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]
| Love Bites | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
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]
Background and production
editLove 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.
Cover artwork
editThe 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.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| 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]
CD release
editIn 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".
Track listing
edit| 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 |
Personnel
edit- Buzzcocks
- Pete Shelley – lead guitar, lead vocals (all but 8)
- Steve Diggle – rhythm and acoustic guitars, backing and lead (8) vocals
- Steve Garvey – bass guitar
- John Maher – drums
- Production
- Martin Rushent – engineering, mixing
- Douglas Bennett – engineering
Notes
edit- ^ René Magritte is believed to be Buzzcocks drummer John Maher's favourite artist.[4]
References
edit- ^ Ever Fallen in Love: The Lost Buzzcocks Tapes, ISBN 978-1-788-40288-0 p. 98
- ^ "Buzzcocks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Piccadilly Records: Buzzcocks Love Bites". piccadillyrecords.com. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ Sleeve notes for Love Bites. Note #5
- ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Love Bites – Buzzcocks". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ^ Quantick, David (February 2019). "Buzzcocks: Reissues". Classic Rock. No. 258. p. 96.
- ^ Paytress, Mark (December 2008). "A habit that sticks". Mojo. No. 181. p. 116.
- ^ Collins, Andrew (October 1996). "Buzzcocks: Another Music in a Different Kitchen / Love Bites". Q. No. 121.
- ^ Rathbone, Oregano (January 2019). "Caught by the Buzz". Record Collector. No. 488. p. 101.
- ^ Gross, Joe (2004). "The Buzzcocks". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 124–25. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Walters, Barry (1995). "Buzzcocks". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 65–66. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ^ Watts, Peter (February 2019). "Buzzcocks: Another Music in a Different Kitchen / Love Bites". Uncut. No. 261. p. 45.
- ^ Perry, Neil (July 1994). "Buzzcocks: Another Music in a Different Kitchen / Love Bites". Vox. No. 46. p. 116.
- ^ Grant, Steven; Robbins, Ira; Rabid, Jack; Neugebauer, Delvin. "Buzzcocks". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Jones, Chris (7 November 2008). "Buzzcocks Love Bites Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
External links
edit- Love Bites at Discogs (list of releases)
- PopMatters review of Love Bites