Grotesque (After the Gramme)
Encyclopedia
Grotesque is a 1980 album by The Fall. The music is a departure from that of the previous albums, 1979's Live at the Witch Trials
and Dragnet
. Marc Riley
played organ on several tracks on the album. This was Paul Hanley
's first album with the band, having joined earlier in the year aged just 15. The album was preceded by the singles, "How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'" and "Totally Wired", which were subsequently included on CD reissues of the album. The eye-catching full colour sleeve (the group's first) was drawn by Mark E. Smith
's sister, Suzanne.
The album was much more outward-looking than its predecessor, Dragnet
, and Smith's lyrical maturity was striking, reading as a state-of-the-nation address on "English Scheme" and "C 'n' C-S Mithering". The album also included the gothic horror of "Impression of J. Temperance" and the conspiracy theory-fuelled "New Face in Hell". In fact, a number of the tracks have particularly idiosyncratic titles: "The NWRA", representing the track's lyric, "the north will rise again" (not, as some supposed, "The North West Republican Army" — see Paintwork - Brian Edge, Omnibus Press 1989); "C 'n' C-S Mithering", a reference to cash and carries
, specifically two warehouses near Manchester
, and "WMC-Blob 59", WMC being a common abbreviation for Working Men's Club
.
According to the Slates & Dates press release this album was, at one point, to be titled After The Gramme - The Grotesque Peasants.
The Canadian band The Creeping Nobodies
took their name from the orange cassette tape depicted on the album cover.
"New Face in Hell" takes its name from a film which was later retitled "P.J."
's own imprint released a poorly mastered edition with significant vinyl noise, however an improved edition followed almost immediately, again through Castle, adding 4 bonus tracks; "How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'", "City Hobgoblins", "Totally Wired" and "Putta Block", the last of these being slightly edited from the original "Totally Wired" single. The final and current edition is again on Castle, was properly remastered, adding the previous 4 bonus tracks ("Putta Block" still being slightly cut) and a "self-interview" by Mark E. Smith which had been used for promotional purposes upon the album's original release.
The original 10 track album was reissued on vinyl by the Turning Point label in 2002 with a 2LP edition being issued by Earmark in 2005. The latter edition replicated the definitive tracklisting of the 2004 CD.
Live at the Witch Trials
Live at the Witch Trials is the debut album by The Fall, first released on 16 March 1979. It is not, despite its title, a live album, but was recorded in the studio in one day and mixed by producer Bob Sargeant the next. In 2004, bassist Marc Riley told the BBC that the group had been booked into...
and Dragnet
Dragnet (album)
Dragnet is the second album by The Fall, released on 26 October 1979. It was recorded 2nd-4th August of that year.The album was recorded less than 8 months after its predecessor, Live at the Witch Trials, establishing at an early stage two key patterns of the group's work; that of high productivity...
. Marc Riley
Marc Riley
Marc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
played organ on several tracks on the album. This was Paul Hanley
Paul Hanley (musician)
Paul Hanley is an English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing drums in The Fall and The Lovers.-Career:...
's first album with the band, having joined earlier in the year aged just 15. The album was preceded by the singles, "How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'" and "Totally Wired", which were subsequently included on CD reissues of the album. The eye-catching full colour sleeve (the group's first) was drawn by Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
's sister, Suzanne.
The album was much more outward-looking than its predecessor, Dragnet
Dragnet (album)
Dragnet is the second album by The Fall, released on 26 October 1979. It was recorded 2nd-4th August of that year.The album was recorded less than 8 months after its predecessor, Live at the Witch Trials, establishing at an early stage two key patterns of the group's work; that of high productivity...
, and Smith's lyrical maturity was striking, reading as a state-of-the-nation address on "English Scheme" and "C 'n' C-S Mithering". The album also included the gothic horror of "Impression of J. Temperance" and the conspiracy theory-fuelled "New Face in Hell". In fact, a number of the tracks have particularly idiosyncratic titles: "The NWRA", representing the track's lyric, "the north will rise again" (not, as some supposed, "The North West Republican Army" — see Paintwork - Brian Edge, Omnibus Press 1989); "C 'n' C-S Mithering", a reference to cash and carries
Cash and carry
Cash and carry may refer to:*Cash and Carry , the first network-televised game show*Cash and carry , a revision of the Neutrality Acts, designed to aid the British...
