Search - Damned :: Music for Pleasure

The black sheep of the early Damned releases

Jimbo Jones | Las Vegas, NV | 01/08/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released in 1977 and produced by Pink Floyd's Nick Mason (Shel Talmy was going to be the original producer but recording sessions broke down so Nick was brought in) It was quickly panned by music critics and disowned by the band themselves. On this second release the band are joined for the first and last time by second guitarist Robert "Lu" Edmonds (Brian James insisted he join). There are a few gems among them Politics One way love Problem Child and Help (Beatles Cover). I have heard in a few audio interviews done by Rat Scabies the band originally wanted Pink Floyd's Roger "Syd" Barrett to produce the album he may have said yes but pulled out at the lasr minute. On a side note the Sex Pistols also wanted Roger "Syd" Barrett to produce their album Never Mind The Bollocks but declined or something along them lines. After this release the band broke up in early 1978 and reformed in late 1978 this time without Brian James or Lu (who I think left anyway because he wasn't liked much by the rest of the band) and in 1979 released their definitive and classic album titled Machine Gun Etiquette. While Music for Pleasure isn't a favorite among many people its a million times better than Not of this earth from 1996 aka I'm alright Jack and the beanstalk."

The Damned's underrated second album.

Joseph P. Ulibas | Sacramento, CA, USA | 05/29/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Music for Pleasure (1977) was the Damned's follow up to the surprise sucess of Damned, Damned, Damned. Instead of repeating themselves, they decided to go into a new direction. Their was a struggle within the band, Brian James wanted to write the songs whilst the other band members wanted to write some tracks of their own. James brought in Lu Edmonds (guitar) to add a dual guitar attack to the band. A truce of sorts was made and the band went into the studio to record.



Music for Pleasure (taken from a budget comp. disc) was the title of the album. The songs were supposed to be psychedelic in nature but they turned out resembling Stooges' sound alikes. James was a huge fan of the late band and he even added a saxaphone (Lol Coxhill) on one of the tracks (You Know) giving the album an even more Stooges' sound. The songs are short and to the point with some catchy lyrics and beat. But the twin guitar attack is not apperent on the album.



To pad out the disc; Help, Sick of Being Sick and Sing-a-long-a-Scabies were added on the CD releases. Not as bad as people make it out to be. Take a gamble and purchase a disc today!



Highly recommended.

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