Down in Albion
Encyclopedia
Down in Albion is the debut album
by Babyshambles
, Pete Doherty
's post-Libertines
band.
Down in Albion was released on November 14, 2005 on Rough Trade Records
, although it was leaked on to the Internet on October 19, 2005. Produced by Mick Jones
, Down in Albion contains a rerecorded version of their second single "Killamangiro
" as well as a reggae
track, "Pentonville". The inclusion of "Albion" is controversial among fans, due to the song's history as a fan favorite from the days of The Libertines. Down in Albion, telling the tale of a beauty and a beast.
The first track, "La Belle et la Bête" (French
for "Beauty and the Beast"), features the vocals of Doherty's then-girlfriend Kate Moss
, and "Pentonville" was written by Doherty and The General, a friend he met whilst an inmate in Pentonville Prison. The album was seen as a move away from The Libertines' style of music.
The artwork for the album was created by Doherty.
unless otherwise stated.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Babyshambles
Babyshambles
Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project . Babyshambles has released two albums, three EPs and a number of singles...
, Pete Doherty
Pete Doherty
Peter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...
's post-Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
band.
Down in Albion was released on November 14, 2005 on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, although it was leaked on to the Internet on October 19, 2005. Produced by Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
, Down in Albion contains a rerecorded version of their second single "Killamangiro
Killamangiro
"Killamangiro" is a song by English band, Babyshambles, released in November 2004 through Rough Trade Records. It achieved respectable chart success, peaking at #8 on the UK singles chart....
" as well as a reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
track, "Pentonville". The inclusion of "Albion" is controversial among fans, due to the song's history as a fan favorite from the days of The Libertines. Down in Albion, telling the tale of a beauty and a beast.
The first track, "La Belle et la Bête" (French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for "Beauty and the Beast"), features the vocals of Doherty's then-girlfriend Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
, and "Pentonville" was written by Doherty and The General, a friend he met whilst an inmate in Pentonville Prison. The album was seen as a move away from The Libertines' style of music.
The artwork for the album was created by Doherty.
Reception
The album received mixed reviews on release, with some journalists feeling that it sounded "lazy", suffered from bad production and failed to live up to the standard of Doherty's previous material (a few of the tracks on this album made their debut on various sessions recorded by The Libertines).Track listing
All tracks by Pete DohertyPete Doherty
Peter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...
unless otherwise stated.
- "La Belle et la Bête" (featuring Kate MossKate MossKate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
) (Pete DohertyPete DohertyPeter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...
, Chevalley, Peter Wolfe) – 5:05 - "Fuck ForeverFuck Forever"Fuck Forever" is a song by Babyshambles. It was released as a single on 15 August 2005 and is their most successful single, peaking at #4 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was in danger of becoming a lost single due to its controversial title and lyrics, but it was eventually released and has...
" (Doherty, Patrick WaldenPatrick WaldenPatrick George Walden is best known as the former guitarist for Babyshambles. Prior to joining Babyshambles, Walden belonged to a variety of London groups, among which were Fluid, the Six Cold Thousand, and The White Sport. He played guitar for The White Sport alongside another future Babyshambles...
) – 4:37 - "À rebours" – 3:23
- "The 32nd of December" – 3:08
- "Pipedown" (Doherty, Walden) – 2:35
- "Sticks and Stones" (Doherty, Wolfe) – 4:51
- "KillamangiroKillamangiro"Killamangiro" is a song by English band, Babyshambles, released in November 2004 through Rough Trade Records. It achieved respectable chart success, peaking at #8 on the UK singles chart....
" – 3:13 - "8 Dead Boys" – 4:16
- "In Love with a Feeling" – 2:51
- "Pentonville" Feat. The General (General Santana) – 3:49
- "What Katy Did Next" (Doherty, Alan Wass) – 3:07
- "AlbionAlbion (song)"Albion" is a song by English band Babyshambles. It was released as the third single from Down in Albion on November 28, 2005 in the UK. The single was released in Japan on March 8, 2006 by Reservoir Records/EMI....
