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]
Releases and Receptionedit
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]
Track listingedit
Credits adapted from the 2018 Special Edition.[20]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 2018 Special Edition.[20]
Wire
Colin Newman – vocals, guitar, backing vocals, distorted bass on "On Returning"
Graham Lewis – bass, vocals on "I Should Have Known Better", "A Touching Display" and "Blessed State", backing vocals, percussion on "Once Is Enough", sleeve concept
B. C. Gilbert – guitar, spoken word on "The Other Window", sleeve concept
Colin Newman – vocals, guitar, syndrum on "Go Ahead", saxophone on "Former Airline", keyboards on "Midnight Bahnhof Cafe", production on "Get Down (Parts I + II)"
Graham Lewis – bass, keyboards on "Go Ahead", saxophone on "Former Airline", vocals and production on "Let's Panic Later"
B. C. Gilbert – guitar, bass on "Go Ahead", saxophone on "Former Airline", production on "Small Electric Piece"
Robert Gotobed – drums, production on "Song 1"
Mike Thorne – production on "A Question of Degree" and "Former Airline"
Paul Hardiman – engineer on "A Question of Degree" and "Former Airline"
Ken Thomas – assistant engineer on "A Question of Degree" and "Former Airline"
Wire – production on "Go Ahead", "Our Swimmer", "Midnight Bahnhof Cafe", "Our Swimmer (2nd Length)", "Catapult 30" and the sixth demo sessions
album, third, album, english, post, punk, band, wire, released, 1979, imprint, harvest, records, europe, warner, bros, records, america, 154studio, album, wirereleasedseptember, 1979, 1979, recorded, 1979, 1979, april, 1979studioadvision, studios, west, london. 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 154Studio album by WireReleasedSeptember 1979 1979 09 Recorded 1979 04 00 1979 05 day April May 1979StudioAdvision Studios West London England United KingdomGenrePost punk 1 art punk 2 avant pop 3 Length44 41LabelHarvestProducerMike ThorneWire studio album chronologyChairs Missing 1978 154 1979 The Ideal Copy 1987 Singles from 154 Map Ref 41 N 93 W Released 26 October 1979Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 4 Encyclopedia of Popular Music 5 The Guardian 6 Mojo 7 Pitchfork9 1 10 8 Q 9 The Rolling Stone Album Guide 10 Spin Alternative Record Guide7 10 11 Uncut 12 The Village VoiceB 13 Contents 1 Music 2 Releases and Reception 3 Track listing 3 1 2018 Special Edition 4 Personnel 5 References 5 1 Informational notes 6 External linksMusic editBranching 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 Releases and Reception edit154 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 Track listing editCredits adapted from the 2018 Special Edition 20 Side oneNo TitleLyricsMusicLength1 I Should Have Known Better Graham LewisLewis3 522 Two People in a Room Bruce GilbertColin Newman2 003 The 15th NewmanNewman3 054 The Other Window GilbertGilbert Lewis2 075 Single K O LewisLewis Newman nb 1 2 236 A Touching Display LewisLewis6 557 On Returning NewmanNewman2 06 Side twoNo TitleLyricsMusicLength8 A Mutual Friend LewisNewman4 289 Blessed State GilbertGilbert3 2810 Once Is Enough NewmanNewman3 2311 Map Ref 41 N 93 W Lewis nb 2 Newman3 4012 Indirect Enquiries LewisNewman3 3613 40 Versions GilbertGilbert Newman nb 3 3 28 Bonus EP included on 1979 1987 1989 1994 and 1995 releases No TitleLyricsMusicLength14 Song 1 Robert Gotobed Newman Desmond Simmons3 0215 Get Down Part I amp II David Gotobed Newman Simmons TV Smith4 2716 Let s Panic Later LewisLewis3 2017 Small Electric Piece Gilbert3 33 Bonus track included on 1994 and 1995 releases No TitleLyricsMusicLength18 Go Ahead single B side LewisGilbert