The Good, the Bad and the Queen
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| The Good, the Bad and the Queen | ||
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| Studio album by Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Paul Simonon and Simon Tong | ||
| Released | 22 January 2007 | |
| Recorded | 2005 - 2006 | |
| Genre | Alternative rock | |
| Length | 42:49 | |
| Label | Parlophone, Honest Jon's | |
| Producer(s) | Danger Mouse | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Paul Simonon and Simon Tong chronology | ||
| The Good, the Bad and the Queen (2007) |
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The Good, the Bad and the Queen is the debut album by Damon Albarn's unnamed alternative rock band, released on January 22, 2007 in the UK and on January 23 in the United States.[1][2] In its first week, the album charted at #2 in the UK Album Chart and was certified gold in the UK.[3] despite a small degree of media recognition and airplay. It also entered the Billboard 200 at #49.
The band behind the album consists of Damon Albarn, Clash bassist Paul Simonon, former Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Afrobeat pioneer and Africa 70 drummer Tony Allen. Although The Good, The Bad and the Queen was initially reported as a solo album by Albarn with Danger Mouse producing, NME revealed in late July 2006 that the solo project had been switched to a new group formed by Albarn.[4]
The Good, the Bad and the Queen is in one sense a concept album, as its songs are all themed around modern life in London.[5] It was described by Damon Albarn as 'a song cycle that's also a mystery play about London' in an interview with the magazine Mojo.
Contents |
[edit] Album history
The band, which formed in 2006, released their first single, "Herculean" on October 30, 2006. The single followed the band's appearance at the BBC's Electric Proms season at the redeveloped Roundhouse in Camden on October 26, in which they performed the entirety of the album.[4] Three warm-up gigs in East Prawle at the Pig's Nose Inn,[6] Ilfracombes Marlboro Club and The Exeter Cavern Club preceded their gig on the BBC's Electric Proms, where the album was performed in order with two other songs inserted, "Intermission Jam" and "Mr. Whippy"; the latter was a B-side for "Herculean".
The track listing was originally unveiled and commented upon by Damon Albarn and Paul Simonon in an interview in the November 2006 issue of UNCUT.[7]. The second major gig of the band's career took place on 12th December 2006, at Wilton's Music Hall in East London. It was witnessed by 300 specially selected fans, as the launch gig of MySpace's The List. The band released a second single, "Kingdom of Doom", a week prior to the January 22, 2007 release of their debut album.[8] A third single, "Green Fields", will be released on April 2, 2007.[9] In a recent article in NME, Damon talked about new recording sessions this September. "Then we're going to do another whole recording session in early September. It will be totally different, more funky. We'll try to get it out in early autumn."
On April 4, 2007, The Good, the Bad and the Queen became the first and only EMI album to be made available for download in the new DRM-free, high quality MP3 format (320 kbps).[10]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Damon Albarn.
- "History Song" - 3:05
- "'80s Life" - 3:28
- "Northern Whale" - 3:54
- "Kingdom of Doom" - 2:42
- "Herculean" - 3:59
- "Behind the Sun" - 2:38
- "The Bunting Song" - 3:47
- "Nature Springs" - 3:10
- "A Soldier's Tale" - 2:30
- "Three Changes" - 4:15
- "Green Fields" - 2:26
- "The Good, the Bad and the Queen" - 7:00
[edit] Bonus DVD
- "Nature Springs" (live at the Tabernacle)[11]
- "The Bunting Song" (live at the Tabernacle)
- "The Good, The Bad And The Queen" (live at the Tabernacle)
- "A Soldier's Tale" (rehearsal footage)
- "The Good, The Bad and The Queen" (interview)
[edit] Singles
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[edit] Other releases
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[edit] Musicians
- Damon Albarn - Lead Vocals & Keyboards
- Paul Simonon - Bass and Backing Vocals
- Simon Tong - Guitar
- Tony Allen - Drums
- Danger Mouse - Percussion (4), Synths (5,12)
- James Dring - Programming
- Choir (5) - Harry Christophers, Julia Doyle, Grace Davidson, Kirsty Hopkin, Charlotte Mobbs, Andrew Olleson, Ian Aitkenhead, David Clegg, Christopher Royall, Adrian Lowe, Ben Rayfield, Mark Dobell, Simon Berridge, James Holliday, Julian Empett, Sam Evans
- Violins - Antonia Pagulatos (5,6,8,9,10,12), Gillon Cameron (6,10), Sally Jackson (5,8,9,12), Alice Pratley (5,8,9,12)
- Violas - Emma Owens (6,10), Stella Page (5,6,8,9,10,12), Amanda Drummond (5,8,9,12)
- Cello - Izzi Dunn (5,6,8,9,10,12)
- Double Basses - Al Mobbs (5,6,8,9,10,12), Emma Smith (6,10)
[edit] Release details
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | January 17, 2007 | Toshiba-EMI | CD | TOCP-66649 |
| United Kingdom | January 22, 2007 | Parlophone, Honest Jon's | LP | 0946 3 73067 1 0 |
| CD | 0946 3 73067 2 7 | |||
| CD / DVD | 0946 3 81945 2 1 | |||
| United States | January 23, 2007 | Parlophone, Honest Jon's, Virgin Records | CD | 0946 3 73067 2 7 |
| April 24, 2007 | CD / DVD | 0946 3 81950 2 3 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ It's all a bit of a blur for Damon (2 February 2007). Retrieved on February 5, 2007.
