Phantasmagoria is the sixth album by U.K. punk rock band the Damned, released by MCA in July 1985. Special editions were available on white vinyl or picture disc; some versions included a free 12-inch of their No. 3 hit "Eloise". It is the first album by the band without original member Captain Sensible, and was a style shift to gothic rock compared to the band's punk sound of its early and later career.[1]

Phantasmagoria
Studio album by the Damned
Released	July 1985
Recorded	March–June 1985
Studio	Eel Pie, London
Genre	Gothic rock[1]
Length	39:19
Label	MCA
Producer	Jon Kelly Bob Sargeant The Damned
The Damned chronology
Strawberries (1982) Phantasmagoria (1985) Anything (1986)
Singles from Phantasmagoria
"Grimly Fiendish" Released: 18 March 1985 "The Shadow of Love" Released: 10 June 1985 "Is It a Dream?" Released: 9 September 1985

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

History

After much wrangling, the Damned received a new contract with MCA Records in October 1984 on the strength of the song "Grimly Fiendish",[2] issued as a single the following March. They recorded the album in Eel Pie Studios from March to June 1985. It reached No. 11 in the charts, and was the band's highest-charting album ever, until the release of Evil Spirits in 2018, which cracked the top-ten at No. 7. The non-album single "Eloise," (a Barry Ryan cover), released six months later, became a huge UK hit, reaching No. 3.

The Damned centred the entire album around David Vanian's deep voice, giving much of the album a gothic feeling.[3] The album was remastered and reissued by Geffen Records in Japan in 2007, featuring replicas of the LP's outer and inner sleeves and a CD label resembling the white vinyl edition. In 2009, an expanded edition was issued by Universal Music Group in Europe.[4]

Artwork

The cover image of Susie Bick was taken by photographer Bob Carlos Clarke[5] at Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road.

Track listing

Note

• The non-album single "Eloise" appeared as a bonus track on the 1986 re-issued LP versions in Australia, Germany and Italy.

2009 expanded edition

Notes

• "Edward the Bear" (single version) is produced by Bob Sargeant and the Damned.
• "Nightshift" and "Would You" are produced by the Damned.
• "Let There Be Rats" and "Wiped Out" were originally released as a Rat Scabies 7" solo single in 1984; produced by Will Birch.
• Live tracks recorded at Woolwich Coronet, 11 July 1985; engineered and mixed by Jon Kelly; all tracks feature Paul Shepley on keyboards; "Pretty Vacant"and "Wild Thing" features Rat Scabies on guitar and Roman Jugg on drums.
• "The Shadow of Love", "Is It a Dream" and "Street of Dreams" recorded for Janice Long Session, 14 April 1985; produced by Harry Parked, engineered by Barry Adams and Peter Watts.

Personnel

The Damned

• Dave Vanian – lead vocals
• Roman Jugg – guitar, keyboards, lead vocals (7), backing vocals
• Bryn Merrick – bass, backing vocals
• Rat Scabies – drums

Additional musicians

• Paul Shepley – additional keyboards (8)
• Andy Richards – additional keyboards
• Luís Jardim – percussion
• Gary Barnacle – saxophone and brass
• Steve Nieve – keyboard inspiration (4)

Production

• Jon Kelly – production, engineering (except 6)
• Chris Ludwinsky – additional engineering
• Bob Sargeant – production (6)
• The Damned – production (6)
• Bob Carlos Clarke – cover photography
• Booce – cover artwork

References

На других языках

[it] Phantasmagoria (The Damned)

[ru] Phantasmagoria (альбом The Damned)