Music on Both Sides
| Music on Both Sides | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 11 March 1982 | |||
| Genre | Pop, power pop, pop rock | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Will Birch, Alan Douglas | |||
| The Records chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music on Both Sides is the third album by the English band the Records, released on 11 March 1982.[1][2] They broke up after its release, although some lineups reunited a few times before John Wicks's death.[3]
Production
The songs were written by Will Birch and Wicks.[4] Chris Gent, on vocals, and Dave Whelan, on guitar, joined the band prior to the recording sessions.[1] Paul Carrack contributed to two of the tracks.[5] "Cheap Detective Music" is an instrumental.[6]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All Music Guide to Rock | [7] |
| Duluth News Tribune | 7/10[8] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [9] |
| The Fresno Bee | 8.5/10[10] |
| The Great Indie Discography | 4/10[11] |
| Houston Chronicle | [12] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [13] |
| Omaha World-Herald | [14] |
The Boston Globe called the album "an appealing and distinctively British pop record, reminiscent of the Hollies in their harder-edged moments."[15] The Omaha World-Herald said that the songs are bright but "the sound is occasionally too thin and spare."[14] Ethlie Ann Vare likewise opined that the "biggest flaw ... is the band's mushy production values ... what the band really needs is the crisp, clean attack of a Mike Chapman or Dave Edmunds at the controls."[5]
The Duluth News Tribune concluded, "Every band reaches a level of competence beyond which they needn't try to reach, and, like the Beatles of 1966 ... the Records are there now."[8] The Houston Chronicle said, "The melodies are uninspired, the structures bland."[12] The Fresno Bee labeled Music on Both Sides a "must" for power pop fans.[10] The Detroit Free Press considered it "radio-perfect pop rock".[16]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Imitation Jewellery" | |
| 2. | "Heather and Hell" | |
| 3. | "Selfish Love" | |
| 4. | "Clown Around Town" | |
| 5. | "Not So Much the Time" | |
| 6. | "Keeping Up with Jones" | |
| 7. | "Third Hand Information" | |
| 8. | "Real Life" | |
| 9. | "King of Kings" | |
| 10. | "Cheap Detective Music" | |
| 11. | "Every Day Nightmare" |
References
- ^ a b Gimarc, George (2005). Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock 1970–1982. Backbeat Books. p. 584.
- ^ Arthur, George (31 July 1982). "Short Cuts". Circus. No. 269. p. 64.
- ^ Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland, Inc. 2019. p. 404.
- ^ "And heard". Evening Advertiser. Swindon. 23 April 1982. p. 4.
- ^ a b Vare, Ethlie Ann (30 March 1982). "Rock On". Hillsboro Press Gazette. Vol. 9, no. 126. p. 2.11.
- ^ Butler, Robert W. (14 March 1982). "The turntable". The Kansas City Star. p. 7F.
- ^ All Music Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books. 2002. p. 921.
- ^ a b Shefchik, Rick (4 April 1982). "Hot Wax". Accent North. Duluth News Tribune. Vol. 112, no. 344. p. 35.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 804.
- ^ a b Breen, Steve (11 June 1982). "In review, The Records". The Fresno Bee. p. D13.
- ^ Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography (2nd ed.). Canongate. p. 128.
- ^ a b Racine, Marty (25 April 1982). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 9.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 557.
- ^ a b Catlin, Roger (16 March 1982). "New Sounds". Omaha World-Herald. p. 6.
- ^ Milano, Brett (11 March 1982). "Records". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 7.
- ^ Duffy, Mike (30 November 1982). "Briefly Noted". Detroit Free Press. p. 6B.