Machine Gun Etiquette - Recording Sessions

Recording Sessions

• Utopia Studios (17 March 1979): the band record five songs ("Love Song", "Noise, Noise, Noise", and "Suicide") with producer Ed Hollis for single release.
• Chalk Farm Studio (2 April 1979): not content with the original take, the band record new vocals for "Love Song", the resulting final version being used on the single and album.
• Workhouse Studios (14 May 1979): The Damned and Motörhead record two songs ("Over the Top" and "Ballroom Blitz") for a planned single under the joint moniker "Motördamn". As the two tracks remain unfinished, the plan is abandoned.
• Sound-Suite Recording (21–23 May 1979): five album tracks recorded ("Machine Gun Etiquette", "Melody Lee", "Plan 9 Channel 7", and "Smash It Up (Part 1)"). The band also records "Burglar" and "Smash It Up (Part 4)" which are later used as single B-sides. Four more songs recorded remain unreleased to this day ("Teenage Dream", "Edna (The Girl I Never Met)", "Liar (Instrumental Alternative Version)", and "Dr Phibes Has Fun").
• Workhouse Studios (24–25 May 1979): two more album tracks recorded ("Anti-Pope" and "Looking at You"). Two more songs recorded remain unreleased to this day ("Smash It Up (Part 2) (Alternative Version)" and "A Day in the Country").
• SGS Recording Studios (28–30 May 1979): one album track recorded ("I Just Can't Be Happy Today") plus two more songs ("Turkey Song" and "Smash It Up (Part 3)") later used as single B-sides.
• Sound-Suite Recording (16–19 July 1979): the band return to the Sound-Suite to work on the tracks recorded there back in May.
• Wessex Studios (August 1979): the last three album tracks recorded ("These Hands", "Liar", and "Smash It Up (Part 2)"). The band mix, edit, and partially re-record the other album tracks.
• Wessex Studios (1 November 1979): the band return to the studio for one day to complete the May 1979 version of "Ballroom Blitz", edit and re-record a radio DJ version of "I Just Can't Be Happy Today", and mix "Turkey Song".