The Good, the Bad and the Queen
Encyclopedia
The Good, the Bad & the Queen is the album by an ostensibly unnamed British alternative rock
supergroup
also commonly referred to as The Good, The Bad & The Queen, and made up of Damon Albarn
, Paul Simonon
, Simon Tong
and Tony Allen
. The album was released in January 2007. The album debuted at number two in the UK Albums Chart
and was certified Gold
in the UK within days of its release despite little media recognition and airplay. In the United States, the album entered the Billboard 200
at #49. Although The Good, The Bad & The Queen was first reported as a solo album by Albarn with Danger Mouse
producing, NME
revealed in late July 2006 that the solo project had been switched to a new group formed by Albarn.
Albarn has stated in several interviews that the band itself is unnamed, and that The Good, The Bad & The Queen is simply the name of the album only. However, it should also be noted that all single releases by the band are prominently credited to "The Good, The Bad & The Queen", and that the band's first single release ("Herculean") was issued months before the album ever came out. As well, "The Good, the Bad & the Queen" is used exclusively as the name of the band by UK chart compilers, and almost universally by record stores, music downloading services, concert promoters, fansites and other media.
It is stated that the record is, in a sense, a concept album
, as its songs are all themed around modern life in London. It was described by Albarn as "a song cycle
that's also a mystery play
about London" in an interview with Mojo
.
, "Herculean
" on 30 October 2006. The single followed the band's appearance at the BBC
's Electric Proms season at the redeveloped Roundhouse
in Camden
on 26 October, during which they performed the entire album. Three warm-up gigs in East Prawle at the Pig's Nose Inn, Ilfracombes Marlboro Club and The Exeter Cavern Club preceded their gig on the BBC's Electric Proms, where the album was performed in order with two other songs inserted, "Intermission Jam" and "Mr. Whippy"; the latter was a B-side
for "Herculean". The band performed four tracks from the album at Abbey Road Studios
on December 13, 2006, during a recording session for Live from Abbey Road.
The track listing was originally unveiled and commented upon by Damon Albarn and Paul Simonon in an interview in the November 2006 issue of Uncut
.. The second major gig of the band's career took place on 12 December 2006, at Wilton's Music Hall in East London. It was watched by 300 specially selected fans, as the launch gig of MySpace's The List. The band released their first Top 20
single, "Kingdom of Doom
", a week prior to the release of the album. In April, "Green Fields
" was released as the third single from the album and debuted at #51 in its first week.
On 4 April 2007, The Good, the Bad & the Queen became the first EMI album to be made available for download in the new DRM
-free, high quality MP3 format (320 kbit/s).
and Paul Simonon
both made appearances on Damon Albarn's next project, the third Gorillaz
album Plastic Beach
. In November 2011, the band played a show at London's Coronet Theatre marking the 40th anniversary of Greenpeace
- the first time the band had played together in almost three years.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
also commonly referred to as The Good, The Bad & The Queen, and made up of Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
, Paul Simonon
Paul Simonon
Paul Gustave Simonon is an English musician and artist best known as the bass guitarist for punk rock band The Clash. Recent work includes his involvement in the album The Good, the Bad & the Queen with Damon Albarn, Simon Tong and Tony Allen, released in January 2007...
, Simon Tong
Simon Tong
Simon Tong is a guitarist and keyboardist who was a member of The Verve between 1996 and 1999 and is currently a member of Erland and the Carnival and Transmission. He has also played on tour with Blur, Gorillaz and the unnamed supergroup responsible for The Good, the Bad & the Queen...
and Tony Allen
Tony Allen (musician)
Tony Oladipo Allen is aNigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. He is currently writing his autobiography "Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat" with author/musician Michael E...
. The album was released in January 2007. The album debuted at number two in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
and was certified Gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
in the UK within days of its release despite little media recognition and airplay. In the United States, the album entered the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at #49. Although The Good, The Bad & The Queen was first reported as a solo album by Albarn with Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
producing, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
revealed in late July 2006 that the solo project had been switched to a new group formed by Albarn.
Albarn has stated in several interviews that the band itself is unnamed, and that The Good, The Bad & The Queen is simply the name of the album only. However, it should also be noted that all single releases by the band are prominently credited to "The Good, The Bad & The Queen", and that the band's first single release ("Herculean") was issued months before the album ever came out. As well, "The Good, the Bad & the Queen" is used exclusively as the name of the band by UK chart compilers, and almost universally by record stores, music downloading services, concert promoters, fansites and other media.
It is stated that the record is, in a sense, a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
, as its songs are all themed around modern life in London. It was described by Albarn as "a song cycle
Song cycle
A song cycle is a group of songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a single entity. As a rule, all of the songs are by the same composer and often use words from the same poet or lyricist. Unification can be achieved by a narrative or a persona common to the songs, or even, as in Schumann's...
that's also a mystery play
Mystery play
Mystery plays and miracle plays are among the earliest formally developed plays in medieval Europe. Medieval mystery plays focused on the representation of Bible stories in churches as tableaux with accompanying antiphonal song...
about London" in an interview with Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
.
