Public Castration Is a Good Idea

Public Castration Is a Good Idea is the first live album by the New York City band Swans, which was originally released as a semi-official bootleg through Some Bizzare Records in 1986. It was recorded from shows in London and Nottingham on the Greed/Holy Money tour in 1986, the first six songs taken from a show at London's I.C.A.

Public Castration Is a Good Idea
Live album by Swans
Released	1986
Recorded	February–March 1986
Venue	I.C.A., London (tracks 1–6) The Garage Nottingham (track 7) U.L.U. London (track 8)
Length	73:56
Label	Some Bizzare Records Thirsty Ear Recordings
Producer	Michael Gira
Swans chronology
A Screw (1986) Public Castration Is a Good Idea (1986) Children of God (1987)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Alternative Press	[2]
Pitchfork Media	(6.0/10)[3]

The compact disc edition, released by Thirsty Ear on July 6, 1999, was mastered from a vinyl source. An accompanying videocassette (betamax and VHS editions) of the same tour (both containing set lists that are identical to the LP) was released called A Long Slow Screw.[4]

Track listing

No.	Title	Also on	Length
1.	"Money Is Flesh"	Greed and Holy Money (as Money Is Flesh #2)	12:06
2.	"Fool"	Greed and Holy Money (as Fool #2)	8:08
3.	"A Screw"	A Screw and Holy Money	7:27
4.	"Anything for You"	Greed	9:09
5.	"Coward"	Holy Money	8:33
6.	"A Hanging"	Holy Money	12:32
7.	"Stupid Child"	Greed	5:41
8.	"Another You"	Holy Money	10:16
Total length:			76:56

Personnel

• Michael Gira
• Norman Westberg
• Algis Kizys
• Jarboe
• Ronaldo Gonzalez
• Ted Parsons
• Jack Balchin - sound technician

References

1. Raggett, Ned. "Public Castration Is a Good Idea". Allmusic. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
2. columnist (November 1999). "Foetus: Blow". Alternative Press. p. 126.
3. Mirov, Nick (July 20, 1999). "Swans: Public Castration is a Good Idea". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
4. "Swans - A Long Slow Screw". Retrieved October 23, 2016.