Outside the Gate
Encyclopedia
Outside the Gate is the seventh album by English
post-punk
group Killing Joke
and is arguably the most controversial release among their fans.
is present, his role is much reduced and drummer "Big Paul" Ferguson
was fired by singer/keyboard player Jaz Coleman
during the recording of the album. Bassist Paul Raven quit shortly afterwards, calling Coleman and Walker "a pair of ego-strokers". It is often considered to be more of a Coleman solo album than a true Killing Joke release.
Coleman has stated that the band's record company forced him (and Walker) to release the album under the Killing Joke flag in order to best recoup its considerable production costs. For example, Coleman claims that £15,000 was spent just in trying to record Ferguson's drums, before he was fired and entirely replaced by session player Jimmy Copley
. The album was not promoted with a tour and Coleman and Walker temporarily disbanded the group after its release as they became embroiled in a lengthy legal battle to extricate themselves from their recording contract.
Alec A. Head of Satan Stole My Teddybear, however, said, "The album itself is actually not as dreadful as its reputation suggests, although it is certainly apparent that it was not intended to be anywhere near What's THIS For...!
on the record store racks. ... Once one looks past the blatant commerciality of the music, there are some good songs to be heard here."
The original album was dedicated to Conny Plank
, who had produced several Killing Joke records and had died in 1987. The reissue was dedicated to Paul Raven, who died in 2007, just like the other reissues of 2008.
Side one
Side two
CD bonus tracks
2008 CD reissue bonus tracks
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
post-punk
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...
group Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Killing Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
and is arguably the most controversial release among their fans.
Production and release
Outside the Gate differs from all other Killing Joke albums in that the dominant instrument is the synthesiser instead of the guitar. Whilst guitarist Geordie WalkerGeordie Walker
Kevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
is present, his role is much reduced and drummer "Big Paul" Ferguson
Paul Ferguson
Paul Ferguson is a rock drummer, best known for his work in the post-punk/industrial group, Killing Joke, and cult English punk band, Pink Parts. Ferguson was a founder member of Killing Joke, and was their drummer from 1978 to 1987, and was known as 'Big Paul Ferguson' during this period...
was fired by singer/keyboard player Jaz Coleman
Jaz Coleman
Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
during the recording of the album. Bassist Paul Raven quit shortly afterwards, calling Coleman and Walker "a pair of ego-strokers". It is often considered to be more of a Coleman solo album than a true Killing Joke release.
Coleman has stated that the band's record company forced him (and Walker) to release the album under the Killing Joke flag in order to best recoup its considerable production costs. For example, Coleman claims that £15,000 was spent just in trying to record Ferguson's drums, before he was fired and entirely replaced by session player Jimmy Copley
Jimmy Copley
Jimmy Copley, sometimes credited as Jim Copley is an English rock drummer who has worked with Jeff Beck, Graham Parker, Paul Young, Roger Glover, Magnum, Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Go West, Killing Joke, Tears for Fears, Seal, Tony Iommi and Paul Rodgers.Born James Copley in...
. The album was not promoted with a tour and Coleman and Walker temporarily disbanded the group after its release as they became embroiled in a lengthy legal battle to extricate themselves from their recording contract.
Reception
Critical reaction to the album has been less than favourable. David Jeffries of Allmusic said that "pallid synths poorly imitate orchestras, the complex song structures are just tedious, Coleman acts as if he's Freddie Mercury and David Bowie mashed together, and none of the throb, thunder, or heavy riffage so important to the Killing Joke name is to be found. ... If you're anything but a very forgiving completist, pass on this one."Alec A. Head of Satan Stole My Teddybear, however, said, "The album itself is actually not as dreadful as its reputation suggests, although it is certainly apparent that it was not intended to be anywhere near What's THIS For...!
What's THIS For...!
What's THIS For...! is the second studio album by Killing Joke. It was released in June 1981 on EG Music. A remastered version with three bonus tracks was released in 2005.- Recording :...
on the record store racks. ... Once one looks past the blatant commerciality of the music, there are some good songs to be heard here."
The original album was dedicated to Conny Plank
Conny Plank
Konrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
, who had produced several Killing Joke records and had died in 1987. The reissue was dedicated to Paul Raven, who died in 2007, just like the other reissues of 2008.
Track listing
All tracks written by Coleman/WalkerSide one
- "AmericaAmerica (Killing Joke song)"America" is Killing JokeKilling Joke's first single off their seventh studio album, Outside the Gate. It was released on April 4, 1988, under E'G Records....
" – 3:47 - "My Love of this LandMy Love of this Land"My Love of this Land" is Killing Joke's second single off their seventh studio album, Outside the Gate. It was released on July 3, 1988, under E'G Records."My Love of this Land" reached number eighty-nine on the UK Singles Chart.- Releases :...
" – 4:13 - "Stay One Jump Ahead" – 3:10
- "Unto the Ends of the Earth" – 6:08
Side two
- "The Calling" – 4:45
- "Obsession" – 3:35
- "Tiahuanaco" – 3:27
- "Outside the Gate" – 8:47
CD bonus tracks
- "America" (Extended Mix) – 6:47
- "Stay One Jump Ahead" (Extended Mix) – 5:46
2008 CD reissue bonus tracks
- "May Day" – 3:50
- "My Love of This Land" (Early Version) – 4:16
- "Obsession" (Early Version) – 3:48
- "Unto the Ends of the Earth" (Instrumental) – 6:07
- "Jihad" – 6:03
- "America" (Extended Mix) – 6:47
- "Stay One Jump Ahead" (Dub) – 3:30
Personnel
- Jaz ColemanJaz ColemanJeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
- vocals, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Kevin "Geordie" WalkerGeordie WalkerKevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
- 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...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Paul Raven - bass guitar (not credited)
- Jimmy CopleyJimmy CopleyJimmy Copley, sometimes credited as Jim Copley is an English rock drummer who has worked with Jeff Beck, Graham Parker, Paul Young, Roger Glover, Magnum, Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Go West, Killing Joke, Tears for Fears, Seal, Tony Iommi and Paul Rodgers.Born James Copley in...
- 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 .... - Jeff Scantlebury - percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- JC 001 - Additional rapRappingRapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Charts
| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 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... |
92 |