Machine Gun Etiquette

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Music for Pleasure1977The Black Album1980studioMachine Gun EtiquetteDamned_machine_gun_etiquette.jpgthe Damned9 November 1979<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>March–May and July–August 1979 in London, England* Sound Suite

• Wessex Sound Studios
• The Workhouse Studios
• Utopia Studios
• SGS Studios
• Chalk Farm Studios<ref name="LN">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>* Punk rock<ref name="docu">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• new wave<ref name="Newsounds machine gun étiquette"/>
• proto-hardcore<ref name="docu"/>
• neo-psychedelia<ref name="Newsounds machine gun étiquette">THE DAMNED- ‘MACHINE GUN ETIQUETTE’ CLASSIC ALBUM REVIEW. Newsounds. Retrieved 25 February 2023.</ref>Template:DurationChiswick* The Damned
• Roger Armstrong
• Ed Hollisx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

Machine Gun Etiquette is the third studio album by English punk rock band the Damned, released on 9 November 1979 by Chiswick Records. The album peaked at No. 31 on the UK Charts<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The album was the group's first since reforming with a new lineup of previous members Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on lead guitar, Rat Scabies on drums, plus newcomer Algy Ward of Australian punk band The Saints on bass guitar on his only album with the band.

Background

On Machine Gun Etiquette, the band brought more variety to their usual punk rock to add wide-ranging influences from hard rock and heavy metal to psychedelic rock, a tinge of progressive rock and even classic 1960s rhythm and blues and the record has been described by journalists and fans alike as The Beach Boys meets Motörhead with T. Rex and Judas Priest influences thrown in for good measure.<ref name="AllMusic"/><ref name=EW/> The album also features more fast-paced punk tracks, and has been cited as a 'proto-hardcore' record crucial for the later rise of hardcore punk into the 1980s.<ref name="docu"/>

The voice at the album's start is actor Jack Howarth, taken from his 1971 album Template:'Ow Do, a recording of Lancastrian monologues.

The album features multiple guest musicians. Lemmy plays bass on the band's take on The Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz", which was not on the album at time of release but released as a single; the song was also added to the reissued version of the album. Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon also appear on the album. Philip Lloyd-Smee contributed to the sleeve and logo design work on Machine Gun Etiquette.

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings AllMusic's retrospective review reported that when it was released, Machine Gun Etiquette was "deservedly hailed as another classic from the band". The website praised the variety of styles explored and the group's typically strong wit.<ref name="AllMusic" />

Scott Rowley of Classic Rock magazine, reviewing the 25th Anniversary Edition of the album, defined it as "a riotous, ballsy rush of an album [...] the sound of a band coming into its own", adding that "while the Clash looked to America for inspiration, the Damned remained resolutely British", perhaps ironically given that the front cover depicted the band in a New York street scene<ref name="Classic Rock" /> at 704 7th Avenue, New York City.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listing

2004 CD reissue bonus tracks

• "Smash It Up (Part 1)" and "Smash It Up (Part 2)" are listed as one track on the CD, as "Smash It Up (Parts 1 and 2)" (track 11).

Personnel

Credits adapted from the 2004 CD reissue liner notes.<ref name="LN"/><ref name="Hutchinson">Template:Cite book</ref>

The Damned

• Dave Vanian – lead vocals
• Captain Sensible – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, bass ("I Just Can't Be Happy Today", "Smash It Up (Parts 1 & 2)"), bass solo ("Anti-Pope"), mandolin ("Turkey Song"), lead vocals ("Turkey Song")
• Rat Scabies – drums, backing vocals, lead vocals ("Burglar")
• Algy Ward – bass, backing vocals, guitar ("Machine Gun Etiquette", "Liar")

Additional personnel

• Joe Strummer – backing vocals ("Noise, Noise, Noise"), hand claps ("Machine Gun Etiquette")
• Topper Headon – backing vocals ("Noise, Noise, Noise")
• Henry Badowski – backing vocals ("Noise, Noise, Noise")
• Paul Simonon – hand claps ("Machine Gun Etiquette")
• Lemmy Kilmister – bass, backing vocals ("Ballroom Blitz")
• Anthony More – synthesizer ("Rabid (Over You)")

Production and artwork

• Roger Armstrong – producer
• The Damned – producer
• Ed Hollis – producer ("Love Song" (Ed Hollis version), "Noise, Noise, Noise" (Ed Hollis version), "Suicide")
• Alvin Clarke – engineer (Sound Suite)
• Mike Shipley – engineer (Wessex)
• Gary Edwards – engineer (Wessex)
• Jeremy Green – engineer (Wessex)
• Rik Watton – engineer (Workhouse)
• Damian Korner – engineer (Utopia)
• G. H. Wallis – engineer (SGS)
• Vic Keary – engineer (Chalk Farm)
• Phil Smee – artwork
• Alan Ballard – front cover photography
• Mick Young – photography
• Captain Sensible – inner sleeve drawing
• Martin Baker – video director ("Plan 9, Channel 7")

External links

• Template:Discogs master