Description
Release Date Saturday 17th October 2026
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.
Truly one of the greatest British bands to come out of the 1976 / 1977
musical rupture that was Punk, Dunfermline's Skids went on to demonstrate
they had so much more to them than many of their contemporaries
Always a tight and powerful musical powerhouse they enjoyed a string of classic
chart hits between 1978 and 1979 ('Into The Valley', 'Masquerade', 'Working For
TheYankee Dollar' etc).
Following this, they surprised and delighted fans and critics alike with 1980's
ambitious and experimental third album outing 'The Absolute Game'. The album was
also the first to feature feature new bassist Russell Webb and his inclusion, along with
the contribution of new producer Mick Glossop, made for an accomplished and
progressive evolution.
The first sign that the band had upped the ante somewhat came with the album's first single (and its opener), 'Circus Games', which fused incisive lyrics and rallying vocal delivery with a powerful backing track, replete with synth stylings and even a
schoolkids' chorus. Future singles to be culled included 'A Woman In Winter' and the
glorious 'Goodbye Civilian'. Record Collector latersaid of the album: "Endlessly
inventive and perfectly executed, it deservedly became their most successful release".
Initial copies of 'The Absolute Game' came with the free mini album 'Strength Through Joy' an experimental mini- album that blended world music influences and
atmospheric and ambient sounds that perfectly fitted 1980's Peter Gabriel / Talking
Heads / 'Scary Monsters' Bowie zeitgeist.
For this stunning 2LP vinyl reissue, 'The Absolute Game', and 'Strength Through Joy',
have been remastered from the source tapes, thereby correcting previous problems
with the album's tape transfers. The work was undertaken by respected audio
engineer George Shilling (previous creditsinclude Blur, Teenage Fanclub, Bernard
Butler, Oasis, Primal Scream).
Artwork has been lovingly recreated with the original's lyric sheet and Skids
merchandise inserts promoted onto illustrated inner bags. The albums have pressed
onto translucent blue stone vinyl.
Tracks: Circus Games / Out Of Town / Goodbye Civilian / The Children Saw The
Shame / A Woman In Winter / Hurry On Boys / Happy To Be With You / The Devils
Decade / One Decree / Arena / An Incident In Algiers / Grievance / Strength Through
Joy / Filming Africa / A Man For All Seasons / Snakes And Ladders / Surgical
Triumph / The Bell Jar
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