observed when reading aloud.In written English, punctuation is vital to disambiguate the meaning of sentences...
variations possible) is the second cover album
Cover Album
-Tracklisting:#Misono to Utaou! Animedley I # #...
by the German
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...
punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
. The album includes covers of mostly British
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
bands, which were big influences for DTH.
This is also the first all-English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
album for DTH, although the first English language studio album
Love, Peace & Money
Love, Peace & Money is the first English language album by the German punk band Die Toten Hosen , not counting the cover album Learning English, Lesson One. It was intended for the Japanese market...
came out 3 years later. This is also the album, that made the band known outside German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
-speaking countries.
The album is notable for a large number of guest stars, including Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
, who died after recording "Born to Lose" for this album. According to band members he already wasn't looking very good, when he came to record his part.http://www.dietotenhosen.de/en/veroeffentlichungen_backkatalog_remastered_learning_english.php
The album has a central parody theme of an independent language-learning tape, where "Janet and John" are the teachers. Janet and John
Janet and John
Janet and John are the main characters in a series of reading books for children aged 4–7 years.-Origin:Originally, these stories were published by Row Peterson and Company as the Alice and Jerry books in the USA....
are heard in short humorous introductions.
Track listing
The Hitlist
|
The Guestlist
2. Joey Ramone Joey Ramone Joey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman... (The Ramones) 3. Matt Dangerfield (The Boys The Boys (UK Band) The Boys are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976.Members of the band had previously played in other groups, such as London SS and Hollywood Brats. After recording four studio albums and eight singles, as well as recording Christmas themed music under the name The Yobs, they disbanded... ) 5. Pete Stride (The Lurkers The Lurkers The Lurkers were a late 1970s English punk rock group from Uxbridge, West London, notable for being the first group ever on Beggars Banquet Records.-Career:... ) 6. Jimmy Pursey Jimmy Pursey Jimmy Pursey is an English singer and record producer. He was the founder and frontman of the English punk rock band, Sham 69 from 1976 to 1980, and from 1986 to 2006.-Biography:... (Sham 69 Sham 69 Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived... ) 7. Nick Cash (999 999 (band) 999 are an English rock band who formed in London in 1977. They are often cited as one of the first punk rock bands. Between 1978 and 1981, they had five Top 75 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and one Top 40 single. After extensive touring across the Atlantic Ocean, the band's third and fourth... ) 9. Andy Ellison Andy Ellison Andrew "Andy" Ellison is a musician and vocalist best known as the frontman in John's Children, Jet and Radio Stars.... (The Radio Stars Radio Stars Radio Stars are an English new wave group formed in early 1977. They released three albums and had one UK Top 40 single.-Biography:Radio Stars were formed by ex-John's Children vocalist Andy Ellison, Sparks exile Martin Gordon , and Ian MacLeod in 1977, following the end of their underachieving... ) 10. 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:... (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... ) 11. TV Smith (The Adverts The Adverts The Adverts were an English punk band who formed in 1976 and broke up in late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to enjoy chart success in the UK, and their line-up included Gaye Advert, whom The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music called the "first female punk star".-Career:The band was... ) 12. Johnny Thunders Johnny Thunders Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls... (The Heartbreakers The Heartbreakers Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, also known as The Heartbreakers, were an American rock & roll band formed in New York in May 1975. The band was part of the first wave of punk rock.-History:... ) with Cheetah Chrome Cheetah Chrome Cheetah Chrome is an American musician who achieved fame as a guitarist for Rocket From the Tombs and the punk rock band, The Dead Boys.... (The Dead Boys The Dead Boys The Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Among the first wave of early punk bands, the Dead Boys were initially active from 1976 to 1979, briefly reuniting in 1987, 2004 and 2005.