Gotobed Lewis Newman4 01 Bonus tracks 1995 Japanese release only No TitleLyricsMusicLength19 Stepping Off Too Quick NewmanNewman1 2220 Indirect Inquiries sic LewisNewman3 1821 Map Ref 41 N 93 W LewisNewman3 4922 A Question of Degree LewisNewman2 5623 Two People in a Room GilbertNewman2 0224 Former Airline GilbertGilbert1 12 Tracks 19 24 are demo versions that have also appeared on compilations such as Behind the Curtain and After Midnight 2018 Special Edition edit Disc one Original Album No TitleLyricsMusicLength1 I Should Have Known Better LewisLewis3 522 Two People in a Room GilbertNewman2 113 The 15th NewmanNewman3 054 The Other Window GilbertGilbert Lewis2 085 Single K O LewisLewis Newman2 246 A Touching Display LewisLewis6 567 On Returning NewmanNewman2 068 A Mutual Friend LewisNewman4 289 Blessed State GilbertGilbert3 2810 Once Is Enough NewmanNewman3 2311 Map Ref 41ºN 93ºW LewisNewman3 4012 Indirect Enquiries LewisNewman3 2713 40 Versions GilbertGilbert Newman3 29Total length 44 48 Disc two Singles B sides amp Studio Recordings No TitleLyricsMusicLength1 A Question of Degree single A side 1979 LewisNewman3 092 Former Airline single B side 1979 GilbertGilbert3 193 Go Ahead single B side 1979 LewisGilbert Gotobed Lewis Newman4 034 Our Swimmer single A side 1981 Gilbert Lewis NewmanGilbert Newman nb 4 3 295 Midnight Bahnhof Cafe single B side 1981 LewisNewman4 306 2nd Length Our Swimmer single B side 1983 Gilbert Lewis NewmanGilbert Newman2 497 Catapult 30 single B side 1983 Gilbert Gotobed Lewis Newman5 058 Song 1 154 EP 1979 Gotobed Newman Simmons3 029 Get Down Parts I II 154 EP 1979 David Gotobed Newman Simmons Smith4 2710 Let s Panic Later 154 EP 1979 LewisLewis3 1911 Small Electric Piece 154 EP 1979 Gilbert3 31Total length 40 43 Disc three Sixth Demo Sessions December 1978 Riverside Studios London No TitleLyricsMusicLength1 40 Versions GilbertGilbert Newman3 192 Ignorance No Plea I Should Have Known Better LewisLewis4 023 Blessed State GilbertGilbert3 114 A Touching Display LewisLewis5 195 The 15th NewmanNewman2 306 A Mutual Friend LewisNewman3 567 Once Is Enough NewmanNewman2 398 The Other Window GilbertLewis Gilbert2 099 Stepping Off Too Quick NewmanNewman1 2210 Indirect Enquiries Version 2 LewisNewman3 1511 Map Ref 41 N 93 W LewisNewman3 5012 Single KO LewisLewis Newman2 2413 On Returning NewmanNewman1 4914 A Question of Degree LewisNewman3 0215 Former Airline GilbertGilbert1 1216 Two People in a Room GilbertNewman2 03Total length 46 07Personnel editCredits adapted from the liner notes of the 2018 Special Edition 20 WireColin Newman vocals guitar backing vocals distorted bass on On Returning Graham Lewis bass vocals on I Should Have Known Better A Touching Display and Blessed State backing vocals percussion on Once Is Enough sleeve concept B C Gilbert guitar spoken word on The Other Window sleeve concept Robert Gotobed drums percussionAdditional personnel and productionKate Lukas alto flute on Single K O Tim Souster electric viola on A Touching Display Hilly Kristal bass vocals on A Mutual Friend Joan Whiting cor anglais on A Mutual Friend Mike Thorne production synthesizer piano on Single K O Paul Hardiman engineer Ken Thomas assistant engineer Dave Dragon art direction Brian Harris typographic designBonus tracksColin Newman vocals guitar syndrum on Go Ahead saxophone on Former Airline keyboards on Midnight Bahnhof Cafe production on Get Down Parts I II Graham Lewis bass keyboards on Go Ahead saxophone on Former Airline vocals and production on Let s Panic Later B C Gilbert guitar bass on Go Ahead saxophone on Former Airline production on Small Electric Piece Robert Gotobed drums production