| Ghosts of Princes in Towers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | August 1978 |
| Recorded | 1978 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 47:48 |
| Label | EMI |
| Producer | Mick Ronson |
| Singles from Ghosts of Princes in Towers | |
| |
Ghosts of Princes in Towers is the only studio album by British band Rich Kids, released in August 1978 by record label EMI.[2] It was produced by Mick Ronson.
Release and reception
Ghosts of Princes in Towers was released in August 1978. The album featured their hit single "Rich Kids", which reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] Two other singles, "Marching Men" and "Ghosts of Princes in Towers", were released. The album itself reached number 51 in the UK Albums Chart.[3]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| Head Heritage | favourable[1] |
| Trouser Press | favourable[5] |
A point of criticism for the album was its production. In its retrospective review, AllMusic wrote that the album "failed to live up to the promise of the single ["Ghosts of Princes in Towers"], in most cases trading punky power-pop in favor of more dirge-like hard rock – muddy sound doesn't help matters either."[4] Trouser Press wrote that "despite abysmal sound, the band's talent emerges, and Ghosts is an extraordinary album of daring experimental rock/pop".[5] Head Heritage described it as "an outstanding album that is head and shoulders above anything The Jam or Buzzcocks had yet released at the time."[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Strange One" | Glen Matlock, Steve New | 4:24 |
| 2. | "Hung on You" | Matlock | 2:55 |
| 3. | "Ghosts of Princes in Towers" | Matlock, New | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Cheap Emotions" | Matlock, New | 4:03 |
| 5. | "Marching Men" | Midge Ure | 3:50 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Put You in the Picture" (Originally recorded by PVC2) | Ure, Billy McIsaac | 2:44 |
| 7. | "Young Girls" | Ure | 2:48 |
| 8. | "Bullet-Proof Lover" | Matlock, Alex McDowell | 3:09 |
| 9. | "Rich Kids" | Matlock | 2:55 |
| 10. | "Lovers and Fools" | Ure | 2:34 |
| 11. | "Burning Sounds" | Matlock, New | 3:38 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Empty Words" (B-side to "Rich Kids") | Matlock, New | 3:00 |
| 13. | "Here Comes the Nice (live)" (Small Faces cover, B-side to "Marching Men") | Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane | 3:01 |
| 14. | "Only Arsenic" (B-side to "Ghosts of Princes in Towers") | Matlock | 4:49 |
Personnel
- Rich Kids
- Midge Ure – lead (1-3, 5–10, 13, 14) and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (2, 10)
- Steve New – lead guitar, keyboards (1), backing vocals
- Glen Matlock – bass, backing and lead (4, 11, 12) vocals
- Rusty Egan – drums
with:
- Mick Ronson – keyboards (1, 3, 6, 10)
- Ian McLagan – piano on "Cheap Emotions"
- Technical
- Rocking Russian - cover design
- Peter Lavery - cover photography
References
- 1 2 3 4 Furgess, Dave (27 October 2007). "Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage | Unsung | Reviews | The Rich Kids – Ghosts of Princes in Towers". Head Heritage. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ Gimarc, George (2005). Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock, 1970-1982 - George Gimarc. ISBN 9780879308483. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
- 1 2 "Rich Kids | Full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- 1 2 Woodstra, Chris. "Ghosts of Princes in Towers – The Rich Kids | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- 1 2 Robbins, Ira. "TrouserPress.com :: Rich Kids". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
External links
- Ghosts of Princes in Towers at Discogs (list of releases)