If Looks Could Kill (Transvision Vamp song)

"If Looks Could Kill" is a song by English alternative rock band Transvision Vamp. It was the second single taken from their third album, Little Magnets Versus the Bubble of Babble (1991), and served as the band's final single. Released on 10 June 1991, the song reached number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and number 38 in New Zealand.

"If Looks Could Kill"
Single by Transvision Vamp
from the album Little Magnets Versus the Bubble of Babble
B-side	"My Friend the Tom Cat" "Puppy Dog Tails"
Released	10 June 1991 (1991-06-10)[1]
Length	4:14
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Nick Christian Sayer
Producer(s)	Duncan Bridgeman
Transvision Vamp singles chronology
"(I Just Wanna) B with U" (1991) "If Looks Could Kill" (1991)

Critical reception

Upon the song's UK release, Jim Arundel of Melody Maker left an ironic review on the single by saying that "the thing that really spoils Transvision Vamp is... Wendy James". He continued: "This is a lovingly compiled record, a collage of stolen kisses. Every riff and device is lovigly placed. It's full of secret passages. But then some pushy tart who can barely sing and sounds transparently insincere comes and sits on its face." Arundel finalized, "Still, if they're your cup of meat then this is probably their masterpiece."^[2]

Track listings

7-inch and cassette single (TVV 11; TVVC 11)^[3][4]

1. "If Looks Could Kill"
2. "My Friend the Tom Cat"
3. "Puppy Dog Tails"

12-inch single (TVVT 11)^[5]

A1. "If Looks Could Kill" (Voodoo Hipster mix)

B1. "My Friend the Tom Cat"

B2. "Puppy Dog Tails"

B3. "I Want Your Love" (live)

CD single (DTVVT 11)^[6]

1. "If Looks Could Kill" (7-inch version)
2. "My Friend the Tom Cat"
3. "Puppy Dog Tails"
4. "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" (live)

US 12-inch single (MCA12 54273)^[7]

A1. "If Looks Could Kill" (Voodoo Hipster mix)

A2. "If Looks Could Kill" (LP version)

B1. "Twangy Wigout" (12-inch mix)

B2. "My Friend the Tom Cat"

B3. "Puppy Dog Tails"

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "If Looks Could Kill"

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[8]	56
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[1]	38
UK Singles (OCC)[9]	41

References

1. "Transvision Vamp – If Looks Could Kill". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
2. Arundel, Jim (22 June 1991). "Singles: Transvision Vamp – "If Looks Could Kill" (MCA)". Melody Maker. London: IPC Limited. p. 32. ISSN 0025-9012. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024 – via Flickr.
3. If Looks Could Kill (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Transvision Vamp. MCA Records. 1991. TVV 11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. If Looks Could Kill (UK cassette single sleeve). Transvision Vamp. MCA Records. 1991. TVVC11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. If Looks Could Kill (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Transvision Vamp. MCA Records. 1991. TVVT 11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. If Looks Could Kill (UK CD single liner notes). Transvision Vamp. MCA Records. 1991. DTVVT 11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. If Looks Could Kill (US 12-inch single sleeve). Transvision Vamp. MCA Records. 1991. MCA12 54273.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 284.
9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

External links

• Worldwide releases