Bikini Red

Last updated

Bikini Red
Screaming Blue Messiahs - Bikini Red album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released1987
Genre Rock
Length34:50
Label Elektra
Producer Vic Maile
The Screaming Blue Messiahs chronology
Gun Shy
(1986)
Bikini Red
(1987)
Totally Religious
(1989)

Bikini Red is the third release by The Screaming Blue Messiahs and the follow-up to Gun-Shy . The album, which was notable for being one of the last recordings by renowned producer Vic Maile, well known for his work with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton. Bikini Red was also one of two albums by The Screaming Blue Messiahs (along with Gun-Shy) that brought them to the attention of David Bowie and that led to him promoting the band: [1] "Well! The band this week – I've only just discovered them, so they're my pet project – is The Screaming Blue Messiahs. They're the best band I've heard out of England in a long time" (Musician magazine, August 1987)[ citation needed ] and "There’s an English band I like very much. Nobody seems to have heard of them. They’re called The Screaming Blue Messiahs and I’m pushing them like mad." (Words And Music magazine, January 1988)[ citation needed ], and when asked by Rolling Stone magazine in 1987 who is favorite band were, Bowie replied, "The Screaming Blue Messiahs. I love them. I think they're terrific." [2]

Contents

Reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
New Musical Express 6/10 [3]

The album has a 4.5/5 star rating on All Music. John Duggan wrote: "The Messiahs' follow-up to Gun-Shy was this devastating hunk of noise, which didn't pull any punches when it came to raw emotion and intensity. Side One, especially, is a rave-up from the gut-bustin' raunch of 'Sweet Water Pools' to the closer 'Big Brother Muscle.' As always, Carter's obsessions are a little hard to understand, but the images and lyric fragments fly at you like shards of broken glass; you'll remember when they hit you. 'I Wanna Be a Flintstone' kicks off Side Two, and it remains as funky and funny as it was the first time you hear it. Great production work by Vic Maile"; [4] and "The sophomore disc, Bikini Red, was even better. Packing a ferocious wallop accentuated by the production of famed English producer Vic Maile (Dr. Feelgood, Motörhead), and the goofy 'I Wanna Be a Flintstone'." [5]

Singles

"Bikini Red" and "I Can Speak American" were both released as singles in 1987. January 1988 saw the release of "I Wanna Be A Flintstone" (a reworked song from an album by an earlier band of Carter's, Motor Boys Motor) as a single. The record became an instant hit, peaking at number 28 in the UK charts. [6] The song's success saw the band appearing on the BBC's Top of the Pops and Saturday morning kids' show No. 73 . Two videos were made for the song, both making use of cartoon clips from the Flintstones TV series. The single appeared in multiple formats, including picture discs and extended 12" remix versions.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Sweet Water Pools [7] "Bill Carter3:32
2."Bikini Red"Bill Carter3:47
3."Too Much Love"Bill Carter3:07
4."I Can Speak American"Bill Carter2:57
5."Big Brother Muscle"Bill Carter2:59
Side two
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."I Wanna Be a Flintstone"Bill Carter2:31
2."Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge"Bill Carter4:01
3."Lie Detector"Bill Carter3:59
4."55-The Law"Bill Carter2:10
5."All Shook Down"Bill Carter2:16
6."Waltz"Bill Carter3:31

Personnel

The band

Studio

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Kramer</span> British audio engineer and producer

Edwin H. Kramer is a South African-born recording producer and engineer. He has collaborated with several artists now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, the Kinks, Kiss, John Mellencamp, and Carlos Santana, as well as records for other well-known artists in various genres.

