Strawberries
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- This article refers to the album by The Damned. For the plant see strawberry.
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Strawberries is an album by The Damned released October 1982 on Bronze records (catalogue #BRON 542).
Limited Editions included strawberry smelling lyric insert. The album showcased songs that can be classified into goth, punk, alternative in the usual catchy pop sound of the band. "Ignite", "Dozen girls", & "Dozen girls" offer poppunk fun that The Damned have (by this time) truly perfected & would be much duplicated by bands to come. Horns can be heard on "Generals", a political point about whom war truly benefits. "Bad Time For Bonzo" is a remark on US & UK political policy. "Gun Fury" also a political cut placed balance to the albums' very personal and haunting piano structure pieces; "The dog" & "Under the floor again" and to a more cinematic degree "Pleasure and the pain". "Life goes on" is also a highlight, a positive statement of the existential affirmation of life. Captain Sensible can be heard taking co-lead vocals many times & does all vocals for "Don't bother me", a lighthearted fun view of life. The success of Captain Sensible’s solo single being a number one hit placed stress in the band at this time with Sensible wanting more control of the band which lead to his exit from the band around this time. Captain's solo project had caused tension, often ribbing between members onstage which can be heard on some bootlegs from this era. He now overshadowed the band and had less time for Damned gigs and rehearsals. Paul Gray decided to call it quits February 1983 and Bryn Merrick quickly joined to replace Paul for their March 1983 club tour. Captain left The Damned post "Nun Tour" (namned for Captain's habit of dressing as a Nun on the tour) for Strawberries and played a "last gig" (until Final Damnation) at Brockwell Park August 4, 1983.
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The Borckwell gig was a legendary performance and shown a strong live act (as the band is quite known for) as the band played almost a half-hour past the last scheduled encore. Roman Jugg took over Captains role on guitar & keyboards. Bronze records, their label at the time, financially collapsed and released the band from their contract. The internal strain of the band at this time may have helped the band because of the intelligent mix of sounds and melodies with various styles placed this record ahead of its time. Roman Jugg entering the band at this time would mark the start of the Jugg era which also lead to further sonic experiments with the band's sound, including loops and sampling. The result is an album that can be relistened to over a lifetime, standing the test of time. Never sounding its age, Strawberries "stay fresh". The Damned were able to create a work that is unlike many bands during this time that sound captured by the time.
Strawberries line up:
- Dave Vanian - Vocals
- Captain Sensible - Guitars & Vocals
- Paul Gray - Bass
- Roman Jugg - Keyboard solos
- Rat Scabies - Drums
Produced by The Damned with Hugh Jones.
- Re-released January 7, 2005 from Castle records UK.
- March 3, 2005: Mentioned in Entertainment Weekly magazine by SNL comedian Fred Armisen as one of his favorite albums of all time.
Track Listing:
- Ignite
- Generals
- Stranger on the town
- Dozen girls
- The dog
- Gun fury
- Pleasure and the pain
- Life goes on
- Bad time for Bonzo
- Under the floor again
- Don't bother me