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{{about||the band of the same name|Skellington (band)|the character in The Nightmare Before Christmas|Jack Skellington}}
{{about||the band of the same name|Skellington (band)|the character in The Nightmare Before Christmas|Jack Skellington}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Skellington
| type = studio
| artist = [[Julian Cope]]
| cover = Skellington.jpg
| alt =
| released = November 1989
| recorded = April 1989
| venue =
| studio = [[Townhouse Studios|Townhouse 3]], [[London]]<ref name=headonrepossessed>{{cite book | author=Cope, Julian | title=Head-On/Repossessed | publisher=Thorsons Publishers. p. 173. | year=1999 | isbn=0-7225-3882-0}}</ref>
| genre = [[Neo-psychedelia]]
| length = 28:06
| label = {{hlist|CopeCo|Zippo}}
| producer = [[Julian Cope]]
| prev_title = [[My Nation Underground]]
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = [[Droolian]]
| next_year = 1990
}}
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
|rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |first=Ned |last=Raggett |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r213515|pure_url=yes}}|title=Skellington |publisher=Allmusic |date= |accessdate=7 October 2012}}</ref>
}}


'''''Skellington''''' is the fifth solo album by [[Julian Cope]], released in November 1989<ref>{{cite book|last1=Binnie|first1=Steve|date= 2014|title=The Sound Of The Crowd - a Discography of the '80s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JQ8ZCAAAQBAJ&q=julian+cope+skellington+november+1989&pg=PA80|publisher=[[Lulu.com]]|isbn=9781326073589|accessdate=19 March 2018|edition=Third }}</ref> as a semi-official bootleg for fan club members only. Originally released on Cope's own CopeCo label, it was later reissued in March 1990 through Zippo Records.<ref>{{cite web | title=Story of the Drude| publisher=Julian Cope presents Head Heritage | url=http://www.headheritage.co.uk/julian_cope/storyofthedrude/| accessdate=19 March 2018}}</ref>
{{Infobox album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
Name = Skellington |
Type = [[Album]] |
Artist = [[Julian Cope]] |
Cover = Skellington.jpg |
Released = 1989 |
Recorded = |
Genre = [[Indie rock]] |
Length = |6:00 mins


''Skellington'' was expanded with the addition of a sequel ''Skellington 2: He's Back ... and this time it's personal'' and released in 1993 as ''[[The Skellington Chronicles]]''.
Label = Zippo Records |
Producer = [[Julian Cope]] |
Reviews =
*[[Allmusic]] {{Rating|3.5|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r213515/review|pure_url=yes}} link]
|
Last album = ''[[My Nation Underground]]'' <br />(1988) |
This album = '''''Skellington ''''' <br />(1989) |
Next album = ''[[Droolian]]''<br />(1990) |}}


In 2018, Cope released a third installment, ''Skellington 3''.<ref>{{cite web | title=Julian Cope - Skellington 3| publisher=Julian Cope presents Head Heritage | url=https://www.headheritage.co.uk/skellington-3/| accessdate=6 May 2018}}</ref>
'''''Skellington''''' is the fifth solo album by [[Julian Cope]].


==Background==
== Background ==
''Skellington'' was recorded in just two days in April 1989. It was inspired by Cope's frustration with the work on his 1988 album ''[[My Nation Underground]]'', which he had lost faith in even as he completed it. The two-day session used the same studio setup as the prior album but an entirely different approach. In contrast to the multiple overdubs, 1980s pop stylings and army of backing singers used on ''[[My Nation Underground]]'', ''Skellington''’s sound was extremely skeletal, mainly acoustic, and sparsely orchestrated by Cope in association with his two main collaborators – [[Donald Ross Skinner]] (guitar, piano, organ) and Rooster Cosby (percussion, brass).


At the time, Cope was signed to [[Island Records]], who were not interested in releasing ''Skellington''. This led to Cope releasing it via his own label Copeco, and later expanding the release via a deal with the independent Zippo Records label. When Island insisted that ''Skellington'' was illegal and should be withdrawn due to their contract with Cope, the artist refused and defiantly released yet another similar album (''Droolian'') just two months later. Eventually, the Island directors relented, and both records were allowed to continue in production.
''Skellington'' was recorded in just two days at the end of the sessions for Cope's 1988 album ''[[My Nation Underground]]''. It was inspired by Cope's frustration with the work on ''[[My Nation Underground]]'', which he had lost faith in even as he completed it. The two-day session used the same studio setup as the prior album but an entirely different approach. In contrast to the multiple overdubs, 1980s pop stylings and army of backing singers used on ''[[My Nation Underground]]'' , ''Skellington'''s sound was extremely skeletal, mainly acoustic, and sparsely orchestrated by Cope in association with his two main collaborators - [[Donald Ross Skinner]] (organ, piano, keyboards) and Rooster Cosby (percussion, brass).


== Track listing ==
At the time, Cope was signed to [[Island Records]], who were not interested in releasing ''Skellington''. This led to Cope releasing it via his own label Copeco, and later expanding the release via a deal with the independent Zippo Records label. When Island insisted that ''Skellington'' was illegal and should be withdrawn due to their contract with Cope, the artist refused and defiantly released yet another similar album (''Droolian'') just two months later. Eventually, the Island directors relented, and both records were allowed to continue in production.
{{tracklist
| all_writing = [[Julian Cope]], except where noted
| title1 = Doomed
| length1 = 3:38
| title2 = Beaver
| length2 = 2:27
| title3 = Me and Jimmy Jones
| length3 = 1:27
| title4 = Robert Mitchum
| writer4 = Cope, [[Ian McCulloch (singer)|Ian McCulloch]]
| length4 = 2:39
| title5 = Out of My Mind on Dope and Speed
| length5 = 3:26
| title6 = Don't Crash Here
| length6 = 0:56
| title7 = Everything Playing at Once
| length7 = 1:29
| title8 = Little Donkey
| length8 = 2:41
| title9 = Great White Wonder
| length9 = 2:10
| title10 = Incredibly Ugly Girl
| length10 = 3:01
| title11 = No How, No Why, No Way, No Where, No When
| length11 = 1:56
| title12 = Commin' Soon
| length12 = 2:16
| total_length = 28:06
}}


