101 Damnations (album)
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Allmusic | [1] |
101 Damnations is the debut album by Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine.[2] Its title is a reference to 101 Dalmatians. It was originally released in 1990, on Big Cat Records, then reissued on Chrysalis Records peaking at number twenty-nine on the UK Albums Chart.[3]
The album - apparently recorded on a shoestring budget - was widely praised at the time of its release in the music press ("Staggering.." concluded the Melody Maker review for example) as a refreshing antidote - and a kick up the backside - to the drug-infused 'baggy' scene that was prevailing at the beginning of the 1990s. Whilst most of the chart contemporaries were extolling the virtues of ecstasy and loved-up hedonism, Carter USM offered a brutally bleak - but no less sardonic and cutting - worldview of social injustice, moral decay and urban violence, bringing the whole post-baggy party crashing back down to earth. Their twin guitar offensive, played over banks of keyboards, programmed sequencers and a particularly prominent drum-machine, drew comparisons in some critics' eyes to a 'punk Pet Shop Boys'...something which even one of the band members, Les "Fruitbat" Carter, happily agreed was indeed accurate.
One single was released from the album, "Sheriff Fatman" - a barbed social commentary on the unscrupulous antics of private landlords - which became a major indie hit before being reissued again a couple of years later and finally peaking at number 23 in the UK singles charts. A 2011 reissue featured five bonus tracks including the single which followed the release of the album, "Rubbish", plus their infamous cover version [and live favourite] of Pet Shop Boys' "Rent".
Track listing
All tracks written and composed by Morrison and Carter; except where indicated.
LP and Cassette
1. |
"The Road to Domestos" |
0:46 |
2. |
"Everytime a Churchbell Rings" |
4:13 |
3. |
"Twenty-Four Minutes from Tulse Hill" |
3:26 |
4. |
"An All American National Sport" |
3:55 |
5. |
"Sheriff Fatman" |
4:43 |
6. |
"The Taking of Peckham 123" |
4:22 |
7. |
"Crimestoppers A' Go Go" |
2:48 |
8. |
"Good Grief Charlie Brown" |
3:39 |
9. |
"Midnight on the Murder Mile" |
3:30 |
10. |
"A Perfect Day to Drop the Bomb" |
5:42 |
11. |
"G.I. Blues" |
3:57 |
CD
1. |
"The Road to Domestos" / "Everytime a Churchbell Rings" |
5:00 |
2. |
"Twenty-Four Minutes from Tulse Hill" |
3:26 |
3. |
"An All American National Sport" |
3:55 |
4. |
"Sheriff Fatman" |
4:43 |
5. |
"The Taking of Peckham 123" |
4:22 |
6. |
"Crimestoppers A' Go Go" |
2:48 |
7. |
"Good Grief Charlie Brown" |
3:39 |
8. |
"Midnight on the Murder Mile" |
3:30 |
9. |
"A Perfect Day to Drop the Bomb" |
5:42 |
10. |
"G.I. Blues" |
3:57 |
11. |
"RSPCE" (b-side of "Sheriff Fatman") |
3:05 |
12. |
"Twintub with Guitar" (b-side of "Sheriff Fatman") |
3:01 |
13. |
"Rubbish" (a-side) |
3:02 |
14. |
"Rent" (Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe) (b-side of "Rubbish") |
4:37 |
15. |
"Alternative Alf Garnett" (b-side of "Rubbish") |
2:53 |
Personnel
- Jim Bob - performer
- Fruit Bat - performer
- Sex Machine - producer
- Simon Painter - producer, engineer
- Rob Sheridan - piano solo ("G.I. Blues")
- Carter - sleeve design
- Dee Eff - sleeve design
Release details
Country |
Date |
Label |
Format |
Catalog |
Canada |
1991 |
Chrysalis Records |
CD |
VK 41881 |
United Kingdom |
1990 |
Big Cat UK Records |
Vinyl |
ABB 101 |
|
1990 |
Big Cat UK Records |
Cassette |
ABB 101 C |
|
1990 |
Big Cat UK Records |
CD |
ABBCD101 |
|
1991 |
Chrysalis Records |
CD |
321874 2 |
|
2004 |
Big Cat |
CD |
ABB1009892 |
|
2011 |
Big Cat |
CD (expanded) |
ABB101CDX |
United States |
1991 |
Chrysalis Records |
CD |
F2 21881 |
Charts
References