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Matt Johnson's idiosyncratic series of records has been matched over time with an equally in-its-own-place collection of singles, and 45 RPM is a handy and sometimes revelatory compilation of many of Johnson's best moments in his various incarnations. Much of his music can be seen as both of its time and blatantly reacting against it, often resulting in a fascinating tension that at its best is really distinct music and at its worst can be flailing. Generally speaking it's more the former here, though some songs like "Sweet Bird of Truth," with its all too stiff yupfunk undercarriage not quite letting Johnson's snarling vocal work as it should, don't connect. The highlights, though, are predominant -- the almost winsome jangle of "Uncertain Smile," the vicious lust/AIDS metaphor "Infected," the snarling jump and jaunt of "Armageddon Days (Are Here Again)," and Johnson's most underrated single, "Love Is Stronger Than Death," are four standouts among many. His Hank Williams tribute is only represented by "I Saw the Light," but that alone has to rank as one of the most unique and yet still honestly affectionate covers of that song yet. Both "Uncertain Smile" and the sparkling but still harrowing "Perfect" are the original single cuts, while "This Is the Day" comes from the Disinfected EP and three closing cuts -- an alternate "December Sunlight," "Pillar Box Red," and "Deep Down Truth" -- appear for the first time. The limited-edition two-disc version is the one to hunt down thanks to the contents of that second disc -- eight remixes of various singles (including a couple not on the main disc itself, like "Gravitate to Me"). As good as "Infected" is, it's the 12" version that's the real monster. About the only misstep is the lack of anything from the debut Burning Blue Soul, but hopefully a planned second volume will cover that among other things.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo
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Crispin Cioe, Flute - Crispin Cioe, Saxophone - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Keyboards - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Percussion - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Mike Thorne, Producer - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
David Johansen, Harmonica - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Marimba - Matt Johnson, Organ - Matt Johnson, Re-Mixer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Mike Thorne, Producer - Paul Hardiman, Re-Mixer - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Anna Domino, Vocal - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Bob Mintzer, Saxophone - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Keyboards - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Roli Mosimann, Percussion - Roli Mosimann, Producer - Roli Mosimann, Programmer - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
David Palmer, Drums - Guy Barker, Trumpet - Louis Jardine, Percussion - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Keyboards - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Tessa Niles, Vocal - The The, Performer - Warne Livesey, Producer
(P) 2001 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
David Palmer, Drums - Judd Lander, Harmonica - Louis Jardine, Percussion - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Keyboards - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Steve Hogarth, Piano - Tessa Niles, Background Vocal - The The, Performer - Warne Livesey, Acoustic Bass - Warne Livesey, Background Vocal - Warne Livesey, Producer - Zeke Manyika, Background Vocal
(P) 2001 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
David Palmer, Drums - Felix Kendall, Mixing Engineer - Felix Kendall, Recording Engineer - James Eller, Acoustic Bass - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Electric Guitar - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - The The, Performer - Warne Livesey, Banjo - Warne Livesey, Producer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
David Palmer, Drums - Felix Kendall, Mixing Engineer - Felix Kendall, Recording Engineer - Geoff Foster, Background Vocal - James Eller, Acoustic Bass - Johnny Marr, Background Vocal - Johnny Marr, Electric Guitar - Mark Feltham, Harmonica - Matt Johnson, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Matt Johnson, Background Vocal - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - The The, Performer - Warne Livesey, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Warne Livesey, Background Vocal - Warne Livesey, Producer - Wix, Acordeon - Wix, Piano
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Bruce Lampcov, Producer - James Eller, Acoustic Bass - Johnny Marr, Electric Guitar - Johnny Marr, Harmonica - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Electric Guitar - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - The The, Performer - Vinni Colaiuta, Drums
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Bruce Lampcov, Producer - David Palmer, Drums - James Eller, Acoustic Bass - Johnny Marr, Background Vocal - Johnny Marr, Electric Guitar - Johnny Marr, Harmonica - Matt Johnson, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Electric Guitar - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Percussion - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Bruce Lampcov, Producer - David Palmer, Drums - James Eller, Acoustic Bass - Johnny Marr, Harmonica - Matt Johnson, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Bruce Lampcov, Producer - Gentleman Jim Fitting, Harmonica - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Bruce Lampcov, Engineer - Bruce Lampcov, Mixing Engineer - Bruce Lampcov, Producer - D.C. Collard, Arranger - Eric Schermerhorn, Electric Guitar - Gentleman Jim Fitting, Harmonica - H. Williams, Sr., Composer - H. Williams, Sr., Lyricist - Hollywood Dorsey, Acoustic Bass - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer - Matt Johnson, Arranger - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Nick Hunt, 2nd Engineer - Reverend Macleod, Drums - The The, Performer
