Join Hands
Encyclopedia
Join Hands is the second studio album by English post-punk
band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released by Polydor Records
in the UK in September 1979. The final track is a studio recording of "The Lord's Prayer", the song that they are famous for playing in their debut live performance at the 100 Club Punk Festival
in September 1976. Guitarist John McKay
and drummer Kenny Morris
left the band shortly after the album's release.
The opening track "Poppy Day" is based on John McCrae
's poem In Flanders Fields
. The poem was written in 1915 after the lost of a friend during a battle in World War I
. The poppy
reproduced on the sleeve later became a symbol of Remembrance Day
.
experience". In October 1979 he wrote, "The main problem I find in being confronted with 'The Lord's Prayer' at the tail of the album is that its inherent looseness of structure comes as something of a quantum jump from the carefully structured material that dominates the rest of the record. Nevertheless, it is a comparatively minor complaint. Join Hands is an outstanding album". Ansell then praised the other tracks of the record.
In other papers like the Melody Maker
, Jon Savage
described the first track, "Poppy Day", as "a short, powerful evocation of the Great War
graveyards in Flanders." He also wrote about "Placebo Effect": it "has a stunning flanged guitar intro, chasing clinical lyrics covering some insertion or operation." About "Icon", Savage wrote: "the brilliantly reverbed guitar is a perfect foil for Siouxsie
's soaring and, for once, emotional vocal." Record Mirror
also hailed the record and qualified it as "a dangerous and volatile work which should be heard." Sounds
magazine finally gave a very satisfactory rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars to the album.
leader James Murphy has a special liking for it. The first albums he bought were "Siouxsie and the Banshees Join Hands, The Fall's Grotesque
, and The Birthday Party
's "Nick the Stripper", all in one day. And all three of those records are three of my favorite things I've ever heard." In late 2008, Morrissey
chose the track "Mother" in his playlist when he was interviewed by Janice Long.
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released by Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
in the UK in September 1979. The final track is a studio recording of "The Lord's Prayer", the song that they are famous for playing in their debut live performance at the 100 Club Punk Festival
100 Club Punk Festival
The 100 Club Punk Special was a two-day event held at the 100 Club—a typically jazz-oriented venue in Oxford Street, London, England—on 20 and 21 September 1976. The gig showcased eight punk rock bands, most of which were unsigned...
in September 1976. Guitarist John McKay
John McKay (musician)
John McKay was the first studio guitarist of Siouxsie and the Banshees.He was member of the band from July 1977 until September 1979. He played on the albums The Scream and Join Hands...
and drummer Kenny Morris
Kenny Morris (musician)
Kenny Morris was the first studio drummer of Siouxsie and the Banshees.He was a member of the band from January 1977 until September 1979. He played on the albums The Scream and Join Hands...
left the band shortly after the album's release.
The opening track "Poppy Day" is based on John McCrae
John McCrae
Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres...
's poem In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields
"In Flanders Fields" is one of the most notable poems written during World War I, created in the form of a French rondeau. It has been called "the most popular poem" produced during that period...
. The poem was written in 1915 after the lost of a friend during a battle in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The poppy
Poppy
A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers. Poppies are sometimes used for symbolic reasons, such as in remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime....
reproduced on the sleeve later became a symbol of Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
.
Reception
Critic Kenneth Ansell of Blank Space rated the first eight songs, and described the band's version of "The Lord's Prayer" as not "a catharticCatharsis
Catharsis or katharsis is a Greek word meaning "cleansing" or "purging". It is derived from the verb καθαίρειν, kathairein, "to purify, purge," and it is related to the adjective καθαρός, katharos, "pure or clean."-Dramatic uses:...
experience". In October 1979 he wrote, "The main problem I find in being confronted with 'The Lord's Prayer' at the tail of the album is that its inherent looseness of structure comes as something of a quantum jump from the carefully structured material that dominates the rest of the record. Nevertheless, it is a comparatively minor complaint. Join Hands is an outstanding album". Ansell then praised the other tracks of the record.
In other papers like the Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
, Jon Savage
Jon Savage
Jon Savage , real name Jonathon Sage, is a Cambridge-educated writer, broadcaster and music journalist, best known for his award winning history of the Sex Pistols and punk music, England's Dreaming, published in 1991.-Career:...
described the first track, "Poppy Day", as "a short, powerful evocation of the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
graveyards in Flanders." He also wrote about "Placebo Effect": it "has a stunning flanged guitar intro, chasing clinical lyrics covering some insertion or operation." About "Icon", Savage wrote: "the brilliantly reverbed guitar is a perfect foil for Siouxsie
Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
's soaring and, for once, emotional vocal." Record Mirror
Record Mirror
Record Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
also hailed the record and qualified it as "a dangerous and volatile work which should be heard." Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
magazine finally gave a very satisfactory rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars to the album.
Legacy
Join Hands later marked other critically acclaimed musicians. LCD SoundsystemLCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
leader James Murphy has a special liking for it. The first albums he bought were "Siouxsie and the Banshees Join Hands, The Fall's Grotesque
Grotesque (After the Gramme)
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...
, and The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
's "Nick the Stripper", all in one day. And all three of those records are three of my favorite things I've ever heard." In late 2008, Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
chose the track "Mother" in his playlist when he was interviewed by Janice Long.
Track listing
Personnel
- Siouxsie SiouxSiouxsie SiouxSiouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
– vocals - John McKayJohn McKay (musician)John McKay was the first studio guitarist of Siouxsie and the Banshees.He was member of the band from July 1977 until September 1979. He played on the albums The Scream and Join Hands...
– guitars, saxophone - Steven SeverinSteven SeverinSteven Severin , is an English musician, composer, bassist and co-founding member of Siouxsie and the Banshees....
– bass guitar - Kenny MorrisKenny Morris (musician)Kenny Morris was the first studio drummer of Siouxsie and the Banshees.He was a member of the band from January 1977 until September 1979. He played on the albums The Scream and Join Hands...
– drums, percussion - Nils Stevenson and Mike Stavrou – producers