- ^ The band with no name (31 January 2007). Retrieved on February 5, 2007.
- ^ Gold certification [1]
- ^ a b Damon Albarn forms new band. NME (28 July 2006). Retrieved on July 28, 2006.
- ^ Damon Albarn starts new band (30 July 2006). Retrieved on July 30, 2006.
- ^ Pig's Nose Inn.
- ^ UNCUT (Nov. 2006, pages 86-88)
- ^ Damon Albarn's new band announce new single. NME (2006-11-28). Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
- ^ The Good, The Bad And The Queen announce new single. NME (2007-02-20). Retrieved on February 20, 2007.
- ^ EMI press release. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
- ^ Amazon.co.uk: The Good the Bad and the Queen CD+DVD. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
[edit] External links
- The Good, the Bad and the Queen - official website.
- The Good, the Bad and the Queen - official german website.
- The Good, The Bad and the Queen - fansite
- The Good, the Bad and the Queen at MySpace.
| Blur |
| Damon Albarn | Alex James | Dave Rowntree |
| Graham Coxon | Simon Tong |
| Discography |
|---|
| Albums: Leisure | Modern Life Is Rubbish | Parklife | The Great Escape | Blur | 13 | Think Tank |
| Compilations: The Special Collectors Edition | Live at the Budokan | Bustin' + Dronin' |
| The 10 Year Limited Edition Anniversary Box Set | Blur: The Best of |
| Singles: See Blur Singles |
| Other projects |
| The Ailerons | Fat Les | The Good, the Bad and the Queen | Gorillaz | Me Me Me | WigWam |
| Related articles |
| Food Records | Honest Jon's | Stephen Street | Transcopic |
| The Clash |
| Joe Strummer | Mick Jones | Paul Simonon | Topper Headon |
| Nick Sheppard | Keith Levene | Pete Howard | Terry Chimes | Vince White |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: The Clash | Give 'Em Enough Rope | London Calling | Sandinista! | Combat Rock | Cut the Crap |
| Compilations and lives: Black Market Clash | The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 | Clash on Broadway | The Singles | Super Black Market Clash | From Here to Eternity: Live | The Essential Clash | London Calling: 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition | Singles Box |
| Related: |
| Punk rock | Public Image Ltd | The Good, the Bad and the Queen | The Mescaleros | Big Audio Dynamite |
| The Verve |
| Nick McCabe | Richard Ashcroft | Simon Jones | Peter Salisbury | Simon Tong |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio albums: A Storm in Heaven | A Northern Soul | Urban Hymns |
| EPs: Verve EP | Five by Five |
| Compilations: No Come Down | This is Music: The Singles 92-98 |
| Singles: "All in the Mind" | "She's a Superstar" | "Gravity Grave" | "Blue" | "Slide Away" | "This Is Music" | "On Your Own" | "History" | "Bitter Sweet Symphony" | "The Drugs Don't Work" | "Lucky Man" | "Sonnet" |
| Tours: Gravity Grave Tour | Urban Hymns Tour |
| Related articles |
| Britpop | Hut Records | Chris Potter | The Shining | Cathy Davey | Gorillaz | B.J. Cole | Bernard Butler |
