Maps of Music

New Values (1979)

Where the lyrics of New Values take you, and where it was really made.

New Values was Iggy Pop's first solo album made without David Bowie, and it reached only number 180 on the Billboard 200 despite strong critical reception.

Key places

Recorded at Paramount in Hollywood (1979)

Recording site Paramount Studios — The recording location listed for New Values is Paramount in Hollywood, California. The source gives no exact session dates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• New Values: third solo album by American musician Iggy Pop
• Released April 27, 1979 by Arista
• Reached number 60 on the UK albums chart and number 180 on the Billboard 200
• Pop's first solo effort made without the involvement of David Bowie

Background

• Pop's first record for Arista
• First collaboration by Pop and James Williamson since Kill City
• Reunited Pop and Williamson with multi-instrumentalist Scott Thurston
• Thurston had played live piano for the Stooges on Metallic K.O. and Kill City

Recording

• Williamson played guitar on "Don't Look Down"; Thurston played guitar on all other tracks
• Williamson concentrated on production
• One song was written by Pop and Williamson; five tracks were collaborations between Pop and Thurston
• Production assistance by Lloyd Malan; engineering and mixing by Peter Haden
• Recording location listed as Paramount in Hollywood

Cover

• Sleeve design and art direction by Paul Henry
• Sleeve photography by Trevor Rogers; sleeve graphics by Graphyk

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• James Newell Osterberg Jr., born April 21, 1947 in Muskegon, Michigan, known as Iggy Pop.
• Began as drummer in Ann Arbor high school bands, including the Iguanas and the Prime Movers, where he got the nickname "Iggy".
• Formed the Psychedelic Stooges with Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander; he became the lead vocalist, nicknamed "Pop".
• Signed with Elektra Records in 1968, following the Doors.

Members

• Original Stooges lineup: Iggy Pop (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar), Scott Asheton (drums), Dave Alexander (bass).
• Later lineup included James Williamson (guitar) and Scott Thurston; the band reunited with Mike Watt and Steve Mackay in 2003-2005.

Career

• The Stooges' albums sold poorly, but they became known for confrontational live performances, including self-mutilation and stage-diving.
• Raw Power (1973) became influential on the Sex Pistols, the Smiths and Nirvana.
• Solo debut with David Bowie: The Idiot and Lust for Life (1977), with Bowie producing; "China Girl" was later a hit for Bowie in 1983.
• Only Top 40 US hit "Candy" (1990), a duet with Kate Pierson of the B-52's.
• "Lust for Life" was featured in the film Trainspotting (1996).
• The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010; Pop received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
• Also an actor and voice performer in films and television, and hosts the radio show Iggy Confidential on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• NME writer Paul Morley wrote that the album conclusively endorsed Osterberg as thinker and Iggy as performer
• The New York Times judged the album "bland" next to the earlier David Bowie-produced records
• PopMatters critic Charlotte Robinson described the album as a balance of toughness and tenderness, and called it a winner

Reappraisal

• Critics received the album well overall, and the mixed view of the New York Times stands out against that

Records

• Reached number 60 on the UK albums chart
• Reached number 180 on the US Billboard 200
• Was not a commercial success despite its critical reception

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Videos were made for "I'm Bored" and "Five Foot One".
• David Bowie covered "Don't Look Down" on his 1984 album Tonight and used it for the opening and closing titles of his short film Jazzin' for Blue Jean.
• Pixies frontman Frank Black cited New Values as one of his favorite albums.
• "The Endless Sea" was covered by the Australian psychedelic rock band the Church on their 1999 covers album A Box of Birds.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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