Album history
The band, which formed in 2006, released their first singleSingle (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...
, "Herculean
Herculean (song)
"Herculean" is the first single by The Good, the Bad and the Queen, an alternative rock band fronted by Damon Albarn. Though Albarn later claimed that the band was unnamed, and that "The Good, The Bad & The Queen" was merely the name of band's first album, this single clearly credits the artist as...
" on 30 October 2006. The single followed the band's appearance at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Electric Proms season at the redeveloped Roundhouse
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...
in Camden
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
on 26 October, during which they performed the entire album. Three warm-up gigs in East Prawle at the Pig's Nose Inn, Ilfracombes Marlboro Club and The Exeter Cavern Club preceded their gig on the BBC's Electric Proms, where the album was performed in order with two other songs inserted, "Intermission Jam" and "Mr. Whippy"; the latter was a B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
for "Herculean". The band performed four tracks from the album at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
on December 13, 2006, during a recording session for Live from Abbey Road.
The track listing was originally unveiled and commented upon by Damon Albarn and Paul Simonon in an interview in the November 2006 issue of Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
.. The second major gig of the band's career took place on 12 December 2006, at Wilton's Music Hall in East London. It was watched by 300 specially selected fans, as the launch gig of MySpace's The List. The band released their first Top 20
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
single, "Kingdom of Doom
Kingdom of Doom
"Kingdom of Doom" is a song by the supposedly unnamed British alternative rock supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen, made up of Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen and is the fourth track on their 2007 album The Good, the Bad and the Queen .The song was also released as the...
", a week prior to the release of the album. In April, "Green Fields
Green Fields
-Chart positions:...
" was released as the third single from the album and debuted at #51 in its first week.
On 4 April 2007, The Good, the Bad & the Queen became the first EMI album to be made available for download in the new DRM
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
-free, high quality MP3 format (320 kbit/s).
Further plans
Damon Albarn talked to NME in early March 2007 and discussed the band's future plans, which included a recording session in early September intended to produce a release not long after that: "We're going to do another whole recording session in early September. It will be totally different, more funky. We'll try to get it out in early autumn." As of 2010, the band has not released any new material, though Simon TongSimon Tong
Simon Tong is a guitarist and keyboardist who was a member of The Verve between 1996 and 1999 and is currently a member of Erland and the Carnival and Transmission. He has also played on tour with Blur, Gorillaz and the unnamed supergroup responsible for The Good, the Bad & the Queen...
and Paul Simonon
Paul Simonon
Paul Gustave Simonon is an English musician and artist best known as the bass guitarist for punk rock band The Clash. Recent work includes his involvement in the album The Good, the Bad & the Queen with Damon Albarn, Simon Tong and Tony Allen, released in January 2007...
both made appearances on Damon Albarn's next project, the third Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
album Plastic Beach
Plastic Beach
Plastic Beach is the third studio album by British virtual band and alternative hip hop supergroup Gorillaz, released 3 March 2010 on Parlophone and Virgin Records. Conceived from an unfinished Gorillaz project called Carousel, the album was recorded during June 2008 to November 2009 and produced...
. In November 2011, the band played a show at London's Coronet Theatre marking the 40th anniversary of Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
- the first time the band had played together in almost three years.
Track listing
All songs written by Damon AlbarnDamon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
- "History Song" – 3:05
- "'80's Life" – 3:28
- "Northern WhaleNorthern Whale"Northern Whale" is a song by an unnamed alternative rock band fronted by Damon Albarn, and was released as the third track on their 2007 debut album The Good, the Bad and the Queen .-The story behind the song:...
" – 3:54 - "Kingdom of DoomKingdom of Doom"Kingdom of Doom" is a song by the supposedly unnamed British alternative rock supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen, made up of Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen and is the fourth track on their 2007 album The Good, the Bad and the Queen .The song was also released as the...
" – 2:42 - "HerculeanHerculean (song)"Herculean" is the first single by The Good, the Bad and the Queen, an alternative rock band fronted by Damon Albarn. Though Albarn later claimed that the band was unnamed, and that "The Good, The Bad & The Queen" was merely the name of band's first album, this single clearly credits the artist as...
" – 3:59 - "Behind the Sun" – 2:38
- "The Bunting Song" – 3:47
- "Nature Springs" – 3:10
- "A Soldier's Tale" – 2:30
- "Three Changes" – 4:15
- "Green FieldsGreen Fields-Chart positions:...
" – 2:26 - "The Good, the Bad & the QueenThe Good, the Bad & the Queen (song)"The Good, the Bad & the Queen" is a song by an unnamed alternative rock band fronted by Damon Albarn, and is the title song and final track on their 2007 debut album The Good, the Bad & the Queen...
" – 7:00
B-sides and unreleased tracks
- "Intermission Jam" - did not make album, it is unreleased, however it was performed at the BBC Electronic Proms Live.
- "Mr. Whippy" (Featuring. Eslam JawaadEslam JawaadWissam Khodur , better known as Eslam Jawaad , is a rapper of Lebanese-Syrian origin. His debut album, The Mammoth Tusk, was released in 2009.-Career:...
