Machine Gun Etiquette is the third album

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 the British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 punk

Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

 band The Damned, released in November 1979. The album was the group's first since reforming with Dave Vanian

David Vanian

Dave Vanian is a rock musician, famous for being the lead singer of the punk rock band The Damned. The band formed in 1976 in London and Vanian is the only ever-present member of the group...

 on vocals, Captain Sensible

Captain Sensible

Captain Sensible is a singer, songwriter, guitarist who grew up in Croydon, England, and co-founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an alternative pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image...

 on lead guitar, Rat Scabies

Rat Scabies

Christopher Millar , better known by his stage name Rat Scabies, is a musician best known for his tenure as the drummer for The Damned....

 on drums and Algy Ward

Algy Ward

Alasdair Mackie "Algy" Ward is an English rock and roll bass guitarist and singer.-Biography:He was first active as a member of the Australian punk band The Saints before joining British group The Damned and playing on Machine Gun Etiquette...

 on bass. Machine Gun Etiquette saw the band become more experimental; without Brian James, the song-writing was more democratic, resulting in a blend of punk, psychedelic rock and pop styles. The album includes a cover version

Cover version

In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

 of "Looking at You", originally by the MC5

MC5

The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...

; a CD reissue included a cover of the Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....

 song "White Rabbit

White Rabbit (song)

"White Rabbit" is a song from Jefferson Airplane's 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow. It was released as a single and became the band's second top ten success, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100...

" and Sweet

Sweet (band)

Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...

's "Ballroom Blitz".

Recording sessions

• Utopia Studios (17 March 1979): the band recorded 3 songs (Love Song, Noise, Noise, Noise and Suicide) with producer Ed Hollis for single release.
• Chalk Farm Studio (2 April 1979): not content with the original take, the band record new vocals for Love Song, the resulting final version being used on the single and album.
• Workhouse Studios (14 May 1979): The Damned and Motörhead record two songs (Over The Top and Ballroom Blitz) for a planned single under the joint moniker Motördamn. As the two tracks remain unfinished, the plan is abandoned.
• Sound-Suite Recording (21-23 May 1979): 5 album tracks recorded (Machine Gun Etiquette, Melody Lee, Plan 9 Channel 7 and Smash It Up (Part 1)
  Smash It Up
  "Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up ". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35...
  
  ). The band also records Burglar and Smash It Up (Part 4)
  Smash It Up
  "Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up ". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35...
  
  which are later used as single b-sides. 4 more songs recorded remain unreleased to this day (Teenage Dream, Edna (The Girl I Never Met), Liar (instrumental alternative version) and Dr Phibes Has Fun).
• Workhouse Studios (24-25 May 1979): 2 more album tracks recorded (Anti-Pope and Looking at You). 2 more songs recorded remain unreleased to this day (Smash It Up (Part 2)
  Smash It Up
  "Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up ". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35...
  
   (alternative version) and A Day in the Country).
• SGS Recording Studios (28-30 May 1979): 1 album track recorded (I Just Can't Be Happy Today
  I Just Can't Be Happy Today
  "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" is a song by The Damned from their 1979 album, Machine Gun Etiquette. Released as a single in November, it peaked at number 46 in the UK Singles Chart....
  
  ) plus 2 more songs (Turkey Song and Smash It Up (Part 3)
  Smash It Up
  "Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up ". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35...
  
  ) later used as single b-sides.
• Sound-Suite Recording (16-19 July 1979): the band return to the Sound-Suite to work on the tracks recorded there back in May.
• Wessex Studios (August 1979): the last 3 album tracks recorded (These Hands, Liar and Smash It Up (Part 2)
  Smash It Up
  "Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up ". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35...
  
  ). The band mix, edit and partially re-record the other album tracks.
• Wessex Studios (1 November 1979): the band return to the studio for one day to complete the May 1979 version of Ballroom Blitz, edit and re-record a radio DJ version of I Just Can't Be Happy Today
  I Just Can't Be Happy Today
  "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" is a song by The Damned from their 1979 album, Machine Gun Etiquette. Released as a single in November, it peaked at number 46 in the UK Singles Chart....
  
  and mix Turkey Song.