" – 5:24 - "Back from the Dead" (Doherty, Wolfe) – 2:52
- "Loyalty Song" (Doherty, Walden) – 3:32
- "Up the Morning" – 5:43
- "Merry Go Round" – 5:22
Personnel
- Peter DohertyPete DohertyPeter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, artwork - Patrick WaldenPatrick WaldenPatrick George Walden is best known as the former guitarist for Babyshambles. Prior to joining Babyshambles, Walden belonged to a variety of London groups, among which were Fluid, the Six Cold Thousand, and The White Sport. He played guitar for The White Sport alongside another future Babyshambles...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Adam FicekAdam FicekAdam Ficek is an English musician who performs under the 'Roses Kings Castles' name, and was a song writer and member of Babyshambles....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Drew McConnellDrew McConnellDrew McConnell is the bass guitarist and backing vocalist with Babyshambles, the band formed and fronted by frontman of The Libertines, Pete Doherty. He lived in Tenerife, Spain, for much of his childhood, and he speaks Spanish fluently...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Kate MossKate MossKate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
– vocals on track 1 - General Santana – vocals on track 10
- Barriemore BarlowBarriemore BarlowBarrie "Barriemore" Barlow is an English musician, best known as the drummer and percussionist for the rock band Jethro Tull, from May 1971 to June 1980....
– gongGongA gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
on track 6 - Mick JonesMick Jones (The Clash)Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
– producer - Bill PriceBill Price (record producer)Bill Price is a producer and engineer famed for his work with The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Guns N' Roses, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Nymphs and The Waterboys....
– mixing, recorded by - Adam Fuest – recorded by
- Iain Gore – recorded by
- Daniel Parry – assistant engineer
- George Williams – assistant engineer
- Matt Paul – assistant engineer
- Jeff Teader – layout
- Hedi SlimaneHedi SlimaneHedi Slimane is a French fashion designer of Tunisian, Italian-Brazilian origins. He studied political sciences , and Art History at the École du Louvre, and was also educated as a tailor...
– photos
Singles
- KillamangiroKillamangiro"Killamangiro" is a song by English band, Babyshambles, released in November 2004 through Rough Trade Records. It achieved respectable chart success, peaking at #8 on the UK singles chart....
(11 November), (2004), (Rough TradeRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
) UK #8 - Fuck ForeverFuck Forever"Fuck Forever" is a song by Babyshambles. It was released as a single on 15 August 2005 and is their most successful single, peaking at #4 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was in danger of becoming a lost single due to its controversial title and lyrics, but it was eventually released and has...
(15 August), (2005), (Rough Trade) UK #4 - AlbionAlbion (song)"Albion" is a song by English band Babyshambles. It was released as the third single from Down in Albion on November 28, 2005 in the UK. The single was released in Japan on March 8, 2006 by Reservoir Records/EMI....
(28 November), (2005), (Rough Trade) UK #8
Chart performance
| Chart (2005) | Providers | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... /The Official UK Charts Company The Official UK Charts Company The Official Charts Company , previously called the Chart Information Network and then The Official UK Charts Company, compiles various "official" UK record charts, including the UK Singles Chart, the UK Albums Chart, and the UK Official Download Chart, as well as genre-specific and music video... |
10 |
| European Top 100 Albums European Top 100 Albums The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100... |
- | 32 |
| French Albums Chart | SNEP Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... /IFOP Institut français d'opinion publique The Institut français d'opinion publique is an international marketing firm, whose motto is "Connection creates value". Its CEO is Laurence Parisot, who is also the current leader of the MEDEF French employers' trade union... |
72 |
| German Albums Chart | Media Control Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
46 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
IRMA Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:... |
28 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | GLF Swedish Recording Industry Association Grammofonleverantörernas förening , or the Swedish Recording Industry Association in English, is an organization representing the music recording industry of Sweden... |
46 |
| Italian Albums Chart | FIMI | 99 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | Media Control | 93 |
| Chart (2006) | Providers | Peak position |
| Austrian Albums Chart | Media Control | 52 |