Retro Spins: Public Image Ltd - This Is What You Want...This Is What You Get

While I'd call my previous experience of Public Image Ltd. (PiL) unique, it was also something that left me a bit worried for future album listening sessions. Either the band are a bunch of untalented folks who somehow got a recording contract or are musical geniuses. I can't quite decide which yet.

PiL returned to the studio in 1982 to record tracks for their fourth album. However, upon completion, the master tapes would be stolen by guitarist Keith Levene, who finished mixing the tracks himself, and delivered it to the record company as the final album.

Levene had found himself in conflict with the band over artistic direction, and his actions would be the final straw. He not only left the band, but John Lydon would abandon all the recordings for what was going to be Commercial Zone and went back into the studio. With only remaining member, Martin Atkins, and a series of session musicians, the band reworked some of the previous tracks, and released, 1984's This Is What You Want...This Is What You Get.

Prior to its release, Atkins and Lydon would set out on a tour, and record the live album, Live In Tokyo. This release is noteworthy for being the first digitally recorded album in the world. It was recorded specifically to test and take advantage of the Japanese digital technology.

Finally, we get to a PiL album that I actually bought for a reason. That would be track two, This Is Not A Love Song. Ironically, I would come to find out that the version of the tune I was originally introduced to is actually that which accompanied the MTV music video. While I don't hate this "newer" version, I do enjoy the harder guitar sound in the video cut.

At first, I was glad to see, as a whole, there was song structure for this album, vs. the previous incoherent chanting and noise of the previously released The Flowers Of Romance (1981). By track three, I was rather enjoying the bass and drum driven sounds coming through.

Things did ultimately return to chanting and ambience type music. I suppose this is simply the style of the band. Definitely not my favorite, so I suppose I'll have to settle for the first three from the album, which consisted of Bad Life, This Is Not A Love Song, and Solitude, as well as the album closer, The Order Of Death. If nothing else, there is potential here, so I'm intrigued to continue my PiL journey.

By 1985, Atkins would depart PiL. However, his leaving doesn't appear to have been a result of frustrations with the band, but rather the industry as a whole. With just $80.00 in his pocket by 1988, he turned his attention to starting his own label, invisible Records, which was founded in 1994. It remains active, and has even formed the sub-label, Underground, Inc.

Essentially left a solo act, Lydon would pick up the pieces and carry-on Public Images Ltd. as a solo act for the 1986 released Album (that's the actual title). Though he would work with several studio musicians to complete the project, one specific guitarist would be crucial in completing the tracks which ultimately became the final product. I'll dive into all of that tomorrow.

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