Reception

Allmusic's retrospective review reported that when it was released, Machine Gun Etiquette "was deservedly hailed as another classic from the band." They praised the variety of styles explored and the group's typically strong wit.

Track listing

All songs written by The Damned, except where noted.

1. "Love Song" – 2:21
2. "Machine Gun Etiquette" – 1:48
3. "I Just Can't Be Happy Today
   I Just Can't Be Happy Today
   "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" is a song by The Damned from their 1979 album, Machine Gun Etiquette. Released as a single in November, it peaked at number 46 in the UK Singles Chart....
   
   " – 3:42
4. "Melody Lee" – 2:07
5. "Anti-Pope" – 3:21
6. "These Hands" – 2:03
7. "Plan 9 Channel 7" – 5:08
8. "Noise, Noise, Noise" – 3:10
9. "Looking at You" (MC5
   MC5
   The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
   
   ) – 5:08
10. "Liar" – 2:44
11. "Smash It Up (Part 1)
    Smash It Up
    "Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up ". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35...
    
    " – 1:59
12. "Smash It Up (Part 2)
    Smash It Up
    "Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up ". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35...
    
    " – 2:53

CD reissue bonus tracks

13. "Ballroom Blitz" (Mike Chapman, Nicky Chinn
    Nicky Chinn
    Nicky Chinn born Nicholas Barry Chinn, 16 May 1945, London, UK) is a British songwriter and record producer. Together with Mike Chapman he had a long string of hit singles in the UK and US in the 1970s and early 1980s, including several number-one records...
    
    ) – 3:30
14. "Suicide" – 3:14
15. "Rabid (Over You)" – 3:41
16. "White Rabbit
    White Rabbit (song)
    "White Rabbit" is a song from Jefferson Airplane's 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow. It was released as a single and became the band's second top ten success, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100...
    
    " (Grace Slick
    Grace Slick
    Grace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
    
    ) – 5:13

25th Anniversary Edition CD

1. "Love Song" – 2:21
2. "Machine Gun Etiquette" – 1:48
3. "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" – 3:42
4. "Melody Lee" – 2:07
5. "Anti-Pope" – 3:21
6. "These Hands" – 2:03
7. "Plan 9 Channel 7" – 5:08
8. "Noise, Noise, Noise" – 3:10
9. "Looking at You" – 5:08
10. "Liar" – 2:44
11. "Smash It Up (Parts 1 & 2)" – 5:13
12. "Love Song" (Ed Hollis version) - 2:02
13. "Noise, Noise, Noise" (Ed Hollis version) - 3:25
14. "Suicide" - 3:17
15. "Smash It Up (Part 2)" - 2:56
16. "Smash It Up (Part 4)" - 1:57
17. "Burglar" - 3:33
18. "I Just Can't be Happy Today" (DJ edit) - 3:00
19. "Ballroom Blitz" - 3:28
20. "Turkey Song" - 4:04
21. "Plan 9, Channel 7" (video clip) - 6:18

Band

• Dave Vanian
  David Vanian
  Dave Vanian is a rock musician, famous for being the lead singer of the punk rock band The Damned. The band formed in 1976 in London and Vanian is the only ever-present member of the group...
  
   - Vocals
• Captain Sensible
  Captain Sensible
  Captain Sensible is a singer, songwriter, guitarist who grew up in Croydon, England, and co-founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an alternative pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image...
  
   - Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
• Rat Scabies
  Rat Scabies
  Christopher Millar , better known by his stage name Rat Scabies, is a musician best known for his tenure as the drummer for The Damned....
  
   - Drums, Vocals
• Algy Ward
  Algy Ward
  Alasdair Mackie "Algy" Ward is an English rock and roll bass guitarist and singer.-Biography:He was first active as a member of the Australian punk band The Saints before joining British group The Damned and playing on Machine Gun Etiquette...
  
  - Bass, Vocals