-Formation and 1970s punk rock era:... ) & Handsome Dick Manitoba (The Dictators The Dictators The Dictators are an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth." The Dictators are represented in the "Punk Wing" of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland, Ohio... ) 14. Martin Mitchel Rockafella (The Rockafellas) 15. Ronald Biggs Ronnie Biggs Ronald Arthur "Ronnie" Biggs is an English criminal, known for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963, for his escape from prison in 1965, for living as a fugitive for 36 years and for his various publicity stunts while in exile. In 2001, he voluntarily returned to the United Kingdom and... 17. Gene October Gene October Gene October is an English musician, best known as the singer for the punk rock band, Chelsea.October was instrumental in the creation of the punk venue The Roxy, persuading the manager of gay London nightclub, 'Shageramas', to convert the club to cater for a punk clientele... (Chelsea Chelsea (band) Chelsea are an English punk rock band, formed in London in 1976.Three of the four original band members went on to help found Generation X. More than two decades after its release, "Right to Work", Chelsea's debut single, was included in Mojo magazine's list of the best punk rock singles of all... ) 18. Wreckless Eric Wreckless Eric Wreckless Eric is an English rock and roll/new wave singer-songwriter, best known for his 1977 single " Whole Wide World" on Stiff Records. More than two decades after its release, the song was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time... 19. Captain Sensible Captain Sensible Captain Sensible is a singer, songwriter, guitarist who grew up in Croydon, England, and co-founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an alternative pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image... (The Damned) 20. Charlie Harper (UK Subs UK Subs The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K... ) 22. Neil O'Connor (The Flys The Flys (UK band) The Flys were a British punk rock band that originally formed in 1976 in Coventry, England. After the self-release of their initial EP, Bunch of Fives, they were signed by EMI Records. With EMI they released the albums Waikiki Beach Refugees and Own... ) 23. Graeme Douglas (Eddie and the Hot Rods) |
2007 remastered anniversary edition bonus tracks
- "No One Is InnocentNo One Is Innocent"No One Is Innocent" was the fifth single by the British punk rock band Sex Pistols. It was released on 30 June 1978. The Sex Pistols had split up early in 1978, losing bassist Sid Vicious and original lead vocalist Johnny Rotten...
" (Steve JonesSteve Jones (musician)Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
/Biggs) – 3:03 (from "Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)"Carnival in Rio " is a song by Die Toten Hosen and Ronnie Biggs. It's the lead single and the fifteenth track from the cover album Learning English, Lesson One, being also the only non-cover on the album....
"; Sex PistolsSex PistolsThe Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
cover)
- "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" (Mick JonesMick Jones (The Clash)Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
/Joe StrummerJoe StrummerJohn Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
) – 2:43 (from "Warum werde ich nicht satt?Warum werde ich nicht satt?"Warum werde ich nicht satt?" is a song by Die Toten Hosen. It's the fourth single and the third track from the album Unsterblich....
"; The ClashThe ClashThe Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
cover)
- "Rockaway Beach" (Colvin, Cummings, Erdelyi, Hyman) – 1:59 (from "Alles wird vorübergehenAlles wird vorübergehen"Alles wird vorübergehen" is a song by Die Toten Hosen. It's the third single and the fifth track from the album Zurück zum Glück....
"; RamonesRamonesThe Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
cover)
- "Eddie & Sheena" (Rogers) – 4:24 (Wayne County & the Electric ChairsWayne County & the Electric ChairsWayne County & the Electric Chairs were part of the first wave of punk bands from the 1970s. The band is headed by Georgia transgendered woman, Wayne County, who later changed her name to Jayne County.-Career:...
cover; recorded for Jürgen Krause's birthday, who is a good friend of the band)
- "Richmond" (Billingsley, Allen, Griffiths) – 2:39 (from the USUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
version of Learning English Lesson 1; Pin Point cover)
- "In Still of the Night" (Frege, Plain) – 4:11 (Learning English Lesson 1 demo)
- "Anything but Love" (Frege, Dangerfield) – 3:58 (Learning English Lesson 1 demo)
- "I Met Her at the Jet Grill" (Meurer/Frege, Plain) – 1:56 (Learning English Lesson 1 demo)
Singles
1991: "Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)
"Carnival in Rio " is a song by Die Toten Hosen and Ronnie Biggs. It's the lead single and the fifteenth track from the cover album Learning English, Lesson One, being also the only non-cover on the album....
"
1991: "Baby Baby"
1992: "Whole Wide World
(I'd Go The) Whole Wide World
" Whole Wide World" is a song written by English rock and roll singer-songwriter Eric Goulden, better known as Wreckless Eric. Goulden wrote the song in May 1974, and recorded it in 1977 while an original member of the Stiff Records label...
"
1992: "If the Kids Are United
If the Kids Are United
"If the Kids Are United" is a song by Sham 69. The single, backed by the B-side "Sunday Morning Nightmare", was a success and reached number 9 in the UK Singles Chart on July 1978...
Personnel
- Campino - vocals
- Andreas von Holst - 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...
- Michael Breitkopf - 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...
- Andreas Meurer - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Wolfgang Rohde - drums
Charts
| Year | Country | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 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... |
30 |
| 1991 | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
23 |
| 1991 | Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
38 |