Love Bites (album)

Love Bites is the second studio album by English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was released on 22 September 1978, through United Artists Records.

Love Bites
Studio album by Buzzcocks
Released	22 September 1978
Recorded	26 July 1978 – 6 August 1978
Studio	Olympic, London
Genre	Punk rock pop punk
Length	39:02
Label	United Artists
Producer	Martin Rushent
Buzzcocks chronology
Another Music in a Different Kitchen (1978) Love Bites (1978) Singles Going Steady (1979)

It peaked at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart at the time of its release.[1]

Background and production

Love Bites was recorded and mixed by Buzzcocks with producer Martin Rushent over a two-and-a-half-week period, less than six months after the release of début album Another Music in a Different Kitchen. "Late for the Train" was first played and recorded on John Peel's Radio One show, along with bass player Steve Garvey's instrumental "Walking Distance".

Co-writing credits for "Just Lust" were given to Alan Dial, a pen-name for Buzzcocks' then manager Richard Boon.

"Nostalgia" was also recorded by Newcastle band, Penetration, who in 1978 accompanied Buzzcocks on the "Entertaining Friends" tour of England.

Cover

The hand-drawn script on the sleeve is a conscious reference to a painting by Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte. The sleeve insert airbrush illustrations are by Robin Utracik, rhythm guitarist from The Worst.

Release

In March 1994, a CD version of the original album was released by EMI, containing four additional tracks.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Record Collector	[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	8/10[5]
Uncut	[6]

Trouser Press wrote that the record "demonstrates both the Buzzcocks' perfection of their particular brand of pop and their disillusionment with its restrictions. Producer Martin Rushent clarifies the elements of the sound even further, and Shelley's songwriting continues to improve".[7]

In a retrospective review, BBC Music described it as "an essential purchase for anyone remotely interested in punk's history."[8] AllMusic wrote: "More musically accomplished, more obsessively self-questioning, and with equally energetic yet sometimes gloomy performances, Love Bites finds the Buzzcocks coming into their own."[2]

Track listing

"Love Bites"

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Real World"	Pete Shelley	3:29
2.	"Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)"	Pete Shelley	2:40
3.	"Operator's Manual"	Pete Shelley	3:30
4.	"Nostalgia"	Pete Shelley	2:51
5.	"Just Lust"	Pete Shelley, Alan Dial	2:57
6.	"Sixteen Again"	Pete Shelley	3:14
7.	"Walking Distance"	Steve Garvey	1:58
8.	"Love Is Lies"	Steve Diggle	3:10
9.	"Nothing Left"	Pete Shelley	4:23
10.	"E. S. P."	Pete Shelley	4:39
11.	"Late for the Train"	Pete Shelley, Steve Diggle, John Maher, Steve Garvey	5:51

Re-issue bonus tracks:"Twice Bitten"

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Love You More"	Pete Shelley	1:51
13.	"Noise Annoys"	Pete Shelley	2:52
14.	"Promises"	Pete Shelley, Steve Diggle	2:36
15.	"Lipstick"	Pete Shelley, Steve Diggle	2:38

Personnel

Buzzcocks

• Pete Shelley – lead guitar, lead vocals (all but 8)
• Steve Diggle – rhythm and acoustic guitars, backing and lead (8) vocals
• Steve Garvey – bass guitar
• John Maher – drums

References

1. "The Official Charts Company - Love Bites by Buzzcocks Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
2. Raggett, Ned. "Love Bites – Buzzcocks". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
3. "Buzzcocks: Another Music in a Different Kitchen". Record Collector: 88. [A] tour de force of pop-punk gems...
4. Gross, Joe (2004). "The Buzzcocks". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 124–25. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
5. Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. New York: Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
6. Cavanagh, David (5 November 2008). "Album Reissues: The Buzzcocks – Another Music in a Different Kitchen / Love Bites / A Different Kind of Tension". Uncut. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
7. Grant, Steven; Robbins, Ira; Rabid, Jack; Neugebauer, Delvin. "TrouserPress.com :: Buzzcocks". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
8. Jones, Chris (7 November 2008). "Music - Review of Buzzcocks - Love Bites". BBC. Retrieved 31 August 2012.

External links

• Love Bites at Discogs (list of releases)