Take a Bite
Encyclopedia
Take a Bite is the seventh studio album by British heavy metal
band, Girlschool
, released by GWR Records
in 1988. It is the first album to feature Tracey Lamb on bass, replacing Gil Weston-Jones.
, they had not succeeded in regaining the fan base support in the UK which they had in the early 80s and they could not improve the sales of their album worldwide for the lack of a US release. The band had hoped to record the new album with their long-time producer Vic Maile
, who was not available because of his illness. The album was instead produced by Monty Python
's collaborator André Jacquemin at Redwood Studios, which are co-owned by Jacquemin and actor Michael Palin
, also a member of the British comedy group Monty Python. The same studios had been utilized by Motörhead to record their album Rock 'n' Roll
the year before. The recording and mixing sessions took a very long time because, in order to save money, they were scheduled on 'dead time' in the middle of the night, when the studio was empty.
On the contrary, the artwork, photos and packaging are the result of a rush work done in less than a week. "We got to the situation where we needed photographs of the band and all we had were these snaps taken by the fans" remarked guitarist Cris Bonacci
in an interview to Kerrang!
magazine about the unsatisfying results of the album packaging.
The very good reviews and their UK tour with Gary Glitter
did not help the album to chart at home and after an American and European tour GWR did not renew their contract. By the end of 1989, Girlschool had practically disbanded.
The song "Head over Heels" contains a text written by Motörhead bassist Lemmy on a napkin, during a night out in a pub with McAuliffe and other friends.
The album contains also the cover of The Sweet's single "Fox on the Run", taken from the album Desolation Boulevard
of 1974. Enigma Records
, which produced the album in America, released two promo singles for the songs "Head over Heels" and "Fox on the Run" to be distributed to radio stations in the USA. Roadrunner Records
marketed the album in Europe.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, Girlschool
Girlschool
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
, released by GWR Records
GWR Records
GWR Records was a record label active in the UK from 1986 through to 1991.By 1984, Gerry Bron's Bronze Records were in financial difficulty leading to a hiatus in recording activity for Motörhead...
in 1988. It is the first album to feature Tracey Lamb on bass, replacing Gil Weston-Jones.
Overview
Take a Bite was recorded at a very low time for Girlschool because, despite the very good reviews for the previous album Nightmare at Maple CrossNightmare at Maple Cross
Nightmare at Maple Cross is the sixth studio album by British heavy metal band, Girlschool, released on GWR Records in 1986. Under the direction of producer Vic Maile, this album marks the return of the band to the sound of their earlier works and to a four-piece formation. All tracks were composed...
, they had not succeeded in regaining the fan base support in the UK which they had in the early 80s and they could not improve the sales of their album worldwide for the lack of a US release. The band had hoped to record the new album with their long-time producer Vic Maile
Vic Maile
Vic Maile was a British record producer. After starting his career as sound engineer with Pye mobile studios for The Animals on their song, "We Gotta Get out of This Place", Maile worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The...
, who was not available because of his illness. The album was instead produced by Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
's collaborator André Jacquemin at Redwood Studios, which are co-owned by Jacquemin and actor Michael Palin
Michael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
, also a member of the British comedy group Monty Python. The same studios had been utilized by Motörhead to record their album Rock 'n' Roll
Rock 'n' Roll (Motörhead album)
Rock 'N' Roll is the eighth album by the British band Motörhead and the first appearance of their four-piece line up of Lemmy, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, Würzel and Philip Campbell, which lasted from 1987 until 1992...
the year before. The recording and mixing sessions took a very long time because, in order to save money, they were scheduled on 'dead time' in the middle of the night, when the studio was empty.
On the contrary, the artwork, photos and packaging are the result of a rush work done in less than a week. "We got to the situation where we needed photographs of the band and all we had were these snaps taken by the fans" remarked guitarist Cris Bonacci
Cris Bonacci
Cristina "Cris" Bonacci is an Australian-born producer, songwriter and musician. She is best known for her stint as lead guitarist in the British heavy metal band Girlschool and for her session guitar work.-Career:...
in an interview to Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine about the unsatisfying results of the album packaging.
The very good reviews and their UK tour with Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...
did not help the album to chart at home and after an American and European tour GWR did not renew their contract. By the end of 1989, Girlschool had practically disbanded.
The song "Head over Heels" contains a text written by Motörhead bassist Lemmy on a napkin, during a night out in a pub with McAuliffe and other friends.
