Sign of the Times
Studio album by
The Rubettes
ReleasedJune 1976
GenrePop rock, rock & roll, Country rock
Length35:29
42:02 (with bonus tracks)
LabelState Records/Polydor Records
ProducerThe Rubettes, Alan Blakley
The Rubettes chronology
Rubettes
(1975)		 Sign of the Times
(1976)		 Baby I Know
(1977)

Sign of the Times is the fourth studio album by the English band The Rubettes. It was released on the State Records label in June 1976.[1] The album represented a significant change in direction for the band, as it was the first not produced by Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington – instead the Rubettes took on production responsibilities themselves, with Alan Blakley (formerly of the Tremeloes) as co-producer. The band made the decision due to the disappointing sales of their previous two Bickerton/Waddington singles and the desire to forge new musical directions.[2][3]

The Rubettes were a four-piece band by the time Sign of the Times was recorded, as keyboardist Bill Hurd departed earlier in 1976. Tony Thorpe took over keyboard duties in the studio.[3]

The album contained two singles, both released in advance – the only UK single release "You're The Reason Why" and the non-UK A-side "Julia".[3]

In 1992, Dice Records (France) released the Rubettes' third and fourth albums (Rubettes and Sign of the Times) as a double CD set.[4] In 2012, Cherry Red Records issued the album on CD.[2] In 2015, Caroline Records released the album Sign of the Times, with two bonus tracks, as part of a box CD set of the Rubettes' first five studio albums.[5]

Track listing

Side 1
  1. "Sign Of The Times" (Mick Clarke, John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:39
  2. "Dancing In The Rain" (Mike Gower) – 2:56
  3. "You're The Only Girl On My Island" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 4:23
  4. "The Way You Live" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:07
  5. "Not Now My Dear" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:42
Side 2
  1. "You're The Reason Why" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 2:34
  2. "I Think I'm In Love" (Mick Clarke, John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:06
  3. "I Really Got To Know" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 2:53
  4. "Julia" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 2:53
  5. "Highwayman's Lament" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 6:16[6]

2015 CD bonus tracks

Alan and John*:

11. "Take Good Care of My Baby" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 3:23
12. "The Price Of Living" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:10[5]
*Produced by Alan Blakley[7]
NB: All track times taken from 2015 CD

Singles

1. "You're The Reason Why" b/w "Julia" – May 1976 – UK No. 28[1][8]
2. "Julia" was also released as a non-UK single, b/w either "Dancing In The Rain" or "You're The Reason Why" – in March 1976 (France/Belgium) and May 1976 (several other non-UK markets)[1][9][10][11][12]

Bonus tracks single

Bonus tracks 11 & 12 were also released together on the following single:
* "Take Good Care Of My Baby" b/w "The Price Of Living" (as Alan and John) – January 1976 (German release)[7]

Personnel

  • Mick Clarke – Bass guitar and vocals
  • John Richardson – Drums, percussion and vocals
  • Tony Thorpe – Guitar, vocals and keyboards
  • Alan Williams – Guitar and vocals[2]

Publishers (including bonus tracks)

  • All tracks Warner Bros Music/Arlovol Music/Penny Farthing Music except:
Track 2 – Halcyon Music
Tracks 3 & 6 – Arlovol Music/Penny Farthing Music/Bucks Music
Track 11 – Screen Gems-EMI Music
Track 12 – Halcyon/Belwin Music[13]

Production and credits

  • Produced by The Rubettes with Alan Blakley
  • Recorded at – DJM Studios
  • Mastered at – Turan Audio
  • Mastered By – Tim Turan
  • Engineer – Mark Wallis
  • Tape Op & Beverage – John Cooper
  • Catering – Sarge
  • Sleeve Concept – The Rubettes
  • Designed By – TARGA
  • Illustrations & Typo – Martin Rowley
  • Design (CD Reissue – Skyrocket) – Tim Smith
  • Liner Notes (CD Reissue) – Phil Hendriks[2][6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rubettes -Discography". Rubettes.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Rubettes – Sign Of The Times". discogs.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Liner notes from CD box set Rubettes – The Albums 1974–77
  4. ↑ "Original Albums – 3 & 4". discogs.com. 1992. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  5. 1 2 "The Rubettes – The Albums 1974–77 – (CD, Box Set) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  6. 1 2 Original album sleeve notes
  7. 1 2 "Take Good Care Of My Baby – single". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Rubettes UK Chart History". Official Charts.
  9. ↑ "Polydor/State Releases". 45cat.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "Swiss Chart History – Julia". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "Rubettes – Chart History". Tsort. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  12. ↑ "Irish Charts – Rubettes". irishcharts.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  13. ↑ Sleeve notes 2015 Boxed CD Set Rubettes Albums – 1974–77
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