, specifically two warehouses near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and "WMC-Blob 59", WMC being a common abbreviation for Working Men's Club
Working men's club
Working men's clubs are a type of private social club founded in the 19th century in industrial areas of the United Kingdom, particularly the North of England, the Midlands and many parts of the South Wales Valleys, to provide recreation and education for working class men and their families.-...
.
According to the Slates & Dates press release this album was, at one point, to be titled After The Gramme - The Grotesque Peasants.
The Canadian band The Creeping Nobodies
The Creeping Nobodies
The Creeping Nobodies were a Canadian rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario in 2001. They played their final gig in 2009.The Creeping Nobodies began as a one-off performance for a tribute night to the UK band The Fall, and were put together by Derek Westerholm...
took their name from the orange cassette tape depicted on the album cover.
"New Face in Hell" takes its name from a film which was later retitled "P.J."
Side one
- "Pay Your Rates" (Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
) – 2:58 - "English Scheme" (Marc RileyMarc RileyMarc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
, Craig ScanlonCraig ScanlonCraig Scanlon is a British guitarist, best known as a member of The Fall between 1979 and 1995. During this period he co-wrote over 120 of the group's songs; Mark E. Smith excepted, this tally is unmatched by any other musician to have passed through the group.-Career:Scanlon joined the band...
, Smith) – 2:06 - "New Face in Hell" (Riley, Scanlon, Smith) – 5:40
- "C 'n' C-S Mithering" (Smith, Steve HanleySteve Hanley (musician)Steve Hanley is an Irish-born English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing bass guitar in The Fall from 1979 to 1998, and afterwards in The Lovers....
, Riley, Scanlon) – 7:36 - "The Container Drivers" (Riley, Scanlon, Hanley, Smith) – 3:08
Side two
- "Impression of J. Temperance" (Riley, Scanlon, Smith) – 4:20
- "In the Park" (Smith) – 1:43
- "WMC-Blob 59" (Smith) – 1:19
- "Gramme Friday" (Scanlon, Riley, Smith) – 3:19
- "The NWRA" (Scanlon, Hanley, Smith) – 9:08
Reissues
The album has had a long afterlife with 4 CD editions and 2 vinyl reissues. The first CD was through Castle Music in 1993. In 1998 Cog Sinister, Mark E. SmithMark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
's own imprint released a poorly mastered edition with significant vinyl noise, however an improved edition followed almost immediately, again through Castle, adding 4 bonus tracks; "How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'", "City Hobgoblins", "Totally Wired" and "Putta Block", the last of these being slightly edited from the original "Totally Wired" single. The final and current edition is again on Castle, was properly remastered, adding the previous 4 bonus tracks ("Putta Block" still being slightly cut) and a "self-interview" by Mark E. Smith which had been used for promotional purposes upon the album's original release.
The original 10 track album was reissued on vinyl by the Turning Point label in 2002 with a 2LP edition being issued by Earmark in 2005. The latter edition replicated the definitive tracklisting of the 2004 CD.
Personnel
- Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
– vocals, tapesCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
, kazooKazooThe kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when the player vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton, which is a membranophone, a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane."Kazoo" was the name given by...
, 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...
s - Marc RileyMarc RileyMarc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
– guitars, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Craig ScanlonCraig ScanlonCraig Scanlon is a British guitarist, best known as a member of The Fall between 1979 and 1995. During this period he co-wrote over 120 of the group's songs; Mark E. Smith excepted, this tally is unmatched by any other musician to have passed through the group.-Career:Scanlon joined the band...
– guitars - Steve HanleySteve Hanley (musician)Steve Hanley is an Irish-born English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing bass guitar in The Fall from 1979 to 1998, and afterwards in The Lovers....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Paul HanleyPaul Hanley (musician)Paul Hanley is an English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing drums in The Fall and The Lovers.-Career:...
– 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 .... - Kay Carroll - "extra vocals"