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{{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 dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox album
{{about||the band of the same name|Skellington (band)|the character in The Nightmare Before Christmas|Jack Skellington}}
| name = Skellington
{{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = Skellington
| type = studio
| Type = studio
| artist = [[Julian Cope]]
| Artist = [[Julian Cope]]
| cover = Skellington.jpg
| Cover = Skellington.jpg
| alt =
| released = November 1989
| Released = March 1990<ref>[https://www.headheritage.co.uk/julian_cope/storyofthedrude/ Head Heritage - Story of the Drude] Retrieved 31 January 2017</ref>
| Recorded = April 1989
| recorded = April 1989
| Genre = [[Neo-psychedelia]]
| 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>
| Length = 28:06
| Label = Zippo
| genre = [[Neo-psychedelia]]
| Producer = [[Julian Cope]]
| length = 28:06
| label = {{hlist|CopeCo|Zippo}}
| Last album = ''[[My Nation Underground]]''<br />(1988)
| producer = [[Julian Cope]]
| This album = '''''Skellington'''''<br />(1990)
| prev_title = [[My Nation Underground]]
| Next album = ''[[Droolian]]''<br />(1990)
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = [[Droolian]]
| next_year = 1990
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
|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>
|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>
'''''Skellington''''' is the fifth solo album by [[Julian Cope]].


''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''.<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>


== 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).
''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.
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 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''. ''Skellington 2'' was, like its predecessor, recorded in just two days on April 21-22, 1993. ''The Skellington Chronicles'' was re-released as ''Ye Skellington Chronicles'' in 1999 with a different track listing.
== Track listing ==
== Track listing ==
{{tracklist
{{tracklist
Line 41: Line 47:
| length3 = 1:27
| length3 = 1:27
| title4 = Robert Mitchum
| title4 = Robert Mitchum
| writer4 = Cope, [[Ian McCulloch]]
| writer4 = Cope, [[Ian McCulloch (singer)|Ian McCulloch]]
| length4 = 2:39
| length4 = 2:39
| title5 = Out of My Mind on Dope and Speed
| title5 = Out of My Mind on Dope and Speed
Line 62: Line 68:
}}
}}


== Personnel ==
=== ''The Skellington Chronicles'' (1993 Ma-Gog) ===
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>
{{tracklist
| headline = Skellington 1
| title1 = Doomed
| length1 = 3:38
| title2 = Beaver
| length2 = 2:27
| title3 = Me and Jimmy Jones
| length3 = 1:27
| title4 = Robert Mitchum
| writer4 = Cope, 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
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Skellington 2
| title13 = Electrical Stormgirl
| length13 = 1:48
| title14 = Poppins
| length14 = 1:36
| title15 = Skip
| length15 = 1:29
| title16 = I've Got My T.V. And My Pills
| length16 = 1:37
| title17 = The Angel & The Fellatress
| length17 = 3:54
| title18 = Waco-Pops
| length18 = 1:35
| title19 = Common Land At Water's Edge
| length19 = 2:27
| title20 = Scud-U-Like
| length20 = 0:44
| title21 = Grimreaper Is A Krautrocker
| writer21 = Cope, Rooster Cosby, [[Donald Ross Skinner]]
| length21 = 8:29
| title22 = American Tragedy
| length22 = 1:17
| title23 = Wayland's Smithy Has Wings
| length23 = 1:31
| title24 = Madonna Baglady Blues
| length24 = 4:38
| title25 = London Underground
| length25 = 1:59
| total_length = 61:36
}}


=== ''Ye Skellington Chronicles'' (1999 Head Heritage) ===
{{tracklist
| headline = Skellington 1
| title1 = Doomed
| length1 = 3:38
| title2 = Beaver
| length2 = 2:27
| title3 = Me and Jimmy Jones
| length3 = 1:27
| title4 = Robert Mitchum
| writer4 = Cope, 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
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Skellington 2
| title13 = Electrical Stormgirl
| length13 = 1:48
| title14 = Poppins
| length14 = 1:36
| title15 = Skip
| length15 = 1:29
| title16 = I've Got My T.V. And My Pills
| length16 = 1:37
| title17 = The Angel & The Fellatress
| length17 = 3:54
| title18 = Waco-Pops
| length18 = 1:35
| title19 = Common Land At Water's Edge
| length19 = 2:27
| title20 = Scud-U-Like
| length20 = 0:44
| title21 = American Tragedy
| length21 = 1:17
| title22 = Wayland's Smithy Has Wings
| length22 = 1:31
| title23 = Madonna Baglady Blues
| length23 = 4:38
| title24 = London Underground
| length24 = 1:59
}}

{{tracklist
| headline = Bonus tracks
| title25 = Skellington Anti-Polltax Live In Lambeth, England (Medley)
| length25 = 5:01
| title26 = Trampolene
| note26 = ([[hidden track]])
| length26 = 6:52
| total_length = 65:00
}}
*"Skellington Anti-Polltax Live In Lambeth, England (Medley)" was recorded at Brixton Fridge, May 1990.
*The track "Grimreaper Is A Krautrocker" from ''The Skellington Chronicles'' is not included on ''Ye Skellington Chronicles''.

== Personnel ==
;Skellington
*Julian Cope - vocals, acoustic guitar, producer ''(also performed pseudonymously as "Double DeHarrison" playing piano and "surf organ")''
*Julian Cope - vocals, acoustic guitar, producer ''(also performed pseudonymously as "Double DeHarrison" playing piano and "surf organ")''
*[[Donald Ross Skinner]] - electric guitar, piano, organ
*[[Donald Ross Skinner]] - electric guitar, piano, organ
Line 199: Line 76:
*[[Hugo Nicolson]] - engineer, mixing, horns
*[[Hugo Nicolson]] - engineer, mixing, horns
*Donato Cinicolo - photography
*Donato Cinicolo - photography
;Skellington 2
*Julian Cope - vocals, guitar, bass, producer
*[[Donald Ross Skinner]] - keyboards, guitar, bass on "Poppins", drums on "Skip" & "The Angel & The Fellatress"
*Mark "Rooster" Cosby - drums, saxophone, guitar
*Luke Tunney - trumpet
*Shaun Harvey - engineer, mixing, keyboards on "Grimreaper Is A Krautrocker"
*Donato Cinicolo - photography
*Rob Carter - design, artwork


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}



==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.discogs.com/Julian-Cope-The-Skellington-Chronicles/release/388002 ''The Skellington Chronicles'' on Discogs.com]
*[https://www.discogs.com/Julian-Cope-Skellington/release/488267 ''Skellington'' on Discogs.com]


{{Julian Cope}}


{{Julian Cope}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:1989 albums]]
[[Category:Julian Cope albums]]
[[Category:Julian Cope 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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