Tracklist
Like Clockwork | 3:44 | ||
Blind Date | 3:22 | ||
(I Never Loved) Eva Braun | 4:39 | ||
Living In An Island | 4:11 | ||
Don't Believe What You Read | 3:09 | ||
She's So Modern | 2:57 | ||
Me And Howard Hughes | 3:12 | ||
Can't Stop | 2:20 | ||
(Watch Out For) The Normal People | 2:53 | ||
Rat Trap | 5:12 |
Credits (10)
- Hothouse (2)Design, Artwork By
- Stuff BrownEngineer
- Tim Friese-GreeneEngineer
- JA*Lacquer Cut By
- RC*Lacquer Cut By
- Fachtna O'KellyManagement
Notes
The Boomtown Rats’ ‘Tonic for the Troops’ (ENVY 3) was the band’s second album to hit the Official UK Music Charts. Following on from the mildly successful, self-named debut album ‘The Boomtown Rats’ (ENVY 1).
The album entered the UK Charts on 08/07/1978 at No.21 and spent a total of 44 weeks appearing in ‘Top 100’ chart positions between July 1978 and October 1979. The LP achieved its highest chart position on 15/07/1978 hitting the No.8 slot. It remained in the UK ‘Top 40’ for thirty weeks overall and had four additional chart runs after its initial debut. (Source: Official Charts Company (UK) (May 2020)).
The album entered the UK Charts on 08/07/1978 at No.21 and spent a total of 44 weeks appearing in ‘Top 100’ chart positions between July 1978 and October 1979. The LP achieved its highest chart position on 15/07/1978 hitting the No.8 slot. It remained in the UK ‘Top 40’ for thirty weeks overall and had four additional chart runs after its initial debut. (Source: Official Charts Company (UK) (May 2020)).
Versions
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56 versions
Image | , | – | In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory | Version Details | Data Quality | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Ensign – ENVY 3 | UK | 1978 | UK — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mulligan – LUN 026 | Ireland | 1978 | Ireland — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP | WEA – IR 58281 | Ireland | 1978 | Ireland — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP | Mercury – 6310 954 | Scandinavia | 1978 | Scandinavia — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mercury – SRM-1-3751, Ensign – SRM-1-3751 | Canada | 1978 | Canada — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Stereo | Mercury – 6310 954 | Netherlands | 1978 | Netherlands — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Stereo, Green Labels | Ensign – ENVY 3 | UK | 1978 | UK — 1978 | ||||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Stereo | Mercury – 6310 954 | Germany | 1978 | Germany — 1978 | ||||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mercury – 6310 954, Ensign – 6310 954 | New Zealand | 1978 | New Zealand — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mercury – 6310 954 | Australia | 1978 | Australia — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops Cassette, Album | Ensign – ENCAS 003, Ensign – ENCAS 3 | UK | 1978 | UK — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP | Mercury – 6310 954 | Portugal | 1978 | Portugal — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Stereo | Mercury – 9102 802 | France | 1978 | France — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mercury – RJ-7518 | Japan | 1978 | Japan — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Stereo | Mercury – 6310 954 | Greece | 1978 | Greece — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mercury – 63 10 954 | Spain | 1978 | Spain — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops Cassette, Album | Columbia – PCT 35750 | US | 1978 | US — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Stereo, Green Labels | Ensign – ENVY 3 | UK | 1978 | UK — 1978 | ||||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Promo | Mercury – RJ-7518 | Japan | 1978 | Japan — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mercury – SRM-1-3751, Ensign – SRM-1-3751 | Canada | 1978 | Canada — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops Cassette, Album | Mercury – 7109 402 | Germany | 1978 | Germany — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mercury – 6310954 | Israel | 1978 | Israel — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Green Labels | Mercury – 6310 954 | Portugal | 1978 | Portugal — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP | Mercury – 6310 954 | Scandinavia | 1978 | Scandinavia — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops Cassette, Album, Stereo | Mercury – 7109 402 | Australia | 1978 | Australia — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo | Mercury – 6310 954 | Greece | 1978 | Greece — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops 8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo | Mercury – MC8-1-3751 | Canada | 1978 | Canada — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops Cassette, Album, Stereo | Mercury – 7109 402 | Norway | 1978 | Norway — 1978 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Promo, Terre Haute Pressing | Columbia – JC 35750 | US | 1979 | US — 1979 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Columbia – JC 35750 | US | 1979 | US — 1979 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops 8-Track Cartridge, Album | Columbia – JCA 35750 | US | 1979 | US — 1979 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Mercury – STAR 5065 | South Africa | 1979 | South Africa — 1979 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Stereo, Santa Maria Pressing | Columbia – JC 35750, Columbia – 35750 | US | 1979 | US — 1979 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Stereo, Pitman Prpessing | Columbia – JC 35750 | US | 1979 | US — 1979 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Columbia – JC 35750 | US | 1979 | US — 1979 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album | Phonogram – 9102802 | UK | 1980 | UK — 1980 | ||||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops Cassette, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release | MC (9) – MC 5669 | South East Asia | 1980 | South East Asia — 1980 | ||||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops LP, Album, Reissue | Mercury – PRICE 58 | UK | 1983 | UK — 1983 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops Cassette, Album, Reissue | Mercury – PRIMC 58, Mercury – 7231 502 | UK | 1983 | UK — 1983 | New Submission | |||
![]() | A Tonic For The Troops CD, Album, Reissue | Columbia – CK 35750 | US | 1989 | US — 1989 | New Submission |
Recommendations
Reviews
- Just wondering why some copies have track listings on the back, & some don't...??? Green label is definitely the first UK pressing, so my theory is that it was initially forgotten & then added later. It probably wasn't worth the while changing it on many of the foreign pressings as they wouldn't have shifted enough copies. Anyone got any ideas about this?
- Different track order than the vinyl pressings and later cds. I think the only other format to feature this order is the cassette (at least the German pressing).
- I have a very cryptic edition of this. It's signed "all the best, R. Oakley" on the front (?) and has "yaemo" on the back in marker five times 😂 Interested to know the story behind it, probably just someone messing around?
referencing A Tonic For The Troops (LP, Album) ENVY 3
I wonder if perhaps this band ended up being over-shadowed by Bob's political activism? Their debut eponymous album showed many signs or promise with some great songs, albeit being a little raw around the edges.
This second album retains the drive, energy and humour of the first, with a much more polished sound and 'complete' feel to it.
Put aside any bias of 'the persona of Bob' - this definitely stands the test of time and well worth a listen.referencing A Tonic For The Troops (LP, Album) RJ-7518
order of the songs is wrong here, on mine Like Clockwork is A1.
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