Retro Spins: Public Image Ltd - Album (AKA Compact Disc and / or Cassette)Damned guitarist)

By 1985, Public Image Ltd. was a solo act, consisting only of founder, and lead singer, John Lydon. While several session musicians were brought in for what would become the tracks for 1986, none were more instrumental than Steve Vai, who over two days would lay down the majority of the guitar work in between shows with the band Alcatrazz, and drummer, Ginger Baker.

Fun Fact: In 1989, Baker unsuccessfully auditioned for the homeless guy in "Weird Al" Yankovic's UHF!

The album title, depending on who you ask, was either Lydon being full on punk clever, or a ripoff of Flipper's 1982 released, Album - Generic Flipper. Regardless of whether it was or wasn't, the band was none too happy with PiL's use, opting to retaliate with the 1986 live album, Public Flipper Limited Live 1980–1985.

Album (or Compact Disc or Cassette, depending on which format you purchased), strips away all the previous punk aspects that once were PiL, ushering in instead an era of alternative rock. This is definitely aided by the slick guitars of Vai but also sees benefit from Lydon actually taking the time to sing.

While this uptick in quality did result in a better listening session, I'm not going to call it a perfect one. It did have its high points for me, such as F.F.F., Rise, and Home. I also appreciate Lydon not getting caught up in the CD era and created a bloated album for the sake of filling a time quota.

Overall, I'd like more PiL like this.

Former Magazine and Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist John McGeoch, along with former Damned guitarist Lu Edmunds, bassist Allan Dias, and former the Pop Group and the Slits drummer Bruce Smith joined the band for the subsequent support tour of Album. This would also be noteworthy because this lineup would in turn hit the studio for 1987's Happy? I'm headed there next, so I'll see you tomorrow.

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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 111
Release Date: February 1986

Highlights

• First appearance and death of Maude Macchio, and Muramoto
• First appearance of Telithia Smith, and Louie
• The beginning of the story takes place in the middle of The Amazing Spider-Man 273, specifically when Beyonder sends Puma to Tokyo, Japan in the blink of an eye
• Puma being transported between space and time to Tokyo creates a problem for him since he can't leave until his passport is smuggled in with the appropriate entrance stamps tot he country
• Puma goes to see his old master, Muramoto, and finds out that Beyonder is there too, and that he and Muramoto have had many conversations already
• Reference is made to Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, The Amazing Spider-Man 271, 273, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 110, Web Of Spider-Man 10, 12, 13, and Secret Wars II 6
• Spider-Man confirms that Mr. Popchik is in jail for shooting the three men who tried to mug him
• Page thirteen picks up with the events of The Amazing Spider-Man 273, when Beyonder appears before Peter and Thomas in Peter's apartment
• Beyonder makes Muramoto appear, and he's decked out like a rock star, guitar and all
• Beyonder tells Puma he's helped Muramoto discover his true calling, to become a rocker
• Beyonder is determined to help everyone he meets fulfill their destiny, and struggles that Puma's is to see him dead, yet he still feels compelled to oblige
• Puma heads to the club where Muramoto is performing to face Beyonder
• Inside the club, the owner, and widower of Maude Macchio runs towards Beyonder, also intent on killing him
• Muramoto gets between Beyond and Mr Macchio, taking the bullet meant for Beyonder
• Puma becomes one with the universe when he fits exactly into his life's roll - I guess that means he becomes all powerful, strong enough to kill even Beyonder
• Puma doubts himself for a moment, and the power of the universe leaves him just as he strikes his blow on Beyonder
• Disappointed, Beyonder explains to him what happened, and leaves saying the two are back to square one

Low Points

• None

Oddities

• Editor's Day Off: Beyonder says, "I know what I want know." I think it was meant to say, "I know what I want to know."

• Spider-man makes reference to his landlord most likely issuing him a bill for the damages to his apartment caused by the gang who set it on fire - I still don't understand how that's not a landlord responsibility
• Editor's Continued Day Off: One of Thomas's employees says, "Any second now, he's gonna start ding out the pink slips!" I think it's supposed to say, "dinging"

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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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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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.