Love Bites | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 22 September 1978 | |||
Recorded | 29 July 1978 – 6 August 1978 | |||
Studio | Olympic, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 39:02 | |||
Label | United Artists | |||
Producer | Martin Rushent | |||
Buzzcocks chronology | ||||
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Love Bites is the second studio album by English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was released on 22 September 1978, through United Artists Records. [1]
The album peaked at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart at the time of its release, [2] making Love Bites their highest-charting album. [3]
Love Bites was recorded and mixed by Buzzcocks with producer Martin Rushent over a two-and-a-half-week period in July and August 1978, less than six months after the release of their début album, Another Music in a Different Kitchen . The album was recorded in the midst of an extensive touring schedule.
The instrumental track "Late for the Train" was first played and recorded on John Peel's Radio One show, along with bass player Steve Garvey's instrumental "Walking Distance".
Co-writing credits for "Just Lust" were given to Alan Dial, a pen-name for Buzzcocks' then manager Richard Boon.
"Nostalgia" was also recorded by Newcastle band Penetration, who in 1978 accompanied Buzzcocks on the "Entertaining Friends" tour of England.
The hand-drawn script on the album sleeve is a conscious reference to paintings by Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte. [n 1] The sleeve insert airbrush illustrations of the band are by Robin Utracik, rhythm guitarist from The Worst.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Classic Rock | 8/10 [6] |
Mojo | [7] |
Q | [8] |
Record Collector | [9] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [10] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10 [11] |
Uncut | 9/10 [12] |
Vox | 7/10 [13] |
Trouser Press wrote that the record "demonstrates both the Buzzcocks' perfection of their particular brand of pop and their disillusionment with its restrictions. Producer Martin Rushent clarifies the elements of the sound even further, and Shelley's songwriting continues to improve". [14]
In a retrospective review, BBC Music described it as "an essential purchase for anyone remotely interested in punk's history." [15] AllMusic wrote: "More musically accomplished, more obsessively self-questioning, and with equally energetic yet sometimes gloomy performances, Love Bites finds the Buzzcocks coming into their own." [5]
In March 1994, a CD version of the original album was released by EMI, containing four additional tracks: "Love You More"; "Noise Annoys"; "Promises"; and "Lipstick".
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Real World" | Pete Shelley | 3:29 |
2. | "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" | Pete Shelley | 2:40 |
3. | "Operator's Manual" | Pete Shelley | 3:30 |
4. | "Nostalgia" | Pete Shelley | 2:51 |
5. | "Just Lust" | Pete Shelley, Alan Dial | 2:57 |
6. | "Sixteen Again" | Pete Shelley | 3:14 |
7. | "Walking Distance" | Steve Garvey | 1:58 |
8. | "Love Is Lies" | Steve Diggle | 3:10 |
9. | "Nothing Left" | Pete Shelley | 4:23 |
10. | "E. S. P." | Pete Shelley | 4:39 |
11. | "Late for the Train" | Pete Shelley, Steve Diggle, John Maher, Steve Garvey | 5:51 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Love You More" | Pete Shelley | 1:51 |
13. | "Noise Annoys" | Pete Shelley | 2:52 |
14. | "Promises" | Pete Shelley, Steve Diggle | 2:36 |
15. | "Lipstick" | Pete Shelley, Steve Diggle | 2:38 |
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band that singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto formed in Bolton in 1976. During their career, the band combined elements of punk rock, power pop, and pop punk. They achieved commercial success with singles that fuse pop craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy; these singles were later collected on Singles Going Steady, an acclaimed compilation album music journalist and critic Ned Raggett described as a "punk masterpiece".
Pete Shelley was an English singer, songwriter and guitarist. He formed early punk band Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto in 1976, and became the lead singer and guitarist in 1977 when Devoto left. The group released their biggest hit "Ever Fallen in Love " in 1978. The band broke up in 1981 and reformed at the end of the decade. Shelley also had a solo career; his song "Homosapien" charted in North America in 1981 and 1982.
Another Music in a Different Kitchen is the first studio album by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was released in March 1978 by the United Artists record label. This was the third line-up of Buzzcocks, with the guitarist Pete Shelley singing following the departure of the original vocalist Howard Devoto and then the firing of the bass guitarist Garth Smith. The album includes the single "I Don't Mind", which reached number 55 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1978.
Singles Going Steady is a compilation album by English punk rock band Buzzcocks, first released on I.R.S. Records in the United States on 25 September 1979.
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Altered Images are a Scottish new wave/post-punk band who found success in the early 1980s. Fronted by singer Clare Grogan, the group branched into mainstream pop music, having six UK top-40 hit singles and three top-30 albums from 1981 to 1983. Their hits include "Happy Birthday", "I Could Be Happy", "See Those Eyes", and "Don't Talk to Me About Love".
Martin Charles Rushent was an English record producer, best known for his work with the Human League, the Stranglers and Buzzcocks.
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Stephen E Diggle is an English guitarist and vocalist in the punk band Buzzcocks.
Buzzcocks is the seventh studio album by English pop punk band Buzzcocks. It was released on 18 March 2003 by record label Merge in the US and Cherry Red in the UK.
A Different Kind of Tension is the third studio album by English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was released in September 1979 by record label United Artists.
Operators Manual: Buzzcocks Best is a compilation album by English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was released in 1991 by I.R.S. Records.
Spiral Scratch is an EP and the first release by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was released on 29 January 1977. It is one of the earliest releases by a British punk band. Spiral Scratch and the album Time's Up are the only Buzzcocks studio releases with original singer Howard Devoto, who left shortly after the EP's release to form one of the first post-punk bands, Magazine.
"Orgasm Addict" is a song by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was the A-side of the Buzzcocks' first single, with "What Ever Happened To?" as the B-side, which was released on 4 November 1977 by record label United Artists.
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The Teardrops were an English punk/new wave band formed in Manchester, England, in 1978. The founders and always the core of this band were Trevor Wain, John Key and Jimmy Donnelly with various good friends from the Prestwich music scene:- Buzzcocks bassist Steve Garvey, members of The Fall; Martin Bramah, Karl Burns and Tony Friel and former member of V2 Ian Nance, as well as occasional contributions from Dave Brisbane, Helen Harbrook, Dave Price and Rick Goldstraw.
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"Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" is a 1978 song written by Pete Shelley and performed by his group Buzzcocks. It was a number 12 hit on the UK Singles Chart and was included on the album Love Bites.
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