The Graveyard and the Ballroom
The Graveyard and the Ballroom is the debut album by English band A Certain Ratio, released in December 1979 by record label Factory. It was produced by Martin Hannett. It was originally released only as a cassette, though it was reissued in 1985 on CD.
The Graveyard and the Ballroom | ||||
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Original cassette packaging: orange version | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | December 1979 | |||
Recorded | September & October 1979 | |||
Venue | Electric Ballroom in October 1979 | |||
Studio | Graveyard Studios in September 1979 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 45:38 | |||
Label | Factory | |||
Producer | Martin Hannett | |||
A Certain Ratio chronology | ||||
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The reissued album spent five weeks in the UK Independent Chart, peaking at number 29.[5]
Content
Side A of the album, The Graveyard, was recorded at Graveyard Studios in September 1979, while the other side, The Ballroom, was recorded live at the Electric Ballroom in October.[6]
Reception
AllMusic described the album as "accomplished enough to be intriguing, but never all that gripping."[1] Trouser Press called it "an exciting and original post-punk dance record".[4] Stylus called it "not only a very interesting historical document but also a pretty entertaining album in its own right".[2]
Track listing
The Graveyard
- "Do The Du (Casse)" - 2:53
- "Faceless" - 2:22
- "Crippled Child" - 2:54
- "Choir" - 3:21
- "Flight" - 3:30
- "I Feel" - 2:12
- "Strain" - 2:31
The Ballroom
- All Night Party - 3:38
- "Oceans" - 4:05
- "The Choir" - 3:22
- "The Fox" - 3:25
- "Suspect" - 2:24
- "Flight" - 5:32
- "Genotype/Phenotype" - 3:29
References
- Valdivia, Victor W. "The Graveyard and the Ballroom – A Certain Ratio | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- Heumann, Michael (February 24, 2004). "A Certain Ratio – The Graveyard and the Ballroom – Review – Stylus Magazine". Stylus. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- Farley, Keith. "To Each... – A Certain Ratio | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
the group dropped much of the bleak dance-punk of early material in place of what sounds like a shallow attempt to seize the baton dropped by gloom giants Joy Division after the death of Ian Curtis
- Flashner, Graham; Sheridan, David. "TrouserPress.com :: A Certain Ratio". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
an exciting and original post-punk dance record
- Lazell, Barry (1997) Indie Hits 1980–1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4, p. 1
- Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. Retrieved May 12, 2016.