Tracklist
| Mysterons | 4:56 | ||
| Sour Times | 4:05 | ||
| Strangers | 3:49 | ||
| It Could Be Sweet | 4:10 | ||
| Wandering Star | 4:46 | ||
| Numb | 3:43 | ||
| Roads | 4:56 | ||
| Pedestal | 3:30 | ||
| Biscuit | 4:34 | ||
| Glory Box | 4:49 |
Credits (13)
Adrian UtleyBass
Clive DeamerDrums
Geoff BarrowElectric Piano [Rhodes]
Dave Mc Donald*Engineer- Adrian UtleyGuitar
Fruit (8)Management
Notes
Winner of the 1995 Mercury Music Prize.
Following the initial issue, there were Australian, American & Euro releases with an additional track "It's A Fire" inserted between "Wandering Star" & "Numb" [e.g. 828 553 vs the earlier 828 522 issues]. On vinyl, "It's A Fire" is listed as an additional track only on the Greek edition of the album. Some later issues also include the remix "Sour Sour Times" plus the "To Kill A Dead Man" track (from the film which led to Portishead's record contract and the cover image used on "Dummy").
For "Glory Box", most booklets claim Isaac Hayes' "Ikes Rap III" as sample source, but actually it's a sample from "Ikes Rap II" that is used (the same sample Tricky used on "Hell Is Round the Corner").
Track 2 contains samples from Lalo Schifrin's "Danube Incident" a percussion sample from Smokey Brooks' "Spin-It Jig".
Track 3 contains samples Weather Report's "Elegant People".
Track 5 contains samples from Eric Burdon & War's "Magic Mountain"
Track 9 contains samples from Johnnie Ray's "I'll Never Fall In Love Again"
Track 10 contains samples from Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap II".
Following the initial issue, there were Australian, American & Euro releases with an additional track "It's A Fire" inserted between "Wandering Star" & "Numb" [e.g. 828 553 vs the earlier 828 522 issues]. On vinyl, "It's A Fire" is listed as an additional track only on the Greek edition of the album. Some later issues also include the remix "Sour Sour Times" plus the "To Kill A Dead Man" track (from the film which led to Portishead's record contract and the cover image used on "Dummy").
For "Glory Box", most booklets claim Isaac Hayes' "Ikes Rap III" as sample source, but actually it's a sample from "Ikes Rap II" that is used (the same sample Tricky used on "Hell Is Round the Corner").
Track 2 contains samples from Lalo Schifrin's "Danube Incident" a percussion sample from Smokey Brooks' "Spin-It Jig".
Track 3 contains samples Weather Report's "Elegant People".
Track 5 contains samples from Eric Burdon & War's "Magic Mountain"
Track 9 contains samples from Johnnie Ray's "I'll Never Fall In Love Again"
Track 10 contains samples from Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap II".
Versions
Filter by
151 versions
| Image | , | – | In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory | Version Details | Data Quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dummy LP, Album | Go! Beat – 828 522-1 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album | Go! Beat – 828 522-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Stereo, PMDC, Germany | Go! Beat – 828 553 - 2, Go! Beat – 828 553-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album | Go! Beat – 828 553-4 | India | 1994 | India — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album | Go! Beat – 828 522-4 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album | Go! Beat – 828 553-2, Polydor – 828 553-2 | Australasia | 1994 | Australasia — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Digipak | Go! Beat – 828 553-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Promo | Go! Discs – PRCD 6871-2, London Records – PRCD 6871-2, Go! Beat – PRCD 6871-2 | US | 1994 | US — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album | Go! Beat – 422 828 553 4, Go! Discs – 422 828 553 4 | Canada | 1994 | Canada — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Unofficial Release | Go! Beat – 828 55 -2 | Bulgaria | 1994 | Bulgaria — 1994 | Needs Changes | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Club Edition | Go! Discs – P2 28553, Go! Beat – 422 828 553-2 | Canada | 1994 | Canada — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album | Go! Beat – 828 522-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Stereo | Go! Beat – 828 522-2, Go! Beat – 828 522-1 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album, Dolby System | London Records – 422 828 553 4, Go! Discs – 422 828 553 4 | US | 1994 | US — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album | Go! Beat – 828 522-2, Go! Beat – 828 522-1 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, PMDC, France | Go! Beat – 828 553 - 2, Go! Beat – 828 553-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album, Promo, 35, CrO₂, Dolby HX Pro, B NR | London Records – 422 828 553 4, Go! Discs – 422 828 553 4 | US | 1994 | US — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Stereo, PMDC, France | Go! Beat – 828 553-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy LP, Album, Test Pressing, Promo, White Label | Go! Beat – 828 522-1 | Greece | 1994 | Greece — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album | Go! Beat – 422 828 600-4, Go! Discs – 422 828 600-4 | Canada | 1994 | Canada — 1994 | New Submission | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, PMDC, USA Pressing | Go! Discs – 422-828 553-2, London Records – 422-828 553-2, Go! Beat – 422-828 553-2 | US | 1994 | US — 1994 | ||||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Unofficial Release | Go! Beat (2) – 828 553 - 2, Go! Beat – CD-234 | China | 1994 | China — 1994 | New Submission | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album, Unofficial Release | Poker Sound by Roton – 1829 | Romania | 1994 | Romania — 1994 | ||||
| Dummy CD, Album, Unofficial Release | Go! Discs (2) – 422-828 553-2, Go! Beat (2) – 422-828 553-2, London Records (3) – 422-828 553-2 | US | 1994 | US — 1994 | Recently Edited | ||||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album | Go! Beat – 828 522-4 | Thailand | 1994 | Thailand — 1994 | ||||