) - a B-side song on the single "HerculeanHerculean (song)"Herculean" is the first single by The Good, the Bad and the Queen, an alternative rock band fronted by Damon Albarn. Though Albarn later claimed that the band was unnamed, and that "The Good, The Bad & The Queen" was merely the name of band's first album, this single clearly credits the artist as...
". - "Back in the Day" - a B-side song on the single "HerculeanHerculean (song)"Herculean" is the first single by The Good, the Bad and the Queen, an alternative rock band fronted by Damon Albarn. Though Albarn later claimed that the band was unnamed, and that "The Good, The Bad & The Queen" was merely the name of band's first album, this single clearly credits the artist as...
". - "Start Point (Sketches of Devon)" - a B-side only on the "Kingdom of DoomKingdom of Doom"Kingdom of Doom" is a song by the supposedly unnamed British alternative rock supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen, made up of Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen and is the fourth track on their 2007 album The Good, the Bad and the Queen .The song was also released as the...
" Red Vinyl release. - "Hallsands Waltz (Sketches of Devon)" - a B-side on the "Kingdom of DoomKingdom of Doom"Kingdom of Doom" is a song by the supposedly unnamed British alternative rock supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen, made up of Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen and is the fourth track on their 2007 album The Good, the Bad and the Queen .The song was also released as the...
" - "England, Summer (in black & white) Dog House" B-side on the Green FieldsGreen Fields-Chart positions:...
single. - "England, Summer (in black & white) Polling Day" B-side on the Green FieldsGreen Fields-Chart positions:...
single.
Bonus DVD
- "Nature Springs" (live at the Tabernacle)
- "The Bunting Song" (live at the Tabernacle)
- "The Good, The Bad And The Queen" (live at the Tabernacle)
- "A Soldier's Tale" (rehearsal footage)
- "The Good, The Bad and The Queen" (interview)
Singles and EPs
- "HerculeanHerculean (song)"Herculean" is the first single by The Good, the Bad and the Queen, an alternative rock band fronted by Damon Albarn. Though Albarn later claimed that the band was unnamed, and that "The Good, The Bad & The Queen" was merely the name of band's first album, this single clearly credits the artist as...
" (30 October 2006; UK #22) - "Kingdom of DoomKingdom of Doom"Kingdom of Doom" is a song by the supposedly unnamed British alternative rock supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen, made up of Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen and is the fourth track on their 2007 album The Good, the Bad and the Queen .The song was also released as the...
" (15 January 2007; UK #20) - "Green FieldsGreen Fields-Chart positions:...
" (2 April 2007; UK #51) - "Live from SoHoLive from SoHo (The Good, the Bad and the Queen EP)Live from SoHo is a live EP by Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen released exclusively for the iTunes Store on April 3, 2007. It features five tracks from the band's 2007 debut album The Good, the Bad and the Queen that the band performed at the Apple Store in SoHo, New York on...
" (3 April 2007; iTunes Exclusive EP)
Personnel
- Damon AlbarnDamon AlbarnDamon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
– Lead vocals, keyboards - Paul SimononPaul SimononPaul Gustave Simonon is an English musician and artist best known as the bass guitarist for punk rock band The Clash. Recent work includes his involvement in the album The Good, the Bad & the Queen with Damon Albarn, Simon Tong and Tony Allen, released in January 2007...
– Bass, backing vocals - Simon TongSimon TongSimon Tong is a guitarist and keyboardist who was a member of The Verve between 1996 and 1999 and is currently a member of Erland and the Carnival and Transmission. He has also played on tour with Blur, Gorillaz and the unnamed supergroup responsible for The Good, the Bad & the Queen...
– Guitar. - Tony AllenTony Allen (musician)Tony Oladipo Allen is aNigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. He is currently writing his autobiography "Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat" with author/musician Michael E...
– Drums - Danger MouseDanger MouseBrian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
– Percussion (4), Synthesizers (5,12) - James Dring – Programming
- Choir (5) – Harry Christophers, Julia Doyle, Grace Davidson, Kirsty Hopkin, Charlotte Mobbs, Andrew Olleson, Ian Aitkenhead, David Clegg, Christopher Royall, Adrian Lowe, Ben Rayfield, Mark Dobell, Simon Berridge, James Holliday, Julian Empett, Sam Evans
- Violins – Antonia Pagulatos (5,6,8,9,10,12), Gillon Cameron (6,10), Sally Jackson (5,8,9,12), Alice Pratley (5,8,9,12)
- Violas – Emma Owens (6,10), Stella Page (5,6,8,9,10,12), Amanda Drummond (5,8,9,12)
- Cello – Izzi Dunn (5,6,8,9,10,12)
- Double basses – Al Mobbs (5,6,8,9,10,12), Emma Smith (6,10)
- Eslam JawaadEslam JawaadWissam Khodur , better known as Eslam Jawaad , is a rapper of Lebanese-Syrian origin. His debut album, The Mammoth Tusk, was released in 2009.-Career:...
vocals on the B-Side track "Mr. Whippy".