on Song 1 Mike Thorne production on A Question of Degree and Former Airline Paul Hardiman engineer on A Question of Degree and Former Airline Ken Thomas assistant engineer on A Question of Degree and Former Airline Wire production on Go Ahead Our Swimmer Midnight Bahnhof Cafe Our Swimmer 2nd Length Catapult 30 and the sixth demo sessions Nick Glennie Smith engineer on 154 EP and the sixth demo sessions Daniel Priest engineer on Go Ahead Our Swimmer and Midnight Bahnhof Cafe Steve Parker engineer on Our Swimmer 2nd Length and Catapult 30 A Question of Degree and Former Airline recorded and mixed April 1979 at Advision Studios London 154 bonus EP recorded and mixed July 1979 at Riverside Studios London Go Ahead Our Swimmer and Midnight Bahnhof Cafe recorded and mixed November 1979 at Magritte Studios Middlesex 2nd Length Our Swimmer and Catapult 30 recorded and mixed 1980 at Scorpio Sound LondonReferences edit Kellman Andy Real to Real Cacophony Simple Minds AllMusic Retrieved 5 April 2020 Hart Ron 21 June 2018 Wire Looks Back on Its Pioneering Art Punk Trilogy Billboard Retrieved 5 April 2020 10 Essential Album Trilogies Treble 16 March 2017 Retrieved 5 April 2020 Huey Steve 154 Wire AllMusic Retrieved 29 February 2012 Larkin Colin 2011 Wire The Encyclopedia of Popular Music 5th concise ed Omnibus Press ISBN 978 0 85712 595 8 Simpson Dave 3 March 2006 Wire 154 The Guardian Retrieved 29 February 2012 Myers Ben June 2018 Wire 154 Mojo No 295 p 104 Tangari Joe 5 May 2006 Wire Pink Flag Chairs Missing 154 Pitchfork Retrieved 29 February 2012 Harris John July 2018 Dawning of a New Era Q No 386 pp 120 21 Gross Joe 2004 Wire In Brackett Nathan Hoard Christian eds The New Rolling Stone Album Guide 4th ed Simon amp Schuster pp 883 84 ISBN 0 743 20169 8 Weisbard Eric 1995 Wire In Weisbard Eric Marks Craig eds Spin Alternative Record Guide Vintage Books pp 435 37 ISBN 0 679 75574 8 Wire 154 Uncut No 106 March 2006 p 106 Christgau Robert 25 February 1980 Christgau s Consumer Guide The Village Voice Retrieved 29 February 2012 Map Songs Wire s Map Ref 41 N 93 W Making Maps DIY Cartography 11 March 2008 Retrieved 21 September 2021 Whore Various Artists Play Wire Various Artists Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 21 September 2021 Flak Magazine Cover Tunes Map Ref 41N 93W 1 29 01 19 May 2011 Archived from the original on 19 May 2011 Retrieved 21 September 2021 Wire select Albums tab Official Charts Company Retrieved 8 April 2018 Wire 1977 gt 1979 Pinkflag America PostEverything Archived from the original on 14 April 2006 Retrieved 2 May 2006 Pitchfork staff 23 June 2004 The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s Pitchfork p 2 Archived from the original on 7 March 2013 Retrieved 30 August 2013 a b 154 liner notes Wire special ed Pinkflag 2018 PF13SE a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Neate Wilson 2013 Read amp Burn A Book About Wire London Jawbone Press p 81 ISBN 978 1 90827 933 0 Informational notes edit The songwriting credits for 154 have been modified on all reissues since 2006 21 Single K O was originally credited to Graham Lewis alone Map Ref 41 N 93 W was originally credited to Graham Lewis Colin Newman and Bruce Gilbert 40 Versions was originally credited to Bruce Gilbert alone Our Swimmer and 2nd Length Our Swimmer was originally credited to Bruce Gilbert Robert Gotobed Graham Lewis and Colin Newman External links edit154 at Discogs list of releases Lyrics for the album on Wire s official website The making of Wire s 154 album Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 154 album amp oldid 1189176911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
