Suicide (album)

Suicide (first album)
Studio album by Suicide
Released	1977
Recorded	1977
Genre	No wave
Length	31:15
Label	Bronze
Producer	Ric Ocasek, Craig Leon
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork (favorable) link Robert Christgau (C+) link
Suicide chronology
Suicide (1977) Suicide (1980)

Suicide is the influential first studio album by American New Wave band Suicide, released in 1977. It is often cited as the first synth pop album, but is much heavier than anything that followed. In 2003, the album was ranked number 446 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. "Frankie Teardrop" is one of the songs featured in Nick Hornby's book 31 Songs. "Cheree" is featured in the closing scene of Downtown 81 with artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. "Ghost Rider" was featured on the soundtrack of the video game Driver: Parallel Lines.

Track listing

1. "Ghost Rider" (Rev, Vega) – 2:33
2. "Rocket U.S.A." (Rev, Vega) – 4:17
3. "Cheree" (Rev, Vega) – 3:41
4. "Johnny" (Rev, Vega) – 2:10
5. "Girl" (Rev, Vega) – 4:06
6. "Frankie Teardrop" (Rev, Vega) – 10:25
7. "Che" (Rev, Vega) – 4:51

Note: This is the original track listing. The album has been reissued on CD several times, and the most recent CD version is a double-CD package featuring more than an hour's worth of bonus tracks.

2002 Mute Reissue track listing

Disc 1

1. "Ghost Rider" - 2:34
2. "Rocket USA" - 4:16
3. "Cheree" - 3:42
4. "Johnny" - 2:10
5. "Girl" - 4:05
6. "Frankie Teardrop" - 10:26
7. "Che" - 4:52
8. "Cheree (Remix)" - 3:47
9. "I Remember" - 3:11
10. "Keep Your Dreams" - 4:48

Disc 2

1. "Mr. Ray" - 6:29
2. "Las Vegas Man" - 4:23
3. "96 Tears" - 3:48
4. "Keep Your Dreams" - 3:19
5. "I Remember" - 5:11
6. "Harlem" - 4:05
7. "23 Minutes Over Brussels" - 22:56

Tracks 1 - 6 on the bonus disc are from a live performance at CBGB. Track 7 is a legendary live show that ended with the band being booed off the stage. In response to this, Elvis Costello, whom Suicide was opening for, played a very short, angry set, which incited a riot.

Personnel

• Alan Vega (vocals)
• Martin Rev (keyboards, drum machine)

Suicide's first album was recorded, manufactured and released on Red Star Records -- not on Bronze Records as listed -- on December 28, 1977. It was co-produced by Marty Thau and Craig Leon - not Ric Ocasek. Ocasek produced Suicide's second album for Ze Records.