== Personnel ==
'''''Skellington''''' was later expanded with the addition of a sequel '''''Skellington 2: He's Back ... and this time it's personal''''', and re-released as ''Ye Skellington Chronicles'' (1993).
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name=LN>{{cite AV media notes|title=Skellington|type=CD liner notes|others=[[Julian Cope]]|publisher=CopeCo|year=1989}}</ref>


*Julian Cope - vocals, acoustic guitar, producer ''(also performed pseudonymously as "Double DeHarrison" playing piano and "surf organ")''
==Track listing==
*[[Donald Ross Skinner]] - electric guitar, piano, organ
*Mark "Rooster" Cosby - drums, percussion, horns
*[[Hugo Nicolson]] - engineer, mixing, horns
*Donato Cinicolo - photography


== References ==
All tracks composed by Julian Cope
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
#"Doomed"
*[https://www.discogs.com/Julian-Cope-Skellington/release/488267 ''Skellington'' on Discogs.com]
#"Beaver"
#"Me and Jimmy Jones"
#"Robert Mitchum"
#"Out of My Mind on Dope and Speed"
#"Don't Crash Here"
#"Everything Playing at Once"
#"Little Donkey"
#"Great White Wonder"
#"Incredibly Ugly Girl"
#"No How, No Why, No Way, No Where, No When"
#"Comin' Soon"

==Personnel==
*Julian Cope - vocals, guitar, piano, organ
*Rooster Cosby - drums, percussion, brass
*[[Donald Ross Skinner]] - organ, piano
*[[Hugo Nicolson]] - engineer
*Donato Cinicolo - photography


{{Julian Cope}}


{{Authority control}}
{{1980s-indie-rock-album}}


[[Category:1989 albums]]
[[Category:1989 albums]]

Latest revision as of 20:42, 15 November 2022

For the band of the same name, see Skellington (band). For the character in The Nightmare Before Christmas, see Jack Skellington.

Skellington
Studio album by
Julian Cope
ReleasedNovember 1989
RecordedApril 1989
StudioTownhouse 3, London[1]
GenreNeo-psychedelia
Length28:06
Label
  • CopeCo
  • Zippo
ProducerJulian Cope
Julian Cope chronology
My Nation Underground
(1988) 		Skellington
(1989) 		Droolian
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]

Skellington is the fifth solo album by Julian Cope, released in November 1989[3] as a semi-official bootleg for fan club members only. Originally released on Cope's own CopeCo label, it was later reissued in March 1990 through Zippo Records.[4]

Skellington was expanded with the addition of a sequel Skellington 2: He's Back ... and this time it's personal and released in 1993 as The Skellington Chronicles.

In 2018, Cope released a third installment, Skellington 3.[5]

Background

[edit]

Skellington was recorded in just two days in April 1989. It was inspired by Cope's frustration with the work on his 1988 album My Nation Underground, which he had lost faith in even as he completed it. The two-day session used the same studio setup as the prior album but an entirely different approach. In contrast to the multiple overdubs, 1980s pop stylings and army of backing singers used on My Nation Underground, Skellington’s sound was extremely skeletal, mainly acoustic, and sparsely orchestrated by Cope in association with his two main collaborators – Donald Ross Skinner (guitar, piano, organ) and Rooster Cosby (percussion, brass).

At the time, Cope was signed to Island Records, who were not interested in releasing Skellington. This led to Cope releasing it via his own label Copeco, and later expanding the release via a deal with the independent Zippo Records label. When Island insisted that Skellington was illegal and should be withdrawn due to their contract with Cope, the artist refused and defiantly released yet another similar album (Droolian) just two months later. Eventually, the Island directors relented, and both records were allowed to continue in production.

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Julian Cope, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Doomed" 3:38
2."Beaver" 2:27
3."Me and Jimmy Jones" 1:27
4."Robert Mitchum"Cope, Ian McCulloch2:39
5."Out of My Mind on Dope and Speed" 3:26
6."Don't Crash Here" 0:56
7."Everything Playing at Once" 1:29
8."Little Donkey" 2:41
9."Great White Wonder" 2:10
10."Incredibly Ugly Girl" 3:01
11."No How, No Why, No Way, No Where, No When" 1:56
12."Commin' Soon" 2:16
Total length:28:06

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[6]

  • Julian Cope - vocals, acoustic guitar, producer (also performed pseudonymously as "Double DeHarrison" playing piano and "surf organ")
  • Donald Ross Skinner - electric guitar, piano, organ
  • Mark "Rooster" Cosby - drums, percussion, horns
  • Hugo Nicolson - engineer, mixing, horns
  • Donato Cinicolo - photography

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cope, Julian (1999). Head-On/Repossessed. Thorsons Publishers. p. 173. ISBN 0-7225-3882-0.
  2. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Skellington". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  3. ^ Binnie, Steve (2014). The Sound Of The Crowd - a Discography of the '80s (Third ed.). Lulu.com. ISBN 9781326073589. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Story of the Drude". Julian Cope presents Head Heritage. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Julian Cope - Skellington 3". Julian Cope presents Head Heritage. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  6. ^ Skellington (CD liner notes). Julian Cope. CopeCo. 1989.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
[edit]
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