1977 (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = 1977
Type = Album
Artist = Ash


Released = May 6, 1996
Recorded = Rockfield Studios January 1996
Genre = Alternative rock
Britpop
Length = 61:52
Label = Infectious Records/Reprise Records/Edel Music
Producer = Ash and Owen Morris
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A25o20r6at48x link]
* "Drowned in Sound" (8/10) [http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/4742 link]
* "NME" (7/10)
* "Q" Rating|4|5 [http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.artist.review&fixture_review=128185&fixture_artist=141556 May 1996]
Last album = "Trailer"
(1994)
This album = "1977"
(1996)
Next album = "Live at the Wireless"
(1997)

"1977" is the first full length album by Ash, released in May 1996 (see 1996 in music). The punk rock influenced album proved popular in the United Kingdom and, to a lesser degree elsewhere, where Britpop was a small cult phenomenon.

The name is a reference to year of three events which shaped the band - the births of two members of the band, the year "" was released, and the year the first punk albums were released, though it has been suspected that the "Star Wars" reference is the most important; the album opens with the sound of a TIE Fighter, and ends with the track "Darkside Lightside", whose title is a Star Wars reference, and which also ends with a choral version of the "Star Wars" main theme. The band have also covered "Cantina Band", on the "Girl From Mars" b-side.

The song "Lose Control" was featured in the game Gran Turismo. It is also the first song by the band to be used in a video-game, followed by "Orpheus" from the album "Meltdown" featured in the game ; both of which are racing games.

The song "Kung Fu" mentions Jackie Chan in the lyrics. In reciprocation, Chan has used the song for the end credits of his movie "Rumble in the Bronx".

The first 50,000 pressings of the CD begins with the original version of "Jack Names the Planets" and its B-side "Don't Know" (February 1994) which are situated in the album's pregap and are accessed by 'rewinding' from track one. There is also a hidden track named "Sick Party" which appears after "Darkside Lightside" on all versions.

Several music magazines placed the album in their end-of-year lists for 1996, including NME, Melody Maker, Q, Select and Kerrang. [http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/]

The album is currently certified Platinum by the BPI and, according to the auto-biography on the official site, it has sold over one million copies around the world.

Ash played the album in its entirety at London Roundhouse on Friday 5th September 2008. Following the huge demand and speed of which the Roundhouse show sold out, they also added a show at London Astoria for the following day, Saturday 6th September 2008.

Track listing

*"Jack Names The Planets" (hidden track, Original Pressing Only)
*"Don't Know" (hidden track, Original Pressing Only)
#"Lose Control" (Hamilton/Wheeler) – 3:37
#"Goldfinger" (Wheeler) – 4:31
#"Girl From Mars" (Wheeler) – 3:30
#"I'd Give You Anything" (Wheeler) – 4:31
#"Gone the Dream" (Wheeler) – 3:29
#"Kung Fu" (Wheeler) – 2:17
#"Oh Yeah" (Wheeler) – 4:45
#"Let It Flow" (Wheeler) – 4:42
#"Innocent Smile" (Hamilton) – 5:52
#"Angel Interceptor" (McMurray/Wheeler) – 4:04
#"Lost in You" (Wheeler) – 4:19
#"Darkside Lightside" (Wheeler) – 16:49
*"Sick Party" (hidden track)

ingles

*"Kung Fu" was released on March 20, 1995 with "Day Of The Triffids" and "Luther Ingo's Star Cruiser".

*"Girl From Mars" was released on July 31, 1995 with "Astral Conversations" and "Cantina Band"

*"Angel Interceptor" was released on October 9, 1995 with "5am Eternal" and "Gimme Some Truth" (by John Lennon)

*"Goldfinger" was released on April 15, 1996 with "I Need Somebody", "Sneaker", and "Get Ready" (Smokey Robinson). "Get Ready" itself was released as a fan club only single in December, 1995 (as a Christmas present), with " Zero Zero"

*"Oh Yeah" was released on June 24, 1996 with "T. Rex", "Everywhere Is All Around" (Wheeler/Carr), and "Does Your Mother Know" (ABBA).

Personnel

*Phil Thornalley - Mixing
*Nick Ingman - String Arrangements
*Owen Morris - Producer, String Arrangements
*Mark "Spike" Stent - Mixing
*Ash - Producer, Photography
*Lisa Moorish - Vocals
*Brian Cannon - Design, Photography, Sleeve Director
*Rick "Rock" McMurray - Drums
*Tim Wheeler - Guitar, Vocals, String Arrangements
*Mark Hamilton - Bass, Sleeve Assistant
*Nick Brine - Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant, Studio Assistant