Public Image Ltd - Album (Rhino Reserve)

Rhino Reserve 180 Gram Black Vinyl LP

This is the Rhino Reserve edition of Album: a single 180-gram black LP pressed in California at Fidelity Record Pressing. According to Rhino's sticker on the jacket, the lacquers were cut from the original analog master by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. The sticker carries catalog number RES1 60438.

Album was first issued in January 1986, on Virgin in the UK and Elektra in the US. Rather than use the PiL touring band, John Lydon made it in New York with Bill Laswell, who co-produced and played bass, and a session lineup that included guitarist Steve Vai, drummers Ginger Baker and Tony Williams, and Ryuichi Sakamoto on Fairlight. Organist Bernie Worrell, guitarist Nicky Skopelitis and Shankar on electric violin also play on it.

Backing tracks were cut at the Power Station, with overdubs at Electric Lady, Quadrasonic and RPM, and the recording took about three weeks. Laswell has said that "everything was a first take," with the Fairlight serving as a kind of click track. Lydon's own summary, quoted on the Rhino sticker: "I make records for myself. I want them to be completely precise."

The album reached No. 14 on the UK Albums Chart. "Rise," released as a single in January 1986, reached No. 11 in the UK, and "Home" followed in April. The title is part of a set: the CD edition was called Compact Disc, the cassette Cassette, and the "Rise" 7-inch simply Single.

Tracklist

Side One

1. F.F.F.
2. Rise
3. Fishing
4. Round

Side Two

1. Bags
2. Home
3. Ease