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View Full Version : Album Club - Week 133: 18/02/2014: The Damned - Phantasmagoria (1985)



Album Club
18-02-2014, 00:01
Dave (synsei) has been kind enough to choose an album for us this week's. Thanks a lot Dave.
Please enter into the discussion if you wish to vote, and listen to the entire album before commenting.


The Damned - Phantasmagoria (1985)


http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/D/Damned/damned_phantF.jpg

spotify:album:49FT1BTDipVvxOIQyyzWh5



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhohJbL8o68


Wiki: Phantasmagoria is the sixth album by The Damned, released by MCA records in July 1985. Special editions were available on white vinyl or picture disc, some versions included a free 12" of their No. 3 hit Eloise.

After much wrangling, the Damned received a new contract with MCA Records in October 1984 (past member Captain Sensible's hit solo career helped) and recorded the album in Eel Pie Studios between March and June 1985. It reached No. 11 in the charts, and was the band's highest charting album ever. The non-album single "Eloise," (a Barry Ryan cover), released six months later, became a huge UK hit reaching No. 3.
The Damned centred the entire album around David Vanian's deep voice, giving much of the album a gothic feeling. "Edward the Bear" is a light pop tune sung by Roman Jugg. The album is currently out-of-print in North America but was remastered and reissued by Geffen Records in Japan in 2007, which features replicas of the LP's outer and inner sleeves and the CD's label resembles the white vinyl edition.

This is one of my favourite albums from the 1980's and marked the maturation of this creative outfit but sadly many of the bands hardcore fans saw this release as a sellout to commercialism. Although Phantasmagoria sold well the bands early reputation for inciting their fans to trash live venues didn't sit well with the main stream audience which is probably why they have never enjoyed the same level of success with subsequent album releases.

All tracks by Vanian/Scabies/Jugg/Merrick, except where noted


"Street of Dreams" – 5:38
"Shadow of Love" – 3:51
"There'll Come a Day" – 4:15
"Sanctum Sanctorum" – 6:27
"Is It a Dream" (Vanian/Scabies/Jugg/Merrick/Sensible) – 3:27
"Grimly Fiendish" (Vanian/Scabies/Jugg/Merrick/Doctor) – 3:50
"Edward the Bear" – 3:37
"The Eighth Day" – 3:46
"Trojans" – 4:53

Barry
18-02-2014, 00:54
I used to have this record - bought in the mid '80s when newsagents everywhere were selling off LPs for £1.50! I am puzzled however, because I'm certain my copy contained the track "Eloise" - that was what attracted me to the LP in the first place, as well as by the cover artwork (photographed by the late Bob Carlos Clarke).

It was interesting hearing it again Dave, but it seems to be very much of its time and am reminded of why I gave my copy away. I doubt I would play it much if I still had it.

5/10 from me.

Bazil
18-02-2014, 13:40
I never bought anything by the punk band The Damned but they were a big name at the time and very visual with prominent characters DV and CS.
I wasn't aware of anything by them after Punk had ended except for the brilliant cover of Eloise which stands as one of the best covers ever.
Listening to this I can see why their fans were unhappy, but to survive you have to evolve, a shame it is so typically Spandau/Depeche/Duran 80ish, there is nothing from that period/sound I like. Its all right, very easy listening and there is a break from "Tony Hadley" :eyebrows: with Edward the Bear but then he comes back on The Eight Day :(
I was going to give this 3 or 4 but its gets elevated to a big 6/10 because of a very nice instrumental ending track "Trojans" which I have played thrice!

Bazil
18-02-2014, 13:43
I used to have this record - bought in the mid '80s when newsagents everywhere were selling off LPs for £1.50! I am puzzled however, because I'm certain my copy contained the track "Eloise" - that was what attracted me to the LP in the first place, as well as by the cover artwork (photographed by the late Bob Carlos Clarke).

It was interesting hearing it again Dave, but it seems to be very much of its time and am reminded of why I gave my copy away. I doubt I would play it much if I still had it.

5/10 from me.

Australian versions did.

sparrow
18-02-2014, 15:28
10/10 from me...So far from their punk roots but simply a superb album..My fave by the band.

Tarzan
19-02-2014, 08:24
A big fat 10/10 from me also, a great album, brings back some happy memories.

pjdowns
19-02-2014, 21:09
I really like this album, so much so I have ordered it straight away from Amazon, thanks for the recommendation Dave :)

Audioman
19-02-2014, 23:56
This strangely has the same title as an earlier album by Curved Air. However I will give this a try- sure I must have heard some of it before. More inclined toward prog than punk though.

high.spirits
20-02-2014, 10:57
Great album cover.
I found this a very 80s record and vocals remind me of Tony Hadley - not a fan.
I quite liked the "Grimly Fiendish album edit". But not on my listen again list 4/10. Sorry Dave.

Tarzan
20-02-2014, 20:29
Try it again Martin as the album is a bit of a slow burner.:)

mik_rik
21-02-2014, 14:06
I like it a lot, a solid 7 from me. My copy has a 12" version of Eloise- agreed it's a brilliant cover ,or it would have been if it had been a version with vocals on!.Alone Again Or was also a good cover which they did a while after

synsei
21-02-2014, 14:25
I like it a lot, a solid 7 from me. My copy has a 12" version of Eloise- agreed it's a brilliant cover ,or it would have been if it had been a version with vocals on!.Alone Again Or was also a good cover which they did a while after

You forgot to vote Mick... ;)

mik_rik
21-02-2014, 17:00
Corrected ----- :doh:

loo
22-02-2014, 21:07
Respect to Dave for putting up a Damned album ,a great band that rarely get the acclaim they deserve, I love all the Damned's albums but this is far from my favourite, that would probably be Music for Pleasure ,its still the Damned though so got to deserve a 7 from me.
Any one that likes this should check out Strawberries ;)

John
03-03-2014, 05:27
This is not what I expect from the Dammed but quite like it a 6 from me

MartinT
08-04-2014, 06:39
What a strange mixture of Spandau/Duran influences with a bit of Roxy and some Madness. Very post-punk and it doesn't really gel for me, although there are moments of greatness. I'm not really a fan of his voice, either. 5/10.

MikeMusic
21-05-2014, 11:00
Very disappointing for The Damned.
Going through the motions and not that well

The earlier the better for them and me - Machine Gun Etiquette their very best

Their 2nd Peel Session was just wonderful
Smash it up
Burglar
Gay bars
(from memory)

Smegger68
26-04-2018, 01:36
Bit of a curates egg for me, so it gets a 6. Loved Shadow of Love and Is It A Dream. Most of the other tracks are fair to decent with only Trojans dropping to filler level.

my abiding memory of this is going to see them on the supporting tour at the Ipswich Gaumont. About 10 of us 16 yr olds piled into the school minibus and were driven to the venue by Mr Lund, our history teacher who was a bit of a closet rocker. The Gaumont was a seated venue with a clear area at the front to stand in. The staff had obviously heard of the bands reputation for trashing venues and were having none of it -they decided to stand at the bottom of the aisles and block people from going down there. unfortunately, when the Damned came on everyone just climbed over the chairs and piled down the front. We were standing up in the seated area about 6 rows back when the huge mass of humanity rushed past and over us.... way too many people for the smallish standing area. The first row of seats collappsed under the weight. Then the next. And the next. I still vividly remember having to jump row 5 as it collapsed in front of me! Of course after that we just made our way to the front and had an absolute blast :D