The album contains also the cover of The Sweet's single "Fox on the Run", taken from the album Desolation Boulevard
Desolation Boulevard
Desolation Boulevard, released in 1974, is the second album by Sweet that year. It contains an original variant of one of the band's best known songs, "Fox on the Run"....
of 1974. Enigma Records
Enigma Records
Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
, which produced the album in America, released two promo singles for the songs "Head over Heels" and "Fox on the Run" to be distributed to radio stations in the USA. Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
marketed the album in Europe.
Track listing
- "Action" (K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci, D. Dufort, T. Lamb) – 3:04
- "Fox on the Run" (B. ConnollyBrian ConnollyBrian Francis Connolly was a Scottish musician, best known as the lead singer of the British rock band, Sweet.-Early life:...
, S. PriestSteve PriestSteve Priest is a founding member and bass player/backing vocalist of the glam rock band Sweet.-Biography:...
, M. TuckerMick TuckerMichael Thomas "Mick" Tucker was the drummer and backing vocalist of the English glam rock band, Sweet.-Bands:...
, A. ScottAndy Scott (guitarist)Andy Scott is a British musician and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead guitarist and a vocalist in the band Sweet.-Early years:Scott started out playing bass guitar...
) – 3:54 - "Girls on Top" (K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci) – 3:50
- "Tear it Up" (K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci, D. Dufort, T. Lamb) – 3:53
- "Love at First Bite" (K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci) – 3:49
- "Head over Heels" (I. Kilmister, K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci) – 3:35
- "Up All Night" (K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci) – 3:14
- "This Time" (K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci, D. Dufort, T. Lamb) – 3:23
- "Don't Walk Away" (K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci, D. Dufort, T. Lamb) – 4:05
- "Too Hot to Handle" (K. McAuliffe, C. Bonacci) – 3:51
Band members
- Kim McAuliffe – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Cris BonacciCris BonacciCristina "Cris" Bonacci is an Australian-born producer, songwriter and musician. She is best known for her stint as lead guitarist in the British heavy metal band Girlschool and for her session guitar work.-Career:...
– lead guitar - Tracey Lamb – bass
- Denise Dufort – drums
Additional musicians
- Merv Goldsworthy, Pete JuppPete JuppPete Jupp is a British drummer/musician who played in the bands The English Rogues, Wildlife , and Samson , before forming FM in 1984 with the afore-mentioned musicians....
(FMFM (British band)FM are a British AOR/'80s rock band. In the U.S., they are often referred to as FMUK. They have released eleven albums to date. Two of those, Indiscreet and Tough It Out reached the UK Albums Chart, whilst five of the band's singles made inroads into the UK Singles Chart.-Career:FM was formed in...
) - backing vocals on "Girls on Top" - Enid Williams - backing vocals on "This Time"
Release history
| Date | Region | Label | Catalogue | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 03, 1988 | UK | GWR GWR Records GWR Records was a record label active in the UK from 1986 through to 1991.By 1984, Gerry Bron's Bronze Records were in financial difficulty leading to a hiatus in recording activity for Motörhead... |
GWLP21 | vinyl | |
| 1988 | Sweden | Lyric Records | LRLP 5003 | vinyl | |
| 1988 | Switzerland | Lyric Records | LRCD 5003 | CD | |
| 1988 | Holland | GWR | RR 9513 1 | vinyl | |
| 1988 | Canada | GWR / Enigma Enigma Records Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company... |
7 75406-2 | CD | |
| 1989 | Canada | GWR / Enigma | 7 75406-1 | vinyl | |
| 1991 | Japan | GWR | TECP-25645 | CD | published in a double album compilation with Nightmare at Maple Cross Nightmare at Maple Cross Nightmare at Maple Cross is the sixth studio album by British heavy metal band, Girlschool, released on GWR Records in 1986. Under the direction of producer Vic Maile, this album marks the return of the band to the sound of their earlier works and to a four-piece formation. All tracks were composed... |
| 1992 | France | Castle Castle Communications Castle Communications was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Terry Shand, Cliff Dane and Jon Beecher. The company was acquired by the American music distributor Alliance Entertainment in 1994 and in 2000 it was absorbed into Sanctuary Records Group... / Dojo |
LOMA CD 8 | CD | published in a double album compilation with Nightmare at Maple Cross |
| 2006 | UK | Castle / Sanctuary Sanctuary Records Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world... |
CMRCD1382 | CD | published in a double album compilation with Nightmare at Maple Cross |