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Raw
Studio album by The Alarm
Released	1991
Recorded	1991
Genre	Rock
Length	44:11
Label	IRS Records
Producer	The Alarm, Dave Sharp
The Alarm chronology
Standards (1990) Raw (1991) Close (2000)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

Raw is the fifth and final studio album released by the original line-up of The Alarm. The band split up after the album was released. It was released in 1991 on IRS Records.

The album was released on vinyl LP, cassette and CD. It reached number 33 in the UK Albums Chart, and number 161 in the US Billboard 200.

An extended re-mastered version was released, including extra tracks.

Critical reception

MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide called the album "the result of the dreary business of fulfilling contractual obligations."

Track listing

1. "Raw" - (Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie MacDonald, Nigel Twist) - 4:28
2. "Rockin' in the Free World" - (Neil Young) - 3:59
3. "God Save Somebody" - (Sharp, Twist) - 4:09
4. "Moments in Time" - (Peters, MacDonald) - 5:42
5. "Hell or High Water" - (Peters, MacDonald) - 3:47
6. "Lead Me Through the Darkness" - (Peters, MacDonald) - 4:34
7. "The Wind Blows Away My Words" - (Peters, Sharp, MacDonald, Twist) - 4:32
8. "Let the River Run Its Course" - (Peters, Sharp, MacDonald, Twist) - 3:53
9. "Save Your Crying" - (Sharp, Twist) - 4:38
10. "Wonderful World" - (Sharp) - 5:00

Single releases

"Raw" was released before the album, reaching number 51 in the UK Singles Chart. It was the only single to be released off the album

Personnel

The Alarm

• Mike Peters - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
• Dave Sharp - lead guitar, backing vocals, harmonica; lead vocals (tracks 3, 9, 10)
• Eddie MacDonald - bass, backing vocals, keyboards
• Nigel Twist - drums, backing vocals, percussion

Technical personnel

• Rob Storm - engineer, additional keyboards
• Mark Pythian - engineer
• Ian McFarlane - assistant engineer
• Danny Griffiths - additional engineer
• Dave Buchanan - additional engineer
• Keith Andrew - additional engineer
• Keith Hartley - additional engineer

Welsh release

An edition of the album sung in Welsh called Tân was released.

1. "Y Ffordd (The Road)" - 3:46
2. "Y Gwynt Sy'n Chwythu 'Ngeiriau" - 4:32
3. "Eiliadau Fel Hyn" - 5:18
4. "Rocio Yn Ein Rhyddid (Rocking in the Free World)" - 4:43
5. "Tân" - 4:33
6. "Dyfnach Na'r Dyfroedd" - 3:48
7. "Tywys Fi Drwy'r Tywyllwch" - 4:34
8. "Fel Mae'r Afon" - 4:30
9. "Crynu Dan Fy Nhraed" - 4:38
10. "Nadolig Llawen (Happy Xmas (War Is Over))" - 3:40

Japanese release

A Japanese promotional sample 10-track CD album was issued to radio stations in advance of release. It contained a custom promo stamped disc, stickered picture sleeve complete with lyrics and obi-strip

Remastered release

Released in 2000, the remastered edition featured a revised track listings, B-sides and previously unreleased recordings, new and original artwork, unseen photos, lyrics, sleeve notes by Mike Peters and interactive programming information to play the album in its original form.

Track listing:

1. "The Road" - 3:46
2. "Rockin' in the Free World" - 4:42
3. "Raw" - 4:28
4. "The Wind Blows Away My Words" - 4:31
5. "Unsafe Building (1990)" - 4:50
6. "God Save Somebody" - 4:10
7. "Moments in Time" - 5:43
8. "Let the River Run Its Course" - 4:29
9. "Lead Me Through the Darkness" - 4:34
10. "Hell or High Water" - 3:48
11. "Wonderful World" - 5:01
12. "Save Your Crying" - 4:38
13. "Up for Murder (1990)" - 2:57
14. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - 3:44
15. "Walk Forever by My Side" - 4:10

2004 promotional release

EMI, after taking over from IRS, released the complete Alarm back catalogue on CD.

References

1. Aparicio, Nestor. "Alarm's Dave Sharp discovers America and bare-bones rock 'n' roll". baltimoresun.com.
2. AllMusic review
3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 95.
4. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 16.
5. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 9.
6. "The Alarm | Biography & History". AllMusic.
7. Buckley, Peter (17 February 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531050 – via Google Books.
8. Elbel, Jeff (24 August 2017). "In the music spotlight: The Alarm". Chicago Sun-Times.
9. ^ "ALARM | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
10. "The Alarm". Billboard.
11. Shonk, Kenneth L. Jr.; McClure, Daniel Robert (17 August 2017). Historical Theory and Methods through Popular Music, 1970–2000: "Those are the New Saints". Springer. ISBN 9781137570727 – via Google Books.

• 1991 albums
• I.R.S. Records albums
• The Alarm albums