Mr. Universe is the second album by the British rock band Gillan

Gillan

Gillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...

, and the first with the classic line-up with Gillan, Towns, McCoy, Tormé and Underwood.
Released in October 1979. The album reached #11 in the UK album charts.

Track listing

• All songs written by Ian Gillan
  Ian Gillan
  Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
  
   and Colin Towns
  Colin Towns
  Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
  
   except where noted.

Side 1

1. "Second Sight" - (2.33) (Towns
   Colin Towns
   Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
   
   )
2. "Secret Of The Dance" - (2.54)
3. "She Tears Me Down" - (5.07) (Towns
   Colin Towns
   Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
   
   )
4. "Roller" - (4.43)
5. "Mr Universe" - (6.14)

Side 2

1. "Vengeance" - (3.34)
2. "Puget Sound" - (4.23) (Gillan/Towns/McCoy/Tormé/Underwood)
3. "Dead Of Night" - (4.04)
4. "Message In A Bottle" - (3.09)
5. "Fighting Man" - (7.28) (Towns
   Colin Towns
   Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
   
   )*

* Recorded at an earlier session with a different line-up and can be found on the original Japanese version of the album Gillan

Gillan (album)

Gillan is the first album by British rock band Gillan, released in September 1978. It was only released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, but the album sold well in the UK as an import, aided by positive press reviews...

. Musicians for this track were Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...

, Colin Towns

Colin Towns

Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...

, John McCoy

John McCoy (musician)

John McCoy is a British bass guitarist who is best known for his work with Ian Gillan and Mammoth as well as numerous other bands and sessions since the late 1960s. He currently plays in British rock trio Guy McCoy Torme with former Gillan/Ozzy guitarist Bernie Torme and Bruce Dickinson/Sack Trick...

, Steve Byrd

Steve Byrd

Stephen John Byrd is a British guitarist and session musician who has worked with artists including Kim Wilde, Ian Gillan, ZZebra and many others....

 (guitar) and Liam Genockey

Liam Genockey

Liam Genockey is an Irish drummer.Liam Genockey was born in Dublin, Ireland. During the 1960s he lived in Plymouth, Devon, U.K, playing in local semi-pro groups, then in the early 70's playing with Torbay based rock band Adolphus Rebirth...

 (drums).

Alternative version

A variant of the album was also released in 1979 in Japan (East World), Australia (Interfusion) and New Zealand (Parlophone) only. The release contained alternative tracks to avoid reusing songs already released in these countries on the album Gillan

Gillan (album)

Gillan is the first album by British rock band Gillan, released in September 1978. It was only released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, but the album sold well in the UK as an import, aided by positive press reviews...

. The track listing was as follows:

Side 1

1. "Vengeance" - (3.34)
2. "Mr Universe" - (6.14)
3. "She Tears Me Down" - (5.08) (Towns
   Colin Towns
   Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
   
   )
4. "Your Sister's On My List" - (4.09) ***

Side 2

1. "Street Theatre" - (2.42) (Towns
   Colin Towns
   Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
   
   )*
2. "Roller" - (4.37)
3. "Puget Sound" - (4.26) (Gillan/Towns/McCoy/Tormé/Underwood)
4. "Move With The Times" - (5.00) (Gillan/Towns/McCoy)*
5. "Sleeping On The Job" - (3.34) **

Total running time 39.24

* These appear on the 1993 RPM release Gillan - The Japanese Album, see Gillan (album)

Gillan (album)

Gillan is the first album by British rock band Gillan, released in September 1978. It was only released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, but the album sold well in the UK as an import, aided by positive press reviews...

** This version has not yet been released on CD

***Used as a B-side to the UK Trouble single and appears on the first release of Future Shock

Future Shock (Gillan album)

Future Shock is the fourth album by the British rock band Gillan. Released by Virgin in 1981, it reached number 2 in the UK album chart; this would remain the band's highest placing.The title is taken from Alvin Toffler's book Future Shock....

 on CD as a bonus track

1989 Re-release

In 1989 the album was re-released in CD format on the Virgin label. The revised track listing was as follows:

1. "Second Sight" - (2.33) (Towns
   Colin Towns
   Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
   
   )
2. "Secret Of The Dance" - (2.54)
3. "She Tears Me Down" (5.08) (Towns
   Colin Towns
   Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
   
   )
4. "Roller" - (4.43)
5. "Mr Universe" - (6.14)
6. "Vengeance" - (3.34)
7. "Puget Sound" - (4.23) (Gillan/Towns/McCoy/Tormé/Underwood)
8. "Dead Of Night" (4.04)
9. "Message In A Bottle" - (3.09)
10. "Fighting Man" - (7.28) (Towns
    Colin Towns
    Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
    
    )*
11. "On The Rocks" (live) - (6.38) **
12. "Bite The Bullet" (live) - (5.38) **
13. "Mr Universe" (live) - (7.20) ***
14. "Vengeance" (live) - (4.42) ***
15. "Smoke On The Water" (live) - (10.10) (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)***
16. "Lucille" (live) - (2.32) (Penniman/Collins)****

Total running time 80.02

* Recorded at an earlier session with a different line-up and can be found on the original Japanese version of the Gillan

Gillan (album)

Gillan is the first album by British rock band Gillan, released in September 1978. It was only released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, but the album sold well in the UK as an import, aided by positive press reviews...

 album. Musicians were Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Steve Byrd (guitar) and Liam Genocky (drums)

** Recorded at the Reading Festival 29 August 1981

*** Recorded at the Reading Festival 22 August 1980

**** Previously unreleased

This version of the album was produced by Ian Gillan and Paul "Chas" Watkins, and mixed by John McCoy and Watkins.

2007 Re-release

Re-released in remastered Format with new sleevenotes by Ian Gillan by Demon Music Group

1. Second Sight
2. Secret of the Dance
3. She tears me down
4. Roller
5. Mr Universe
6. Vengeance
7. Puget Sound
8. Dead of Night
9. Message in a Bottle
10. Fighting Man
11. Smoke on the Water - Bonus Track (live at the Kingsway Recorders)

Personnel

• Ian Gillan
  Ian Gillan
  Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
  
   - vocals, harmonica
• Colin Towns
  Colin Towns
  Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
  
   - keyboards/flute
• John McCoy
  John McCoy (musician)
  John McCoy is a British bass guitarist who is best known for his work with Ian Gillan and Mammoth as well as numerous other bands and sessions since the late 1960s. He currently plays in British rock trio Guy McCoy Torme with former Gillan/Ozzy guitarist Bernie Torme and Bruce Dickinson/Sack Trick...
  
   - bass guitar
• Bernie Tormé
  Bernie Tormé
  Bernie Tormé is a rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner.-Early career:...
  
   - guitar
• Mick Underwood
  Mick Underwood
  Mick Underwood is a British drummer best known for his work with Episode Six, Quatermass and Gillan. First playing drums at the age of 14, he was a professional musician by the time he left school...
  
   - drums/percussion

Audio files