Tracks:
FFF / Rise / Fishing / Round / Bags / Home / Ease

Release Date:
3.2.86
Re-issued (?/89 & ?/9?) (1/12)

Label & Catalogue Number:
Virgin. CDV 2366

Running Time:
40:56 mins

Highest UK Chart Position:
10

Personnel:
Vox - John Lydon
Guitar - Steve Vai / Nicky Skopelitis (session)
Bass - Bill Laswell / Jonas Hellborg (session)
Drums - Tony Williams / Ginger Baker (session)
Organ - Bernie Worrell (session)
Synthesiser - Ryuichi Sakamoto (session)
Acoustic Bass - Malachi Favors (session)
Chatan - Aiyb Dieng (session)
Didjeridu - Steve Turre (session)
Electric Violin - L. Shankar (session)
Backing Vocals - Bernard Fowler (session)
Full track by track breakdown

Format Info:
Standard CD issue. 4 page booklet featuring track listing & artwork.

The 2012 re-issue is mastered from the 2011 Japanese re-issue.

Track Info:
Same tracks as LP version
'FFF', 'Fishing', 'Round', 'Bags' & 'Ease' were co-written with the 1984 live line-up. However, the band were dropped prior to recording due to producer Bill Laswell's insistence on using his own musicians; coupled with PiL's concerns about the live band's studio inexperience; and the impact that could have on the recording budget.

The remaining 2 tracks (Rise & Home) were written in the studio by Laswell / Lydon.

Publishing Info:
Tracks written by Lydon/Laswell & Lydon/Bruni/Schulz
Published by Warner Chappell Music Ltd / Copyright Control / MCA Music Ltd / Bug Music Ltd © 1986 Virgin Records Ltd

Trivia:
This was the first PiL CD release. To keep with the generic style of "Album" it was released as "Compact Disc".

The generic style artwork for the album was inspired by an American supermarket brand (Lydon also said that he liked the "Food" tin in 'Repo Man'). Californian underground punk band Flipper – who released their own 'Generic' album in 1981 – would later claim that Lydon stole the idea from them, but the artwork is completely different, and it seems a very obscure reference. Flipper pettily responded by naming their 1986 live album 'Public Flipper Limited'.

Back in 1981 'NME' printed an April Fool's joke that the drummer-less PiL were set to enlist the help of legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker. A complete hoax, that six years later would actually come true, when Bill Laswell coaxed him out of retirement to be one of the drummers on 'Album'.

When the tracks were registered with US copyright in September and October 1985 an unrecorded Lydon/Schulz composition entitled 'Animal' was registered too. Some tracks also still had working titles: 'Round And Round (European Cars)' & 'Fishing (Pearls Before Swine)'.

Producer:
Produced by John Lydon & Bill Laswell
Mixed by Jason Corsaro

Studio:
The Power Station / Quadra Sonic / RPM / Electric Lady, New York

Sleeve Design:
Concept: John Lydon
(Inspired by a generic style American supermarket brand).

Quotes:
In some ways 'Album' was almost like a solo album. I worked alone with a new bunch of people. Obviously the most important person was Bill Laswell. But it was during the recording of this album in New York that Miles Davis came into the studio while I was singing, stood behind me and started playing. Later he said that I sang like he played the trumpet, which is still the best thing anyone's ever said to me. To be complimented by the likes of him was special. Funnily enough we didn't use him...
- John Lydon, 'Plastic Box' sleevenotes 1999

John, I think, got a cassette the evening before. The idea was to get him on the initial take… [During the recording] I would give John bulletins as we drank beer in bars. "Today Steve Turre blew into conch shells, tomorrow a Didjeridu…" John grew wary, restive, even aggravated…
- Roger Trilling (Laswell cohort) (source unknown)

Lyrics:
Album

Press Reviews:
NME, January 1986