Maps of Music

Soldier (1980)

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

Glen Matlock claimed the lead guitar was stripped from the final mix after a dispute involving David Bowie, and the lack of lead guitar has been debated ever since.

Key places

Recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales (1980)

Recording site Rockfield Studios — Discogs lists Rockfield Studios in Wales as the recording location for Soldier. The Portuguese Wikipedia article also states the album was recorded there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Soldier: fourth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop
• Released February 1980 by Arista Records
• Iggy Pop collaborated with ex-Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock on the album
• Peaked at number 125 on the Billboard charts
• Videos made for "Loco Mosquito", "Knocking 'Em Down (In the City)" and "Dog Food"

Background

• James Williamson, a former member of The Stooges, was originally hired to produce the album
• A conflict between Williamson and David Bowie over recording techniques led Williamson to walk out of the project
• Bowie was assisting as a friend of Pop
• Williamson later said he was very unhappy with the whole experience

Recording

• Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales
• Mastered at the Record Plant, New York City
• Bowie and Simple Minds provide backing vocals on "Play It Safe"
• The lack of lead guitar on the final mix has been debated and criticized by Glen Matlock
• Matlock claims the lead guitar was stripped after Bowie was punched by Steve New for hitting on Steve's girlfriend of that time, Patti Palladin

Cover

• Sleeve design credited to Brian Griffin/Rocking Russian

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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

• Rolling Stone: David Fricke reviewed the album positively, calling attention to Iggy Pop's successful weathering of his own self-destructive persona
• Fricke wrote that the album is a hard-fought battle in a war that Iggy Pop is determined to win
• Critical reception described as mixed-to-favorable overall

Reappraisal

• PopMatters: Charlotte Robinson, in a retrospective review, wrote that instead of a punk masterpiece, the album turned out to be an uneven and sometimes plain silly recording

Records

• Billboard charts: peaked at number 125
• Released February 1980 by Arista Records

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album's lead guitar absence on the final mix was criticized by Glen Matlock, who said Pop mixed out Steve New's part because he bore a grudge.
• Williamson said the final straw was when the group was recording Soldier and the material was not there.
• Simple Minds and David Bowie both provide backing vocals on "Play It Safe".
• The 1991 Arista CD reissue and specific regions used an alternate track order.
• Iggy Pop's biography by Paul Trynka, Open Up and Bleed, is listed as a reference for the album.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact