Soldier (album)

Soldier
Studio album by Iggy Pop
Released	February 1980
Recorded	August 1979 at Rockfield Studios, Wales
Genre	Post-punk
Length	37:00
Label	Arista
Producer	Pat Moran
Iggy Pop chronology
New Values (1979) Soldier (1980) Party (1981)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Soldier is a 1980 (see 1980 in music) album by proto-punk musician Iggy Pop. David Bowie and Simple Minds provide backing vocals on "Play it Safe".

It is the first album on which Iggy collaborated with ex-Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock. Videos were made for songs "Loco Mosquito", "Knocking 'Em Down (in the City)" and "Dog Food". The album peaked at number 125 on the Billboard charts. Ex-Stooge James Williamson was originally hired to produce the album but a conflict between Williamson and David Bowie (who was assisting as a friend of Pop) over recording techniques led to Williamson walking out on the project.

There has been some debate over the lack of lead guitar on the final mix, which has been criticized by Glen Matlock. In Iggy Pop's biography, Matlock claims that the lead guitar was stripped after David Bowie was punched by Steve New for hitting on his girlfriend.

Track listing

All songs composed by Iggy Pop, except where indicated.

1. "Loco Mosquito" - 3:13
2. "Ambition" (Glen Matlock) - 3:25
3. "Knocking 'Em Down (In The City)" - 3:20
4. "Play It Safe" (David Bowie, Pop) - 3:05
5. "Get Up And Get Out" - 2:43
6. "Mr. Dynamite" (Pop, Matlock) - 4:17
7. "Dog Food" - 1:47
8. "I Need More" (Pop, Matlock) - 4:02
9. "Take Care Of Me" (Pop, Matlock) - 3:25
10. "I'm A Conservative" - 3:55
11. "I Snub You" (Pop, Barry Andrews) - 3:07

Critics Reaction

Rolling Stone's David Fricke reviewed the album positively, calling attention to Iggy Pop's successful weathering of his own self-destructive persona. Of the album, Fricke wrote: "Soldier, like all of his albums, is a hard-fought battle in a war that Iggy Pop is determined to win. Call him Ig noble."^[2]

CD reissue bonus tracks

12. "Low Life" (Pop, Kral) - 2:57
13. "Drop A Hook" - 4:25

Personnel

• Iggy Pop - vocals
• Glen Matlock - bass, backing vocals
• Ivan Kral - guitar, keyboards
• Klaus Kruger- drums
• Steve New - guitar
• Barry Andrews - keyboards
• Simple Minds - backing vocals on "Play It Safe"
• David Bowie - backing vocals on "Play It Safe"
• Henry McGroggan - backing vocals on "Loco Mosquito"
• Pat Moran - producer
• Thom Panunzio - mix
• Brian Griffin/Rocking Russian - sleeve

Recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales. Engineered by Peter Haden. Mixed by Thom Panunzio at the Record Plant, New York City. Mastered by Joe Brescio, at Record Plant Studios, New York City.

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Rolling Stone Review, February 7, 1980