Tracks:
Disc 1: Albatross / Memories / Swan Lake (Death Disco)
Disc 2: Poptones / Careering / No Birds [Do Sing] / Graveyard ('Another' Instrumental)
Disc 3: The Suit / Bad Baby / Socialist / Chant / Radio 4

Release Date:
June 27th 2006

Label & Catalogue Number:
4 Men With Beards. 4MBLP500

Personnel:
Vox - John Lydon
Guitar/Synth - Keith Levene
Bass - Jah Wobble
Drums - Richard Dudanski / Martin Atkins / David Humphrey / Jah Wobble / Keith Levene
Full track breakdown inc, studio info

Format Info:
2006 (US only) re-issue replica. 3x45rpm, housed in the legendary metal canister, plus insert.

180g vinyl, with remastered sound.
Initial pressing of 5,000.

Track Info:
Same tracks as original LP version

Writing / Publishing:
All tracks Written by Public Image Ltd
Published by Warner Chappell Music Ltd / EMI Virgin Music Ltd © 1979 Virgin Records Ltd

Trivia:
Nearly 27 years after its original release 'Metal Box' finally gets an official release in the USA (as it was meant to be).

The only real difference between this version and the original is that they couldn’t get the metal canister in a matt finish. Even the track-listing insert still looks poorly printed!

The rear of the canister features a clear sticker with licensing info, and the can is sealed with a single small PiL logo sticker.

The album is licensed from Warners Bros / Rhino to re-issue specialists RUNT Distribution, and their 4 Men With Beards label.

John Lydon oversaw the production of the re-issue, ensuring it was as close to the original release as possible. In fact, it wouldn’t have got released in a metal canister if it wasn’t for his involvement.

Producer:
Produced by 'Public Image Ltd'
Engineered by Nick Cook & Hugh Padgham

Studio:
The Manor, Oxfordshire / Town House, London / Advision, London

Sleeve Design:
Original Concept: PiL & Dennis Morris
2006 Packaging concept: John Lydon

Quotes:
'Metal Box' was hard work. First, Virgin weren't very sure about the metal package, you know, cost, blah blah blah. So we offered to pay for some of it by reducing our advance from them. Obviously the idea of putting a record in a metal box was a bit unusual. The idea came from film canisters. We all thought video and film was the future. Besides, I've always collected vinyl and this was a really good way of stopping it getting damaged.
- John Lydon, 'Plastic Box' sleevenotes 1999

We all came up with the concept of the Metal Box. The way it came together was that we got it made at this factory called "The Metal Box Company". It was just the logistics between the idea and how we could get it made up, which made it look the way it did and made us put three pieces of vinyl in it. It cost us £35,000 of our advance back to get it out. It ran at 45rpm so you could get the best response on your sound system. We thought 45's were cool. They were like almost pre-releases.
- Keith Levene, Perfect Sound Forever 2001

Lyrics:
Metal Box

Press Reviews:
Rolling Stone, November 2006
NME, 24th November 1979 (original LP)

Fodderstompf: Metal Box feature and review, August 2006