9 (Public Image Ltd album)

Last updated

9
PiL9.jpg
Studio album by
Released8 May 1989 [1]
RecordedDecember 1988 – March 1989
Studio
Genre
Length44:04
Label Virgin
Producer
Public Image Ltd chronology
Happy?
(1987)
9
(1989)
The Greatest Hits, So Far
(1990)
Singles from 9
  1. "Disappointed"
    Released: April 1989
  2. "Warrior"
    Released: July 1989
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau’s Consumer Guide C+ [3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

9 is the seventh studio album by Public Image Ltd, but their ninth full-length release including the live albums Paris au Printemps and Live in Tokyo . It was released in the US on 8 May 1989 on the Virgin Records label, and on 30 May 1989 in the UK.

Contents

Background

The band that recorded 9 consisted of John Lydon, bassist Allan Dias, guitarist John McGeoch and drummer Bruce Smith. Former guitarist Lu Edmonds left the band by the time the album was recorded due to problems with tinnitus. However, Edmonds received a writing co-credit on all tracks, although he does not play on the album. Ted Chau, who replaced Edmonds in the band, does not perform on 9.

The album was produced by Stephen Hague, Eric "ET" Thorngren, and the band. Bill Laswell, who had produced Album three years earlier, had originally been lined up to produce 9. However, tension between Laswell and Lydon after the recording of that album, coupled with Laswell's desire to once again use his own cast of session musicians on 9 and his dissatisfaction with Public Image's new line-up, led to the agreement being cancelled.

The first album track to be released was "Warrior", which showed up on the soundtrack album to the movie Slaves of New York , released on 20 March 1989. [5] The track "Sand Castles in the Snow" was originally titled "Spit", and was so listed in various Virgin pre-release information.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Dias, Edmonds, Lydon, McGeoch and Smith except "Disappointed" (Dias, Edmonds, Lydon, McGeoch, Smith and Hague)

No.TitleProducerLength
1."Happy"Stephen Hague3:57
2."Disappointed"Stephen Hague5:34
3."Warrior"Stephen Hague4:17
4."U.S.L.S. 1"Eric "ET" Thorngren5:37
5."Sand Castles in the Snow"Stephen Hague3:44
6."Worry"Stephen Hague3:54
7."Brave New World"Eric "ET" Thorngren4:19
8."Like That"Eric "ET" Thorngren3:40
9."Same Old Story"Eric "ET" Thorngren4:19
10."Armada"Eric "ET" Thorngren4:43

Personnel

Public Image Ltd.

Track-by-track commentary by the band

"Happy":

"Disappointed":

"Warrior":

U.S.L.S. 1":

"Warrior" (extended mix):

"Don't Ask Me" (single a-side):

"Rise" (Bob Clearmountain remix):

Charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [23] 57
UK Albums (OCC) [24] 36
US Billboard 200 [25] 106

References

  1. "Upcoming Releases". CMJ New Music Report. 5 May 1989. p. 66.
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r15903
  3. Robert Christgau. "Robert Christgau: CG: Public Image Ltd" . Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  4. Coleman, Mark; Matos, Michaelangelo (2004). "Public Image Ltd.". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  662–63. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  5. 1 2 Nina Ellerman: “Don't Worry, Be Happy?” ( BAM , 16 June 1989)
  6. Antoine de Caunes: “John Lydon and John McGeoch Interview” ( Rapido , BBC Two, 3 May 1989)
  7. 1 2 Steve Lake: “Pillenknick” (ME/Sounds, Germany, July 1989)
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Jason Pettigrew: “Tired?” ( Alternative Press , July 1989)
  9. Iain Blair: “Rotten Johnny – Lead Singer Of Public Image Remains A Punk At Heart” ( Chicago Tribune , 30 June 1989)
  10. Neil Perry: “Public Image – The 9 Lives Of John Lydon” ( Sounds , 22 April 1989)
  11. 1 2 Scott Murphy: “Allan Dias Interview” (Fodderstompf.com website, May 2004)
  12. 1 2 3 Robin Gibson: “PIL Crazy After All These Years” ( Sounds , 27 October 1990)
  13. 1 2 3 Rick Batey: “Compilation – John McGeoch” ( Guitarist , April 1991)
  14. Scott Murphy: “Lu Edmonds Interview” (The Filth And The Fury#10 fanzine, September 1999)
  15. John Lydon liner notes (Public Image Ltd.: "Plastic Box" compilation, Virgin Records, 1999)
  16. Tim Sommer: "John Lydon Interview" ("PostModern MTV", MTV, 12 October 1989)
  17. 1 2 3 Dave Kendall: "John Lydon Interview" ( 120 Minutes , MTV, early October 1989)
  18. 1 2 Scott Murphy: "John Lydon Interview" (Fodderstompf.com website, January 2004)
  19. Edwin Gould: "John Lydon Interview" (KROQ radio station, Los Angeles, 6 November 1990)
  20. Neil Spencer: "Public Image Limited" ( Volume Three , May 1992)
  21. Terry Christian: "John Lydon and Ricki Lake Interview" ( The Word , Channel 4, 14 December 1990)
  22. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 242. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  23. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  24. "Public Image Ltd Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2025.