Never Mind the Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols
All tracks Cook/Jones/Matlock/Rotten
*except Bodies & Holidays in the Sun: Cook/Jones/Rotten/Vicious
Produced by Chris Thomas
Engineered by Bill Price
Recorded at Wessex Studios, London, 1977 (Anarchy in the UK, 1976)
Vocals: John Rotten
Guitars & Bass: Steve Jones
Drums: Paul Cook
Bass on Anarchy in the UK: Glen Matlock
The Sex Pistols one and only true studio album. The legendary 'Never Mind
the Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols'. Pre-release orders were so high it
immediately charted at Number 1 in the Album chart. Sex Pistols Number
1.
Now considered one of the greatest albums of all time, the importance
and power of 'Never Mind the Bollocks' can not be disputed. There was nothing
like it before (or since). Grounded in Steve Jones' relentless full-on
rhythm guitar and Paul Cook's no-nonsense drumming 'NMTB' had a genuine
wall of sound. In John Rotten Lydon they also had a frontman, lyricist,
and vocalist like no other. The albums' subject matter covered everything
from Monarchy to Abortion to Record Companies. Nothing was sacred.
Sid Vicious, who replaced original bassist Glen Matlock in February 1977,
does not play on the album. Although rumour has it he appears somewhere
in the mix on 'Bodies'. With the exception of 'Anarchy in the UK' - which
features Matlock - bass duties were supplied by Steve Jones.
The album's working title was 'God Save The Sex Pistols' but changed to
the far superior 'Never Mind the Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols'. A catchphrase
coined through Steve Jones. On the album's release, more controversy surrounded
the band when police took exception to its title being displayed in a shop
window. The Sex Pistols were charged with the Indecent Advertising Act
of 1889! "Bollocks"
is a slang name for testicles; however, the Pistols' lawyer proved that
it was actually derived from a nickname for clergymen. The band were found "reluctantly" not
guilty. Bollocks was legal!
Due to (mis)management shenanigans against the record company 'NMTB' got
its first release in France, via Barclay Records, shortly before it was
due to be released in the UK by Virgin. To help counteract the French import
it was decided to bring forward the UK release by one week to October 28th
1977. The band also insisted that a 12th track was added to the album,
'Submission'. (Very apt. As it was written as a backhanded piss-take of
the management). An estimated 50,000 copies of 'NMTB' had already been
pressed without 'Submission' so it was decided to insert the track as a
free 7" single (along with a fold-out 'Never Mind The Bollocks' collage
poster).
Since its original LP release 'NMTB' has been reissued countless times
in a variety of formats and editions, including a picture disc in 1978.
Some sleeve misprints include 'Belsen Was A Gas' however the track does
not appear. 'Belsen' was never properly recorded. A rough take was recorded
at the bands Denmark Street rehearsal room in late 1977 but has since disappeared.
A live version appears on the Sex Pistols 3 CD Box Set.
The US and Canadian version of 'NMTB', originally released by Warner Brothers,
November 11th 1977, was issued with pink/green artwork different to the
UK release and included a wraparound inner sleeve. It also had a slightly
altered running order with 'GSTQ' and 'Problems' swapped. The pink/green
artwork first appeared on the original French Barclay Records release.
Follow this link for more information on NMTB artwork…
The
LP was re-issued in its original form as part of the limited edition
2007
UK vinyl re-issue series.
The
US
version was also re-issued on vinyl by Rhino on October 21st 2008.
Follow
this link for a track
by track guide of the album by the band…
Follow
this link for Never Mind the Bollocks lyrics... |
