If Looks Could Kill (Transvision Vamp song)

"If Looks Could Kill"
Single by Transvision Vamp
from the album Little Magnets Versus the Bubble of Babble
B-side	"My Friend the Tom Cat" "Puppy Dog Tails"
Released	10 June 1991 (1991-06-10)
Length	4:14
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Nick Christian Sayer
Producer(s)	Duncan Bridgeman
Transvision Vamp singles chronology
"(I Just Wanna) B with U" (1991) "If Looks Could Kill" (1991)

"If Looks Could Kill" is a song by English alternative rock band Transvision Vamp. It was the second single taken from their third album, Little Magnets Versus the Bubble of Babble (1991), and served as the band's final single. Released on 10 June 1991, the song reached number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and number 38 in New Zealand.

Critical reception

Upon the song's UK release, Jim Arundel of Melody Maker left an ironic review on the single by saying that "the thing that really spoils Transvision Vamp is... Wendy James". He continued: "This is a lovingly compiled record, a collage of stolen kisses. Every riff and device is lovigly placed. It's full of secret passages. But then some pushy tart who can barely sing and sounds transparently insincere comes and sits on its face." Arundel finalized, "Still, if they're your cup of meat then this is probably their masterpiece." ^[1]

Track listings

7-inch and cassette single ^{[2] [3]}

1. "If Looks Could Kill"
2. "My Friend the Tom Cat"
3. "Puppy Dog Tails"

12-inch single ^[4]

A1. "If Looks Could Kill" (Voodoo Hipster mix)

B1. "My Friend the Tom Cat"

B2. "Puppy Dog Tails"

B3. "I Want Your Love" (live)

CD single ^[5]

1. "If Looks Could Kill" (7-inch version)
2. "My Friend the Tom Cat"
3. "Puppy Dog Tails"
4. "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" (live)

US 12-inch single ^[6]

A1. "If Looks Could Kill" (Voodoo Hipster mix)

A2. "If Looks Could Kill" (LP version)

B1. "Twangy Wigout" (12-inch mix)

B2. "My Friend the Tom Cat"

B3. "Puppy Dog Tails"

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "If Looks Could Kill"

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA) [7]	56
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [8]	38
UK Singles (OCC) [9]	41

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	10 June 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD	MCA	[8]
Australia	15 July 1991	7-inch vinyl cassette		[10]
	2 September 1991	12-inch vinyl		[11]

References

1. Arundel, Jim (22 June 1991). "Singles: Transvision Vamp – "If Looks Could Kill" (MCA)". Melody Maker . London: IPC Limited. p. 32. ISSN   0025-9012. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024– via Flickr.
2. If Looks Could Kill (UK 7-inch single sleeve). MCA Records. 1991. TVV 11.
3. If Looks Could Kill (UK cassette single sleeve). MCA Records. 1991. TVVC11.
4. If Looks Could Kill (UK 12-inch single sleeve). MCA Records. 1991. TVVT 11.
5. If Looks Could Kill (UK CD single liner notes). MCA Records. 1991. DTVVT 11.
6. If Looks Could Kill (US 12-inch single sleeve). MCA Records. 1991. MCA12 54273.
7. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 284.
8. "Transvision Vamp – If Looks Could Kill". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
10. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 15/07/91: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 77. 14 July 1991. p. 18.
11. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 02/09/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 84. 1 September 1991. p. 19.

External links

• Worldwide releases