1985 studio album by the Damned
| Phantasmagoria | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by the Damned | ||||
| Released | July 1985 | |||
| Recorded | March–June 1985 | |||
| Studio | Eel Pie, London | |||
| Length | 39:19 | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Producer |
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| The Damned chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Phantasmagoria | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
Phantasmagoria is the sixth album by English rock band the Damned, released by MCA in July 1985. Special editions were available on white vinyl or picture disc; some versions included a free 12-inch of their No. 3 hit "Eloise". It is the first album by the band without original member Captain Sensible, and was a style shift to gothic rock compared to the band's punk sound of its early career.
History
After much wrangling, the Damned received a new contract with MCA Records in October 1984 on the strength of the song "Grimly Fiendish", issued as a single the following March. They recorded the album in Eel Pie Studios from March to June 1985. It reached No. 11 in the charts, and was the band's highest-charting album ever, until the release of Evil Spirits in 2018, which cracked the top-ten at No. 7. The non-album single "Eloise," (a Barry Ryan cover), released six months later, became a huge UK hit, reaching No. 3.
The Damned centred the entire album around David Vanian's deep voice, giving much of the album a gothic feeling. The album was remastered and reissued by Geffen Records in Japan in 2007, featuring replicas of the LP's outer and inner sleeves and a CD label resembling the white vinyl edition. In 2009, an expanded edition was issued by Universal Music Group in Europe.
Artwork
The cover image of Susie Bick was taken by photographer Bob Carlos Clarke at Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies, Roman Jugg and Bryn Merrick, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Street of Dreams" | 5:38 | |
| 2. | "Shadow of Love" | 3:51 | |
| 3. | "There'll Come a Day" | 4:15 | |
| 4. | "Sanctum Sanctorum" | 6:27 | |
| 5. | "Is It a Dream" | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Captain Sensible | 3:27 |
| 6. | "Grimly Fiendish" | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Clive "Doctor" Jackson | 3:50 |
| 7. | "Edward the Bear" | 3:37 | |
| 8. | "The Eighth Day" | 3:46 | |
| 9. | "Trojans" | 4:53 | |
| Total length: | 39:19 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Grimly Fiendish" (The Bad Trip Mix) | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Jackson | 5:11 |
| 11. | "The Shadow of Love" (Ten Inches of Hell Mix) | 6:41 | |
| Total length: | 51:39 | ||
- Note
- The non-album single "Eloise" appeared as a bonus track on the 1986 re-issued LP versions in Australia, Germany and Italy.
2009 expanded edition
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Place of Origin | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Grimly Fiendish (The Bad Trip Mix)" | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Jackson | "Grimly Fiendish" 12" | 5:10 |
| 11. | "The Shadow of Love (Ten Inches of Hell Mix)" | "The Shadow of Love" 10" | 6:42 | |
| 12. | "Is It a Dream (Wild West Express Mix)" | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Sensible | "Is It a Dream" 12" | 6:45 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Place of Origin | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Grimly Fiendish (Spic 'n' Span Mix)" | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Jackson | "Grimly Fiendish" 12" | 5:21 |
| 2. | "Edward the Bear" (B-side single version) | "Grimly Fiendish" 7" | 3:53 | |
| 3. | "The Shadow of Love (The Pressure Mix)" | "The Shadow of Love" 12" | 5:34 | |
| 4. | "Nightshift" (B-side) | "The Shadow of Love" 7" | 2:24 | |
| 5. | "Let There Be Rats" (Rat Scabies solo single) | Scabies | "The Shadow of Love" 7" double pack single | 2:09 |
| 6. | "Wiped Out" (Rat Scabies solo single) | Scabies | "The Shadow of Love" 7" double pack single | 1:34 |
| 7. | "Would You" (B-side) | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Vivian Mason | "The Shadow of Love" 12" | 2:46 |
| 8. | "Is It a Dream (Wild West End Mix)" | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Sensible | "Is It a Dream" 7" | 8:11 |
| 9. | "Street of Dreams" (Live) | "Is It a Dream" 7" | 5:05 | |
| 10. | "Curtain Call" (Live) | Vanian, Scabies, Sensible, Paul Gray | "Is It a Dream" 12" | 4:27 |
| 11. | "Pretty Vacant" (Live) | Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Johnny Rotten | "Is It a Dream" 12" | 2:04 |
| 12. | "Wild Thing" (Live) | Chip Taylor | "Is It a Dream" 12" | 2:14 |
| 13. | "The Shadow of Love" (BBC Radio 1 session) | The Radio One Sessions, 1996 | 4:05 | |
| 14. | "Is It a Dream" (BBC Radio 1 session) | Vanian, Scabies, Jugg, Merrick, Sensible | The Radio One Sessions | 3:36 |
| 15. | "Street of Dreams" (BBC Radio 1 session) | The Radio One Sessions | 4:43 |
- Notes
- "Edward the Bear" (single version) is produced by Bob Sargeant and the Damned.
- "Nightshift" and "Would You" are produced by the Damned.
- "Let There Be Rats" and "Wiped Out" were originally released as a Rat Scabies 7" solo single in 1984; produced by Will Birch.
- Live tracks recorded at Woolwich Coronet, 11 July 1985; engineered and mixed by Jon Kelly; all tracks feature Paul Shepley on keyboards; "Pretty Vacant"and "Wild Thing" features Rat Scabies on guitar and Roman Jugg on drums.
- "The Shadow of Love", "Is It a Dream" and "Street of Dreams" recorded for Janice Long Session, 14 April 1985; produced by Harry Parked, engineered by Barry Adams and Peter Watts.
Personnel
- The Damned
- Dave Vanian – lead vocals
- Roman Jugg – guitar, keyboards, lead vocals (7), backing vocals
- Bryn Merrick – bass, backing vocals
- Rat Scabies – drums
- Additional musicians
- Paul Shepley – additional keyboards (8)
- Andy Richards – additional keyboards
- Luís Jardim – percussion
- Gary Barnacle – saxophone and brass
- Steve Nieve – keyboard inspiration (4)
- Production
- Jon Kelly – production, engineering (except 6)
- Chris Ludwinsky – additional engineering
- Bob Sargeant – production (6)
- The Damned – production (6)
- Bob Carlos Clarke – cover photography
- Booce – cover artwork
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 60,000 |
|
Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ AllMusic review
- "Smashing It Up: A Decade of Chaos with the Damned by Kieron Tyler
- Wawzenek, Bryan (1 December 2016). "30 Years Ago: The Damned End a 10-Year Run with 'Anything'". Diffuser.fm.
- Toman, Stephen (7 April 2009). "The Damned – Phantasmagoria / Anything Reappraised". The Skinny.
- "Susie Bick – the Fashion Spot". Forums.thefashionspot.com. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- "British album certifications – The Damned – Phantasmagoria". British Phonographic Industry.
| The Damned | |
|---|---|
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| Studio albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Compilation albums | |
| EPs | |
| Singles |
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| Associated acts | |
| Related articles | |