Metro Music
| Metro Music | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Martha and the Muffins | ||||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Recorded | August 1979, Manor Studios | |||
| Genre | New wave, post-punk | |||
| Label | Dindisc | |||
| Producer | Mike Howlett | |||
| Martha and the Muffins chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B− [2] |
| Smash Hits | 8/10[3] |
Metro Music was Martha and the Muffins' first album, released in 1979. It contained the international hit single "Echo Beach", which reached #3 in Canada, #1 in Portugal, #5 in Australia and #10 in the UK charts in March 1980. It also reached #37 in the U.S. on the Club Play Singles chart.[4] "Saigon" was released as a follow-up single in the UK a few months later, but failed to chart. In Canada, the follow-up single was "Paint By Number Heart" — it climbed to #69. The album itself was certified gold in Canada (50,000 units) on September 1, 1980; "Echo Beach" was certified gold there (5,000 units) on the following October 1.[5]
As Dindisc 1 (DID I) Metro Music was notable for being the first album ever released on the then-new DinDisc label,[6] followed soon after by the first album from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, numbered, appropriately enough, as DinDisc 2 (DID 2).
The cover image design by Peter Saville is a map of Toronto, the band's hometown and is based on a map from the National Topographic System of Canada.[7]
The entire Metro Music album also formed the first part of Martha and the Muffins' 1987 compilation Far Away in Time.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Echo Beach" | Mark Gane | 3:38 |
| 2. | "Paint by Number Heart" | Martha Johnson | 4:23 |
| 3. | "Saigon" | Johnson, Daniel Millar | 4:23 |
| 4. | "Indecision" | Johnson | 4:25 |
| 5. | "Terminal Twilight" | Gane, Martha Ladly | 4:42 |
| 6. | "Hide and Seek" | Gane, Ladly | 3:57 |
| 7. | "Monotone" | Johnson | 2:46 |
| 8. | "Sinking Land" | Gane | 5:27 |
| 9. | "Revenge (Against the World)" | Gane | 3:31 |
| 10. | "Cheesies and Gum" | Gane, Ladly | 3:05 |
Personnel
- Martha Johnson - keyboards, vocals
- Martha Ladly - keyboards, trombone, vocals
- Mark Gane - synthesizer, guitar
- Carl Finkle - bass
- Tim Gane - drums
- Andy Haas - saxophone
Chart performance
Album
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Chart[8] | 34 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 [9] | 186 |
Singles
| Single | Chart (1980) | Position |
|---|---|---|
| "Echo Beach" | Canada | 3 |
| "Echo Beach" | Australia (Kent Music Report) | 5 |
| "Echo Beach" | UK Singles Chart [8] | 10 |
| "Echo Beach/Paint By Number Heart" | Billboard Club Play Singles [4] | 37 |
References
- ↑ Badgley, Aaron. "Martha and the Muffins: Metro Music > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Martha and the Muffins > Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ↑ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (March 6–19): 30–31.
- 1 2 Metro Music - Martha and the Muffins > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles at AllMusic. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ↑ "Gold Platinum Database: Martha and the Muffins". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ↑ "Martha and the Muffins - Metro Music". discogs.com. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ↑ Saville, Peter (2003-08-15). Designed by Peter Saville. Princeton Architectural Press. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-1-56898-422-3. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- 1 2 UK Official Charts
- ↑ Metro Music - Martha and the Muffins > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums at AllMusic. Retrieved 2 November 2011.