<i>Iron Fist</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Motörhead

Iron Fist is the fifth studio album by English rock band Motörhead, released in April 1982 by Bronze Records. It was the final album of the classic Three Amigos lineup of Lemmy Kilmister, "Fast" Eddie Clarke, and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. The album peaked at No. 6 on the UK album charts. It was preceded by the release of the title track "Iron Fist" as a single, which entered the UK charts on 3 April, and peaked at No. 29.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Newmark</span> American session drummer (born 1950)

Andrew Newmark is an American session drummer who was a member of Sly and the Family Stone and has played with George Harrison, John Lennon, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Carly Simon, Ron Wood and Roxy Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tin Machine</span> British–American rock band

Tin Machine were a British–American rock band formed in 1988. The band consisted of English singer-songwriter David Bowie on lead vocals, saxophone and guitar; Reeves Gabrels on guitar and vocals; Tony Fox Sales on bass and vocals; and Hunt Sales on drums and vocals. The Sales brothers had previously performed with Bowie and Iggy Pop during the 1977 tour for The Idiot. Kevin Armstrong played additional guitar and keyboards on the band's first and second studio albums and first tour, and American guitarist Eric Schermerhorn played on the second tour and live album Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby (1992).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Screaming Blue Messiahs</span> Rock band from 1980s London

The Screaming Blue Messiahs were a rock band, formed in 1983 in London by guitarist and singer Bill Carter, bass player and backing singer Chris Thompson and drummer Kenny Harris. The group emerged in the wake of the pub rock and punk scenes that had been very prominent on the UK capital's live music circuit during the late '70s/ early '80s. The band, a classic power trio, was active between 1983 and 1990 and released three major label LPs. They toured extensively throughout Europe, North America and Australasia, garnering wide critical acclaim for their aggressive blend of rhythm and blues, punk and rockabilly.

<i>Nö Sleep at All</i> 1988 live album by Motörhead

Nö Sleep at All is the third live album by English rock band Motörhead. Released in October 1988 by GWR Records, it was their only live album and last release with the label as legal matters continued between the parties.

The Inmates are a British pub rock band, which formed after the split of The Flying Tigers in 1977. In 1982, they had a medium-sized international hit with a cover of The Standells' "Dirty Water", and a UK Top 40 hit with their cover of Jimmy McCracklin's track, "The Walk". "Dirty Water" reached number 51 in the United States in January 1980. The song led directly to them recording their debut album, First Offence, produced by Vic Maile for Radar Records. Two further albums were quickly recorded; Shot in the Dark again produced by Vic Maile, and Heatwave in Alaska produced by Stuart Coleman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girlschool</span> British rock band

Girlschool are a British rock band that formed in the new wave of British heavy metal scene in 1978. Frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead, they are the longest-running all-female rock band, still active after more than 40 years. Formed from a school band called Painted Lady, Girlschool enjoyed strong media exposure and commercial success in the UK in the early 1980s with three albums of "punk-tinged metal" and a few singles, but lost their momentum in the following years.

<i>Dawnrazor</i> 1987 studio album by Fields of the Nephilim

Dawnrazor is the debut studio album by English gothic rock band Fields of the Nephilim. It was released on 4 May 1987, through record label Situation Two.

Gun Shy may refer to:

Vic Maile was a British record producer. After starting his career as sound engineer with Pye mobile studios for the Animals on their song "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", Maile worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, the Pirates, Hawkwind, Motörhead, the Godfathers, the Kinks, Small Faces, the Inmates, Dr. Feelgood, the Screaming Blue Messiahs, the Lords of the New Church, Girlschool and Michael Moorcock & the Deep Fix.