(P) 1995 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Bruce Lampcov, Mixing Engineer - Chris Whitten, Drums - Dr. Eric Schermerhorn, Composer - Dr. Eric Schermerhorn, Lyricist - Eric Schermerhorn, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Eric Schermerhorn, Electric Guitar - James Eller, Acoustic Bass - James Eller, Keyboards - James Eller, Producer - Liz Horsman, Vocal - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Pete Hofmann, Engineer - Peter Henderson, Engineer - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Alan Winstanley, Mixing Engineer - Alan Winstanley, Producer - Alan Winstanley, Recording Engineer - Clive Langer, Producer - Earl Harvin, Drums - Eric Schermerhorn, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Mark Bishop, 2nd Engineer - Matt Johnson, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Keyboards - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Simon Hale, Keyboards - Spencer Campbell, Acoustic Bass - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Alan Winstanley, Mixing Engineer - Alan Winstanley, Producer - Alan Winstanley, Recording Engineer - Angela McClusky, Vocal - Clive Langer, Producer - Earl Harvin, Drums - Eric Schermerhorn, Electric Guitar - Louis Jardine, Percussion - Mark Bishop, 2nd Engineer - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Electric Guitar - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Simon Hale, Keyboards - Spencer Campbell, Acoustic Bass - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
DISC 2
Crispin Cioe, Flute - Crispin Cioe, Saxophone - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Keyboards - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Percussion - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Paul Hardiman, Producer - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
David Johansen, Harmonica - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Marimba - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Re-Mixer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Paul Hardiman, Producer - Paul Hardiman, Re-Mixer - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Anna Domino, Vocal - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Bob Mintzer, Saxophone - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Keyboards - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Roli Mosimann, Percussion - Roli Mosimann, Producer - Roli Mosimann, Programmer - The The, Performer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Dan Brown, Acoustic Bass - David Palmer, Drums - Guy Barker, Trumpet - Louis Jardine, Percussion - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Guitar - Matt Johnson, Keyboards - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Vocal - Tessa Niles, Vocal - The The, Performer - Warne Livesey, Producer - Zeke Manyika, Vocal
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
David Palmer, Drums - Felix Kendall, Mixing Engineer - Gavyn Wright, Fiddle - James Eller, Acoustic Bass - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Electric Guitar - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - The The, Performer - Warne Livesey, Banjo
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - The The, Performer - Unknown, Producer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
J. Marr, Composer - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - The The, Performer - Unknown, Producer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Bruce Lampcov, Producer - James Eller, Acoustic Bass - Johnny Marr, Electric Guitar - Johnny Marr, Harmonica - Matt Johnson, Composer - Matt Johnson, Electric Guitar - Matt Johnson, Lyricist - Matt Johnson, Producer - Matt Johnson, Vocal - The The, Performer - Vinni Colaiuta, Drums
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Album review
Matt Johnson's idiosyncratic series of records has been matched over time with an equally in-its-own-place collection of singles, and 45 RPM is a handy and sometimes revelatory compilation of many of Johnson's best moments in his various incarnations. Much of his music can be seen as both of its time and blatantly reacting against it, often resulting in a fascinating tension that at its best is really distinct music and at its worst can be flailing. Generally speaking it's more the former here, though some songs like "Sweet Bird of Truth," with its all too stiff yupfunk undercarriage not quite letting Johnson's snarling vocal work as it should, don't connect. The highlights, though, are predominant -- the almost winsome jangle of "Uncertain Smile," the vicious lust/AIDS metaphor "Infected," the snarling jump and jaunt of "Armageddon Days (Are Here Again)," and Johnson's most underrated single, "Love Is Stronger Than Death," are four standouts among many. His Hank Williams tribute is only represented by "I Saw the Light," but that alone has to rank as one of the most unique and yet still honestly affectionate covers of that song yet. Both "Uncertain Smile" and the sparkling but still harrowing "Perfect" are the original single cuts, while "This Is the Day" comes from the Disinfected EP and three closing cuts -- an alternate "December Sunlight," "Pillar Box Red," and "Deep Down Truth" -- appear for the first time. The limited-edition two-disc version is the one to hunt down thanks to the contents of that second disc -- eight remixes of various singles (including a couple not on the main disc itself, like "Gravitate to Me"). As good as "Infected" is, it's the 12" version that's the real monster. About the only misstep is the lack of anything from the debut Burning Blue Soul, but hopefully a planned second volume will cover that among other things.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 23 track(s)
- Total length: 01:59:44
- Main artists: The The
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Epic
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
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