World Shut Your Mouth (album)
Encyclopedia
World Shut Your Mouth (1984) is the debut album solo album by Julian Cope
.
(close to his childhood home of Tamworth
), following the breakup of Cope's former band The Teardrop Explodes
. Two of the tracks, "Metranil Vavin" and "Pussyface", had in fact been intended for The Teardrop Explodes (and different versions of each appear on the belated 1990 release of the band's scrapped third album, Everybody Wants to Shag... The Teardrop Explodes).
Although World Shut Your Mouth generally retained the uptempo pop drive of The Teardrop Explodes, it was also an introspective and surreal work. Cope had spent a period in seclusion in which he recovered from the strain of the final year of the Teardrops and from the LSD
excesses of the times: during this period, he had amassed a huge collection of vintage toys. His eccentric behaviour both during and post-Teardrops had led to him being labelled as an "acid casualty" in the vein of Syd Barrett
and Roky Erikson, an image which would take him several years to shake off. Cope's current vulnerability and childhood preoccupations informed the songs on the album, most notably on songs like "Head Hang Low" and "Sunshine Playroom". Most of the album's tracks featured former Teardrops drummer Gary Dwyer, and other contributors included lead guitarist/producer Steve Lovell (ex-Blitz Brothers
), late-period Teardrops bass guitarist Ronnie François
and the Dream Academy oboist Kate St. John. It was recorded at The Point Studio in Victoria, London
, and engineered by Alex Burak.
World Shut Your Mouth was released on Mercury Records in March 1984, but was seen as out-of-step with the times. It gained poor reviews and sold indifferently. The album's first single "Sunshine Playroom" featured a macabre and disturbing video directed by Derek Bailey:. both this and the follow-up single, "Greatness and Perfection of Love" also flopped.
The album's title was later reused for another Cope song which became a hit single in 1986 (and was also taken for the title of a Dom Joly
TV show).
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
.
Background
World Shut Your Mouth was written during Cope's 1983 retreat to the village of Drayton BassettDrayton Bassett
Drayton Bassett is a village and civil parish in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Nearby are the town of Tamworth and Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve, formerly a gravel quarry known in part as Drayton Bassett Pits.It formerly had a manor....
(close to his childhood home of Tamworth
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
), following the breakup of Cope's former band The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...
. Two of the tracks, "Metranil Vavin" and "Pussyface", had in fact been intended for The Teardrop Explodes (and different versions of each appear on the belated 1990 release of the band's scrapped third album, Everybody Wants to Shag... The Teardrop Explodes).
Although World Shut Your Mouth generally retained the uptempo pop drive of The Teardrop Explodes, it was also an introspective and surreal work. Cope had spent a period in seclusion in which he recovered from the strain of the final year of the Teardrops and from the LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
excesses of the times: during this period, he had amassed a huge collection of vintage toys. His eccentric behaviour both during and post-Teardrops had led to him being labelled as an "acid casualty" in the vein of Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
and Roky Erikson, an image which would take him several years to shake off. Cope's current vulnerability and childhood preoccupations informed the songs on the album, most notably on songs like "Head Hang Low" and "Sunshine Playroom". Most of the album's tracks featured former Teardrops drummer Gary Dwyer, and other contributors included lead guitarist/producer Steve Lovell (ex-Blitz Brothers
The Blitz Brothers
The Blitz Brothers were a New Wave band based in Merseyside, England, comprising Chris Hughes , Dave Bates , Steve Lovell and Hugh Jones ....
), late-period Teardrops bass guitarist Ronnie François
Ron François
Ron François was a founder member of The Sinceros , and former member of the London R&B band The Strutters. After the demise of The Sinceros in 1981, François joined The Teardrop Explodes and stayed with Epic Records releasing a solo single, "If You Love Me", in 1982 before departing to live in...
and the Dream Academy oboist Kate St. John. It was recorded at The Point Studio in Victoria, London
Victoria, London
Victoria is a commercial and residential area of inner city London, lying wholly within the City of Westminster, and named after Queen Victoria....
, and engineered by Alex Burak.
World Shut Your Mouth was released on Mercury Records in March 1984, but was seen as out-of-step with the times. It gained poor reviews and sold indifferently. The album's first single "Sunshine Playroom" featured a macabre and disturbing video directed by Derek Bailey:. both this and the follow-up single, "Greatness and Perfection of Love" also flopped.
The album's title was later reused for another Cope song which became a hit single in 1986 (and was also taken for the title of a Dom Joly
Dom Joly
Dominic John Romulus "Dom" Joly is a British television comedian and journalist. He came to note as the star of Trigger Happy TV, a hidden camera show that was sold to over seventy countries worldwide...
TV show).
Track listing
All tracks composed by Julian Cope- "Bandy's First Jump"
- "Metranil Vavin"
- "Strasbourg"
- "An Elegant Chaos"
- "Quizmaster"
- "Kolly Kibber's Birthday"
- "Sunshine Playroom"
- "Head Hang Low"
- "Pussyface"
- "The Greatness And Perfection Of Love"
- "Lunatic And Fire-Pistol"
Personnel
- Julian CopeJulian CopeJulian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
- vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, organ, drum machine - Steve Lovell - lead guitar, sitar
- Kate St. John - oboe
- Gary Dwyer - drums on all tracks except "Sunshine Playroom" and "Lunatic and Fire Pistol"
- Ronnie FrançoisRon FrançoisRon François was a founder member of The Sinceros , and former member of the London R&B band The Strutters. After the demise of The Sinceros in 1981, François joined The Teardrop Explodes and stayed with Epic Records releasing a solo single, "If You Love Me", in 1982 before departing to live in...
- bass on "Sunshine Playroom" & "Pussyface" - Stephen Creese - drums on "Sunshine Playroom"
- Andrew EdgeAndrew EdgeAndrew Edge is a musician from Leeds, England who has played pop music, dance, synth pop and ballads. After playing in local Leeds jazz-rock bands and Working Men's Club bands, he moved to London in the late 1970s, and joined the Thompson Twins...
- drums on "Lunatic and Fire Pistol" - Anton CorbijnAnton CorbijnAnton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade...
- photography