The Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette

This is the punk band per excellence and probably the best quality one. With this LP they revealed themselves as "something more" than a punk band with the ability to give their compositions a more elaborate musical touch than the Sex Pistols or the Ramones themselves.
Captain Sensible plays the guitar very well and masters the guitar pedals to achieve different effects that go beyond the typical distortion plus chorus or reverb. There is more musical richness in the compositions without losing a bit of the strength, the grit and the madness that they had inside. The bass work is tremendous and Vanian's vocals sound as always soaring.
The production is poor as befits similar punk albums of the time but it sounds dirty and messy, which gives it its charm.
A great album from the band whose Police drummer Copeland claimed to have taken Sting to a Damned gig to learn what rock was all about, once he saw that he couldn't get out of the jazz chords he had mastered.

Fantastic pressing. My favourite studio album by The Damned. Contains so many excellent songs (love the thrash-iness of side one). I read so many negative reviews of current re-issues/ re-presses/ re-mixes, and with current new album prices somewhere in the mid £20's why not just buy an old copy like this? It sounds superb and can be picked up for pretty much the same price as a new one (you are buying a piece of history too). I go for second hand whenever I can (although obviously some of the ridiculous prices charged for some mean that it's not always a realistic option for me). Just my thaughts.....

The track Smash It Up (Part 1) was written by Captain Sensible as a tribute to the late great Marc Bolan.

Bolan had taken The Damned on his final UK tour (Dandy In The Underworld) in early 1977, and by all accounts were very impressed with how they were treated.

The last gig at the Portsmouth Locarno on the 20th of March, ended up with a jam session of Get It On featuring both bands.

Mine sounds great. Can’t imagine the super expensive reissues sounding THAT much better. Happy with the sound especially for the pricepoint.

Could be a lot better, I wish it wasn’t as flat as it is

This appears to be the wrong cover artwork. It should be the Damned text only cover.

I agree pretty flat pressing not horrible but not stunning either by no means ,but will work for now being this is my only copy

Horrible cover reproduction, sound as flat as numeric...deceptive repress. Avoid.

I am the owner of Number 010, Great album, i prefer their Goth stuff, but still awesome.

I got the Damned's debut (yellow vinyl) and Machine Gun Etiquette both from Drastic Plastic Recs. Both sounds AMAZING! Great quality in cover and inner sleeves also. Highly recommended reissue from this Damned's masterpiece!