The Bomb Party were an English rock band from Leicester. They have been described as "The Godfathers of Grebo".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sound+Vision Tour</span> 1990 concert tour by David Bowie

The Sound+Vision Tour was a 1990 concert tour by the English musician David Bowie that was billed as a greatest hits tour in which Bowie would retire his back catalogue of hit songs from live performance. The tour opened at the Colisée de Québec in Quebec City, Canada on 4 March 1990 before reaching its conclusion at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 29 September 1990, spanning five continents in seven months. The concert tour surpassed Bowie's previous Serious Moonlight (1983) and Glass Spider (1987) tours' statistics by visiting 27 countries with 108 performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glass Spider Tour</span> 1987 worldwide concert tour by David Bowie

The Glass Spider Tour was a 1987 worldwide concert tour by the English musician David Bowie, launched in support of his album Never Let Me Down and named for that album's track "Glass Spider". It began in May 1987 and was preceded by a two-week press tour that saw Bowie visit nine countries throughout Europe and North America to drum up public interest in the tour. The Glass Spider Tour was the first Bowie tour to visit Austria, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Wales. Through a sponsorship from Pepsi, the tour was intended to visit Russia and South America as well, but these plans were later cancelled. The tour was, at that point, the longest and most expensive tour Bowie had embarked upon in his career. At the time, the tour's elaborate set was called "the largest touring set ever".

<i>Nightmare at Maple Cross</i> 1986 studio album by Girlschool

Nightmare at Maple Cross is the sixth studio album by the English heavy metal band Girlschool, released in 1986 by GWR Records. Under the direction of producer Vic Maile, this album marks the return of the band to the sound of their earlier works and to a four-piece formation. All tracks were composed by the four musicians, except for the cover of Mud's "Tiger Feet". The US version of the album included a duet with Gary Glitter covering his song, "I'm the Leader of the Gang ".

<i>Live at Kelvin Hall</i> 1967 live album by the Kinks

Live at Kelvin Hall is a live album by the English rock group the Kinks. It was recorded at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland, in early 1967 and released in August 1967 in the US, and January 1968 in the UK. Live at Kelvin Hall received mixed reviews upon release, and sold poorly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Screaming Banshee Aircrew</span> English rock band

Screaming Banshee Aircrew were an English rock band originating from York. Their varied music appealed to the Gothic scene, and their energetic performances attracted many fans across the UK. They were disbanded in July 2010, and many of the band members went on to join other bands.

<i>Gun-Shy</i> (album) 1986 studio album by The Screaming Blue Messiahs

Gun-Shy is the second release by The Screaming Blue Messiahs and their first full-length recording. The album, which was jointly produced by Apollo 440's Howard Gray, was notable for being one of the last recordings by Vic Maile, well known for his work with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton. Gun-Shy was also one of two albums by The Screaming Blue Messiahs that brought them to the attention of David Bowie and that led to him promoting the band: "Well! The band this week – I've only just discovered them, so they're my pet project – is The Screaming Blue Messiahs. They're the best band I've heard out of England in a long time" and "There’s an English band I like very much. Nobody seems to have heard of them. They’re called The Screaming Blue Messiahs and I’m pushing them like mad."

<i>Totally Religious</i> 1989 studio album by The Screaming Blue Messiahs

Totally Religious is an album by the English band the Screaming Blue Messiahs, released in 1989. It was co-produced by previous Screaming Blue Messiahs producer Howard Gray and Rob Stevens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Aces (indie pop band)</span> American indie pop band

The Aces are an American alternative pop band from Provo, Utah. The band has four members: guitarist Katie Henderson, bassist McKenna Petty, and sisters Alisa Ramirez (drums) and Cristal Ramirez.

References

  1. Google Books: Bowie on Bowie: Screaming Blue Messiahs
  2. Rolling Stone magazine: David Bowie: Stardust Memories interview
  3. Mann, Paul (21 November 1987). "The Screaming Blue Messiahs: Bikini Red". New Musical Express . p. 37.
  4. Dougan, John. "Screaming Blue Messiahs: Bikini Red: Overview". AllMusic . Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  5. iTunes: Screaming Blue Messiahs: Biography}
  6. Official Charts: Screaming Blue Messiahs: Singles
  7. AllMusic: Screaming Blue Messiahs: Bikini Red: Track listing
  8. AllMusic: Screaming Blue Messiahs: Bikini Red: Credits