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1979 studio album by Wire From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
154 is the third album by the English post-punk band Wire, released in 1979 on EMI imprint Harvest Records in the UK and Europe and Warner Bros. Records in America.
154 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 1979 | |||
Recorded | April – May 1979 | |||
Studio | Advision Studios, West London, England, United Kingdom | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 44:41 | |||
Label | Harvest | |||
Producer | Mike Thorne | |||
Wire studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from 154 | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 9.1/10[8] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[11] |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | B[13] |
Branching out even further from the minimalist punk rock style of their earlier work, 154 is considered a progression of the sounds displayed on Wire's previous album Chairs Missing, with the group experimenting with slower tempos, fuller song structures and a more prominent use of guitar effects, synthesizers and electronics.
The unusual title of the track "Map Ref 41°N 93°W" was based on a guess of the centre of the American Midwest by bassist and singer Graham Lewis; the location of these coordinates is coincidentally close to Centerville, Iowa.[14] One of My Bloody Valentine's last releases prior to reconvening in 2007 was a cover of this track for a Wire tribute entitled Whore.[15] The song was selected as a favourite cover of the 1990s by Flak Magazine.[16]
154 peaked at number 39 in the UK Albums Chart, the highest position the band has achieved.[17] It was first issued on CD in 1987 by EMI Japan and later reissued by Restless Records in 1989. First editions of the vinyl album were accompanied by an EP, the tracks from which are included on the Harvest CD, issued in 1994, along with an additional bonus track. The 1996 remastered release, released on Wire's Pinkflag label as a digipack, does not contain any extra tracks, because, according to the band, such additions dishonour the "conceptual clarity of the original statements."[18] In 2018 Pink Flag release a 3-CD Special Edition of the album. The first disc contains the remastered album, while the second disc includes 11 non-album tracks including the 4-song 154 bonus EP, two non-album singles and additional b-sides. The third disc contains the 16-song "Sixth" demo session.
The album is so named because the band had played 154 gigs in their career at the time of the album's release. In 2004, Pitchfork listed 154 as 85th best album of the 1970s.[19]
Credits adapted from the 2018 Special Edition.[20]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
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1. | "I Should Have Known Better" | Graham Lewis | Lewis | 3:52 |
2. | "Two People in a Room" | Bruce Gilbert | Colin Newman | 2:00 |
3. | "The 15th" | Newman | Newman | 3:05 |
4. | "The Other Window" | Gilbert | Gilbert, Lewis | 2:07 |
5. | "Single K.O." | Lewis | Lewis, Newman[nb 1] | 2:23 |
6. | "A Touching Display" | Lewis | Lewis | 6:55 |
7. | "On Returning" | Newman | Newman | 2:06 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Song 1" | Robert Gotobed, Newman, Desmond Simmons | 3:02 | |
15. | "Get Down (Part I & II)" | David, Gotobed, Newman, Simmons, TV Smith | 4:27 | |
16. | "Let's Panic Later" | Lewis | Lewis | 3:20 |
17. | "Small Electric Piece" | Gilbert | 3:33 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
18. | "Go Ahead" (single B-side) | Lewis | Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman | 4:01 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
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19. | "Stepping Off Too Quick" | Newman | Newman | 1:22 |
20. | "Indirect Inquiries" (sic)" | Lewis | Newman | 3:18 |
21. | "Map Ref. 41°N 93°W" | Lewis | Newman | 3:49 |
22. | "A Question of Degree" | Lewis | Newman | 2:56 |
23. | "Two People in a Room" | Gilbert | Newman | 2:02 |
24. | "Former Airline" | Gilbert | Gilbert | 1:12 |
Tracks 19–24 are demo versions that have also appeared on compilations such as Behind the Curtain and After Midnight.
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 2018 Special Edition.[20]
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