Machine Gun Etiquette is the third studio album by the English punk rock band the Damned, released on 9 November 1979 by Chiswick Records. The album peaked at No. 31 on the UK Charts.

The album was the group's first since reforming with a new lineup of previous members Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on lead guitar, Rat Scabies on drums, plus newcomer Algy Ward of Australian punk band The Saints on bass guitar on his only album with the band.

Background

On Machine Gun Etiquette, the band brought more variety to their usual punk rock to add wide-ranging influences from hard rock and heavy metal to psychedelic rock, a tinge of progressive rock and even classic 1960s rhythm and blues and the record has been described by journalists and fans alike as The Beach Boys meets Motörhead with T. Rex and Judas Priest influences thrown in for good measure.

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| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = B+

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| rev5 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide

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| rev6 = Q

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| rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

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| rev9 = Uncut

| rev9score = 10/10

AllMusic's retrospective review reported that when it was released, Machine Gun Etiquette was "deservedly hailed as another classic from the band". The website praised the variety of styles explored and the group's typically strong wit.

Track listing

;2004 CD reissue bonus tracks

  • "Smash It Up (Part 1)" and "Smash It Up (Part 2)" are listed as one track on the CD, as "Smash It Up (Parts 1 and 2)" (track 11).

Personnel

Credits adapted from the 2004 CD reissue liner notes.

The Damned

  • Dave Vanian – lead vocals
  • Captain Sensible – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, bass <small>("I Just Can't Be Happy Today", "Smash It Up (Parts 1 & 2)")</small>, bass solo <small>("Anti-Pope")</small>, mandolin <small>("Turkey Song")</small>, lead vocals <small>("Turkey Song")</small>
  • Rat Scabies – drums, backing vocals, lead vocals <small>("Burglar")</small>
  • Algy Ward – bass, backing vocals, guitar <small>("Machine Gun Etiquette", "Liar")</small>

Additional personnel

  • Joe Strummer – backing vocals <small>("Noise, Noise, Noise")</small>, hand claps <small>("Machine Gun Etiquette")</small>
  • Topper Headon – backing vocals <small>("Noise, Noise, Noise")</small>
  • Henry Badowski – backing vocals <small>("Noise, Noise, Noise")</small>
  • Paul Simonon – hand claps <small>("Machine Gun Etiquette")</small>
  • Lemmy Kilmister – bass, backing vocals <small>("Ballroom Blitz")</small>
  • Anthony More – synthesizer <small>("Rabid (Over You)")</small>

Production and artwork

  • Roger Armstrong – producer
  • The Damned – producer
  • Ed Hollis – producer <small>("Love Song" (Ed Hollis version), "Noise, Noise, Noise" (Ed Hollis version), "Suicide")</small>
  • Alvin Clarke – engineer <small>(Sound Suite)</small>
  • Mike Shipley – engineer <small>(Wessex)</small>
  • Gary Edwards – engineer <small>(Wessex)</small>
  • Jeremy Green – engineer <small>(Wessex)</small>
  • Rik Watton – engineer <small>(Workhouse)</small>
  • Damian Korner – engineer <small>(Utopia)</small>
  • G. H. Wallis – engineer <small>(SGS)</small>
  • Vic Keary – engineer <small>(Chalk Farm)</small>
  • Phil Smee – artwork
  • Alan Ballard – front cover photography
  • Mick Young – photography
  • Captain Sensible – inner sleeve drawing
  • Martin Baker – video director <small>("Plan 9, Channel 7")</small>

Certifications

References