Vermin in Ermine

Vermin in Ermine
Studio album by Marc Almond and The Willing Sinners
Released	October 1984
Recorded	1984 at Hartmann Digital Studios, Bavaria
Genre	Art pop
Length	47:28 (LP) 75:18 (CD and Cassette)
Label	Some Bizzare, Phonogram Records, Vertigo Records
Producer	Mike Hedges
Marc Almond and The Willing Sinners chronology
Torment and Toreros (with Marc and the Mambas) (1983) Vermin in Ermine (1984) Stories of Johnny (1985)
Singles from Vermin in Ermine
"The Boy Who Came Back" b/w "Joey Demento" Released: June 1984 "You Have" b/w "Split Lip (Single Version)" Released: September 1984 "Tenderness is a Weakness" b/w "Love For Sale" Released: November 1984

Vermin in Ermine is the début solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released in October 1984 and reached number 36 on the UK Albums Chart.^[1] Vermin in Ermine includes the singles "The Boy Who Came Back", "You Have" and "Tenderness is a Weakness".

Almond with his new assembled band The Willing Sinners - an evolution from his previous outfit Marc and the Mambas - featuring Annie Hogan, Billy McGee, Martin McCarrick, Richard Riley and Steven Humphreys, accompanied by studio musicians recorded the songs for album at Hartmann Digital Studios, Bavaria. The artwork was designed by Huw Feather from a concept by Almond with photography by Ashworth.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Smash Hits	[3]

Track listing

LP

All songs written and composed by Marc Almond. 

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Shining Sinners"	6:38
2.	"Hell Was a City"	4:02
3.	"You Have"	5:38
4.	"Crime Sublime"	3:12
5.	"Gutter Hearts"	4:25

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Ugly Head"	7:56
7.	"The Boy Who Came Back"	4:53
8.	"Solo Adultos"	5:37
9.	"Tenderness is a Weakness"	5:07

CD and Cassette

All songs written and composed by Marc Almond. 

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Shining Sinners"	6:38
2.	"Hell Was a City"	4:02
3.	"You Have"	5:38
4.	"Split Lip"	17:13
5.	"Crime Sublime"	3:12
6.	"Gutter Hearts"	4:25
7.	"Ugly Head"	7:56
8.	"The Boy Who Came Back"	4:53
9.	"Solo Adultos"	5:37
10.	"Joey Demento"	5:48
11.	"Pink Shack Blues"	4:49
12.	"Tenderness is a Weakness"	5:07

Personnel

• Marc Almond - Vocals, All arrangements, Design concept
• Mike Hedges - Producer
• Tom Thiel - Engineering
• Flood - Engineering ("Shining Sinners", "Crime Sublime")
• Billy McGee - String Arrangements
• Gini Ball - String Arrangements
• Martin Ditchum - String Arrangements
• Enrico Tomasso - Trumpet Arrangement ("Hell Was a City")
• Ashworth - Cover Photos
• Huw Feather - Design
• Rizz - Glamour Wear

The Willing Sinners

• Annie Hogan - Piano, Vibes
• Billy McGee - Bass (Bowed and Picked)
• Martin McCarrick - Cello, Keyboards
• Richard Riley - Guitar
• Stephen Humphreys - Drums

With

• Gary Barnacle - Saxophone
• Enrico Tomasso - Trumpet, Flugal Horn
• Gini Ball - Violin
• Martin Ditchum - Percussion, Tympani ("Tenderness is a Weakness")
• Nancy Peppers - Backing Vocals ("The Boy Who Came Back", "Pink Shack Blues")
• Spiros - Bazooki ("Shining Sinners")
• Zeke Manyika - Drums ("Pink Shack Blues", "Ugly Head")

References

1. "Chart Stats - Marc Almond And The Willing Sinners". chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
2. Allmusic review
3. Bush, Steve (11 October 1984). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits (EMAP Metro) 6 (20): 25.