Entertainment!

Entertainment!
Studio album by Gang of Four
Released	1979
Recorded	The Workhouse, Old Kent Road, London, 1979
Genre	Post-punk
Length	39:53
Label	EMI/Warner Bros.
Producer	Andy Gill, Jon King and Rob Warr
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork (9.5/10) 5/12/2005 Robert Christgau (A) link Rolling Stone (positive) 8/7/1980
Gang of Four chronology
Entertainment! (1979) Yellow EP (1980)
Alternate cover
1995 reissue cover: Infinite Zero

Entertainment! is the 1979 debut album by English post-punk band Gang of Four. This album was released on EMI in the U.K. and on Warner Bros. in the U.S.. The music on the first album shows clearly the influence of punk, yet also incorporates funk and less-obvious influences of reggae and dub, similar to other bands at the time such as Public Image Ltd., Pere Ubu, and Au Pairs. As with these other influential post-punk bands, the bass is mixed much more prominently than it typically is in rock or punk. The album has attracted praise from rock musicians. Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers stated that the first time he heard the record, "It completely changed the way I looked at rock music and sent me on my trip as a bass player." ^[1] In 2003, the album was ranked number 490 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In March 2005, Q magazine placed the track "At Home He's a Tourist" at number 52 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.

Track listing

All songs written by Dave Allen, Hugo Burnham, Andy Gill, and Jon King, except as indicated.

Original track listing

1. "Ether" – 3:52
2. "Natural's Not in It" – 3:09
3. "Not Great Men" – 3:08
4. "Damaged Goods" – 3:29
5. "Return the Gift" – 3:08
6. "Guns Before Butter" – 3:49
7. "I Found That Essence Rare" – 3:09
8. "Glass" – 2:32
9. "Contract" – 2:42
10. "At Home He's a Tourist" – 3:33
11. "5.45" – 3:48
12. "Anthrax" – 4:23

1995 bonus tracks

The Infinite Zero/American CD reissue includes songs from the Yellow EP:

1. "Outside the Trains Don't Run on Time" – 3:27
2. "He'd Send in the Army" – 3:40
3. "It's Her Factory" – 3:08
4. "Armalite Rifle" – 2:48

2005 bonus tracks

In addition to the Yellow EP, the Rhino release adds four previously unissued tracks:

1. "Guns Before Butter (Alternate version)" – 4:25
2. "Contract (Alternate version)" – 2:48
3. "Blood Free" (Live @ Electric Ballroom) – 3:17
4. "Sweet Jane" (Live @ American Indian Center) (Lou Reed) – 3:20

Personnel

• Dave Allen - bass guitar, vocals
• Hugo Burnham - drums, vocals
• Andy Gill - guitar, vocals
• Jon King - vocals, melodica

References

1. ^ Liner notes to Infinite Zero reissue, 1995

Charts

Single