 | Dummy CD, Album, PMDC, USA | Go! Beat – 828 553 - 2, Go! Beat – 828 553-2, Go! Beat – 422-828 553-2, London Records – 422-828 553-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album | Go! Beat – 828 522-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album | Go! Beat – 828 553-4 | Malaysia | 1994 | Malaysia — 1994 | ||||
 | Dummy CD, Album | Go! Discs – 422-828 553-2, London Records – 422-828 553-2, Go! Beat – 422-828 553-2 | US | 1994 | US — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album | Go! Beat – 828 522 - 2 | UK | 1994 | UK — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Stereo, PMDC, France | Go! Beat – 828 553 - 2, Go! Beat – 828 553-2 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album | Go! Beat – 828553-4 | Thailand | 1994 | Thailand — 1994 | New Submission | |||
 | Dummy LP, Album, Misprint, First Press | Go! Beat – 828 522-1 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | ||||
 | Dummy Cassette, Album, Stereo, Clear Shell | London Records – 828553 | Chile | 1994 | Chile — 1994 | New Submission | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, PMDC, USA | Go! Discs – 422-828 553-2, London Records – 422-828 553-2, Go! Beat – 422-828 553-2 | US | 1994 | US — 1994 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Club Edition | Go! Discs – P2 28553, Go! Beat – 422 828 553-2 | Canada | 1994 | Canada — 1994 | New Submission | |||
 | Dummy LP, Album, Test Pressing | Go! Beat – 828522 | Europe | 1994 | Europe — 1994 | New Submission | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Stereo | Go! Beat – 828 553 - 2, Helicon Records – 828 553 - 2 | Israel | 1994 | Israel — 1994 | New Submission | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album, Promo | Go! Beat – POCD-1153 | Japan | 1994 | Japan — 1994 | New Submission | |||
 | Dummy CD, Album | Go! Beat – 828 553-2 | Indonesia | 1994 | Indonesia — 1994 | New Submission |
Recommendations
1972 UKVinyl —LP, Album, Stereo
Reviews
Edited 2 days agoreferencing Dummy (LP, Album, Reissue, 180 Gram) 828 522-1
Just listened to this for the first time on my vinyl and I it's easily the noisiest record I have as of now - not only the traditional sharp clicks and crackles and whatnot (sorry, English is not my mother's tongue), but also whoosh sound between the tracks that can be heard. But I read that they did it noisy on purpose, so I'll accept that as is and ask for more - check the album wiki page for more info on that.
It's pressed at rather low volume so you must turn your system quite up, making noises that more apparent. Also - some inconsistencies in volumes and bass volumes can be heard across the album - side B sounds louder.
All that said - best experience I had with this album, sounds very inviting and has good dynamics.
Edited 16 days agoThis is a lo-fi production and expecting an audiophile experience would be misleading. I noticed, the record is cut at a relatively lower volume. 49 mins spread across 2 sides meaning ~ 25 mins each side. Ideally you would want 15-20 mins each side. Cutting at a lower volume allows to keep the music more dynamic.
Once you crank up the volume, the record comes to life. The original mix for each of the songs vary which gives the impression that the EQ of overall album is inconsistent but it is still an enjoyable front to back experience. The key is to crank up the volume.
I couldn’t tell a difference between Spotify vs the vinyl mastering if that matters to anyone. On both formats, it sounded a bit flat and not so wide. Again, this could be very much due to the production style.
Also excellent artwork reproduction. One of the best from my entire reissue collections.- Matrix / Runout (Variant 3): 828 553 2 00 L7 1A
Mastering SID Code (Variant 3): IFPI L004
Mould SID Code (Variant 3): IFPI 0232 
I'm with the person directly below - if anyone has a copy they'd sell for <200 please PM me!- Edited one month ago
referencing Dummy (LP, Album, Reissue, 180 Gram) 828 522-1
One of the best records I possess! What a joy. I agree with the comments below. This album was meant to be heard on vinyl! 
referencing Dummy (LP, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo, Glossy Cover, Orange Marble Coloured Vinyl) 828 522-1
It honestly sounds really good for an unofficial release. Little to no surface noise.
I was never a huge fan of this album until I listened to it on vinyl.
This is definitely intended for vinyl listening - can't recommend it enough.
ISO of this for a decent price. Willing to pay $100- Edited 2 months ago
referencing Dummy (LP, Album, Reissue, 180 Gram) 828 522-1
The sound is good on this version: smooth and deep. This album is so enjoyable to listen from start to end. It's a shame the cover is so ugly (pixelated image and saturated colours). But the important thing is the sound, so it's not a big deal 😉. - Looking for a Blue or Translucent Blue if anyone has it!
Master Release
Edit Master Release
Correct
Correct
For sale on Discogs
Sell a copy1,189 copies from $0.68
Videos (14)
EditLists
- Listened by hipp-e
- Diary by drnick8
- Want by jester1014307
- Full Albums I've Heard by gregman1000
- Albums I like! by liorlich
- 329 albums you should hear (you don't have to like them all) by SirWinston
- The Top 3000 Records by Top3000Records
- To listen 2025 by mpark28
- Wishlist by karakara.tt
- Favorites by Mindaugas303
- Listened by Prisoneer
- My digital collection by ILoveRockAndRoll
- Listened by Chipzeeh
- Fear of Music by MemphisJay
- The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s (Pitchfork) by TwinPowerForce
- Bucket by Selecta-cut
- Original Cover - Tribute Cover by ksdfjsldfj
- 100 Favorite Albums of the 1990s by psychpunk
- Albums I'd Like to Listen To by the27thFalkon
- Unlimited Expansion by EB75