THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN – DARKLANDS LP – Nr MINT A1/B1 1987 INDIE PUNK

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Darklands
(Blanco Y Negro Records  1987  BYN11)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are a few light surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality)

Sleeve in Nr MINT condition
– tiny dink at opening edge on back cover
Inner Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. After signing to independent label Creation Records, they released their first single “Upside Down” in 1984. Their debut album Psychocandy was released to critical acclaim in 1985 on major label WEA. The band went on to release five more studio albums before disbanding in 1999. They reunited in 2007.

Darklands is the second album by Scottish alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain. Unlike their previous album, drum machines were used in place of drummer Bobby Gillespie, who had left to pursue a successful career as the frontman with Primal Scream. The album marks a turning point in the band’s music, going from the savage noise-pop of Psychocandy, to a more melodic indie/alternative sound.

Gillespie and Primal Scream later recorded a cover of the album’s title track.

Lead vocals are by Jim Reid, with the exception of “Darklands,” “Nine Million Rainy Days” and “On the Wall,” sung by William Reid.

Track listing

All songs written by Jim Reid and William Reid.

Side 1

1. “Darklands” – 5:29
2. “Deep One Perfect Morning” – 2:43
3. “Happy When It Rains” – 3:36
4. “Down on Me” – 2:36
5. “Nine Million Rainy Days” – 4:29

Side 2

1. “April Skies” – 4:00
2. “Fall” – 2:28
3. “Cherry Came Too” – 3:06
4. “On the Wall” – 5:05
5. “About You” – 2:33

Personnel

The Jesus and Mary Chain

• Jim Reid – vocals (tracks 2 to 4, 6 to 8, 10), guitar, bass, drum machine programming
• William Reid – vocals (tracks: 1, 5, 9), guitar, bass, drum machine programming, production

Additional personnel

• Bill Price – production (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
• John Loder – production (tracks 5, 7, 10)
• Helen Backhouse – design
• Andrew Catlin – photography
• John Maybury – photography
• Tim Broad – photography