The Headless Children
The Headless Children is the fourth studio album by heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released in April 1989 through Capitol Records.[1] The album reached No. 48 on the U.S. Billboard 200,[7] the band's highest chart position,[8] and remained on that chart for thirteen weeks;[9] it also reached the top 30 in four other countries.[10][11]
Overview
The Headless Children showcases a new level of maturity from the band compared to their previous three albums, which had stereotypically lewd "rock and roll" lyrics. Politics and social issues are now a theme throughout the album. The cover art depicts a string of historical figures including Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Benito Mussolini, Charles Manson, Jim Jones, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Al Capone and the Ku Klux Klan, with an image of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald shown prominently in the foreground. Later editions of the album have replaced, among others, Ayatollah Khomeini with additional KKK members.
"Mean Man", written by lead singer/bassist Blackie Lawless, is about guitarist Chris Holmes' wild lifestyle and is dedicated to him; Holmes left the band shortly after the album's release. The Headless Children was the first W.A.S.P. album to feature ex-Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali and the last studio album to feature Holmes for nearly a decade until he rejoined the band in late 1997 to record Kill Fuck Die.
According to the liner notes, the "F.D.G." in "Rebel in the F.D.G." stands for "Fucking Decadent Generation".
Critical reception
Greg Prato at AllMusic gave The Headless Children 4.5 stars out of five, calling it W.A.S.P.'s "most accomplished work" and their "best constructed album". He also noted "The Real Me", "Mean Man", "The Heretic", "Forever Free" and the title track as highlights.[12]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Blackie Lawless, except where noted.
| 1. |
"The Heretic (The Lost Child) †" (Lawless, Chris Holmes) |
7:16 |
| 2. |
"The Real Me" (Pete Townshend) |
3:21 |
| 3. |
"The Headless Children" |
5:47 |
| 4. |
"Thunderhead" (Lawless, Holmes) |
6:45 |
| 5. |
"Mean Man" |
4:50 |
| 6. |
"The Neutron Bomber" |
4:03 |
| 7. |
"Mephisto Waltz" |
1:27 |
| 8. |
"Forever Free" |
5:09 |
| 9. |
"Maneater" |
4:46 |
| 10. |
"Rebel in the F.D.G." |
5:08 |
Total length: |
48:32 |
| 11. |
"Locomotive Breath" (Ian Anderson) |
2:59 |
| 12. |
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" |
3:47 |
| 13. |
"Lake of Fools" |
5:29 |
| 14. |
"War Cry" |
5:33 |
| 15. |
"L.O.V.E. Machine" (live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, 1989) |
4:47 |
| 16. |
"Blind in Texas" (live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, 1989) |
6:23 |
- ^† – On the 1998 reissue, "The Heretic (The Lost Child)" has been edited to remove a small portion of a guitar riff in order to fit all the bonus material on the same CD.
Personnel
Additional musicians
- Ken Hensley – keyboard
- Frankie Banali – drums, percussion
- Diana Fennell – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Lita Ford – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Mark Humphreys – background vocals
- Jimi Image – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Minka Kelly – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Thomas Nellen – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Cathi Paige – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Mike Solan – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Kevin Wallace – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Melba Wallace – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
- Ron Wallace – backing vocals on "Thunderhead"
Technical team
Chart performance
References
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| | | | Studio albums | |
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| | Live albums | |
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| | Compilation albums | |
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| | Singles | |
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[12]