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By the time of late 1979's release of the “Days In Europa" album (V 2138) The Skids had firmly established themselves as a major force on the whole Punk / New Wave scene. Three chart singles - "Sweet Suburbia", "The Saints Are Coming" and "Into The Valley" - plus a Top 20 placing for their debut album “Scared To Dance" had pushed vocalist Richard Jobson, guitarist Stuart Adamson, bassist Bill Simpson and drummer Thomas Kellichan to the forefront of the whole New Wave explosion - they looked totally different (much more dapper!) to the majority of bands at the time, in Adamson they had a guitarist / songwriter of stunning ability with a totally unique sound whilst in Jobson they had one of the most quotable and newsworthy frontman of the day.
“Days In Europa” was preceded by two singles, "Masquerade" and “Charade”. “Masquerade” came out on May 17th 1979 (VS 262) and shot to No.14 in the UK Top 20 spending nine weeks in total in the charts. Whilst their three previous hit singles had all been issued on coloured vinyl "Masquerade” came as a standard 7” backed with "Out Of Town" and as a double pack 7” with a separate 45 featuring "Another Emotion” and “Aftermath Dub” which was basically a dub version of the A side. By the time of the September 7th release of "Charade" B/W "Grey Parade” VS 288) Tom Kellichan had been replaced by ex-Rich Kids sticksman Rusty Egan and the single shot to No.31, enjoying six weeks in the Top 40.
Like “Masquerade” and “Charade", "Days In Europa” was produced by ex-Be Bop Deluxe frontman Bill Nelson and it was released on October 12th 1979. Shooting to No.32 in the charts the album met with a mixture of controversy and critical acclaim "Melody Maker” said “much improved effort by Scottish Punk band in transit between street credibility thumping and art as exemplified by lead singer Richard Jobson's obscure would be intellectual lyrics" whilst "Sounds” alarmingly thought the album had Nazi overtones because of the artwork depicting an Ayrian Olympian! Nevertheless the record was re-mixed and re-issued in a totally different sleeve even though Jobson told “Sounds", "we checked things out very carefully, even the gothic script we used on the cover which supposedly has Nazi connotations but is actually Jewish!" "Working For The Yankee Dollar", one of the albums strongest tracks, was the first remixed cut to be released and it reached No.20 in the charts when released as a 45 on November 16th 1979 (VS 306). Like "Masquerade" it was issued as a standard 7” B/W “Vanguards Crusade" and as a double pack with two BBC Radio 1 tracks, “All The Young Dudes" (from a Kid Jensen session) and “Hymns From A Haunted Ballroom” (from a John Peel session). Long time bassist Bill Simpson was disappointed at not being consulted over the albums remix and decided to quit the band (along with Egan who joined Visage just as another single extracted from the album, “Animation" (c/w "Pros & Cons" VS 323), reached No.56 in the UK charts.
And that's where we leave this particular instalment in the colourful career of The Skids who despite personal upheavals and nonsense dodgy politics accusations still managed to come up with a classic album that over twenty years later still manages to hit all the right places.
Mark Brennan
The copyright in this recording is owned by Virgin Records Ltd.
Licensed from Virgin Records Ltd. F 1979 Virgin Records Ltd.
Special thanks to Ann Murray, Ray Bird, Erika B., Mario Panciera, Watford Jon, Dave Wilson, Steve Beatty. Mastered by Tim Turan
This compilation Ⓟ 2001 Captain Oi!
Captain Oi! c/o PO Box 501, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP10 8QA
Made In England. Design by Tim Smith: tim-smith@sky-rocket.net
AHOY CD 172
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