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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=February 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox album
{{notability|music|date=February 2015}}
| name = Penis Envy
| type = studio
| artist = [[Crass]]
| cover = Penisenvy.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1981
| recorded = December 1980
| venue =
| studio = [[Southern Studios]] <small>(Wood Green, London)</small>
| genre = [[Anarcho-punk]]
| length = 34:50
| label = [[Crass Records]]
| producer = [[Crass]]
| prev_title = [[Stations of the Crass]]
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = [[Christ – The Album]]
| next_year = 1982
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative covers
| type = studio
| cover = Crassical_Collection_Penis_Envy.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = Cover of the remastered 'Crassical Collection' rerelease
}}
}}

{{Infobox album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
Name = Penis Envy|
Type = [[Album]] |
Artist = [[Crass]] |
Cover = Penisenvy.jpg |
Released = 1981 |
Recorded = December, 1980|
Genre = [[Anarcho-punk]] |
Length = 32:50 |
Label = [[Crass Records]] |
Producer = [[Crass]] |
Last album = ''[[Stations of the Crass]]''<br/>(1979) |
This album = '''''Penis Envy'''''<br/>(1981) |
Next album = ''[[Christ – The Album]]''<br/>(1982)|
| Misc = {{Extra album cover
| Upper caption = Alternative covers
| Type = album
| Cover = Crassical_Collection_Penis_Envy.jpg
| Lower caption = Cover of the remastered 'Crassical Collection' rerelease
}}
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r34136|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
|rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AMG">[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r34136|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=Stations+of+the+Crass+crass+larkin&pg=PA392|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857125958|via=Google Books}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[Ox-Fanzine]]''
|rev3score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/penis-envy-78109|title=Review}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''
| rev4Score = {{rating|3|5|full=U+25A0.svg|empty=U+25A1.svg|rating=medal}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Finlay |first=Leo |date=October 1990 |title=Their Only Silver Discs |magazine=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |issue=4 |page=126}}</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
'''''Penis Envy''''', released in 1981, was the third LP by the [[Anarchism|anarchist]] [[Punk rock|punk]] band [[Crass]].
'''''Penis Envy''''', released in 1981, was the third LP by the [[Anarchism|anarchist]] [[Punk rock|punk]] band [[Crass]]. The album was included at #36 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'''s "40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time" list in 2016.<ref name="RS">{{cite web|last1=n/a (2016-04-16)|title=40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/40-greatest-punk-albums-of-all-time-20160406/crass-penis-envy-1981-20160406|website=rollingstone.com|date=6 April 2016|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=2017-05-12}}</ref>


The ''Crassical Collection'' version of this release, including new artwork by [[Gee Vaucher]], remastered sound, liner notes by [[Eve Libertine]] and [[Penny Rimbaud]] and bonus material, was released in November 2010.<ref name="EP">{{cite web|last1=n/a (2015-06-06)|title=The Crassical Collection: Penis Envy|url=http://www.eyeplug.net/magazine/the-crassical-collection-penis-envy-%E2%80%93-crass-southern/|website=eyeplug.net|publisher=Eyeplug|accessdate=2017-05-12}}</ref>
Named as a reference to some of [[Sigmund Freud|Freud]]'s [[Penis envy|ideas concerning sexuality]],<ref>Berger, George. [http://books.google.ca/books?id=gXKWUAIYcOsC&pg=PA198&dq=penis+envy+crass&hl=en&ei=Fxk7Te32Ao-tgQfP7ujiCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=penis%20envy%20crass&f=false ''The Story of Crass'']. PM Press. 2009.</ref> this release marked something of a departure from the somewhat 'macho', 'hardcore punk' image that ''[[The Feeding of the 5000 (album)|The Feeding of the 5000]]'' and its follow up, ''[[Stations of the Crass]]'', had to some extent given the group, for it featured more obviously complex musical arrangements, as well as exclusively female vocals by [[Eve Libertine]] and [[Joy De Vivre]] (although [[Steve Ignorant]] remained a group member and is credited on the record sleeve as "not on this recording").<ref>Raha, Maria. [http://books.google.ca/books?id=8-NGokpBxFcC&pg=PA67&dq=nancy+spungen&hl=en&ei=jPc6TZKnMoHAgQe5vvGuCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=nancy%20spungen&f=false ''Cinderella's big score: women of the punk and indie underground''] Seal Press. 2005.</ref> The album addressed [[Feminism|feminist]] issues and once again attacked the institutions of 'the system' such as [[marriage]] and [[sexual repression]].{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}


==Background and release==
One track, not actually listed on the album cover, was a deliberately saccharine (described in fact by the band themselves as "'pure, unadulterated shit") parody of a [[Middle of the road (music)|middle of the road]]" love song entitled "Our Wedding". This was given away as a [[flexi disc]] with a teenage girl's romance magazine called ''Loving'' after having been offered it by an organisation calling itself Creative Recording And Sound Services (note the initials). A minor [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] furore erupted once the [[hoax]] was revealed, with the ''[[News of the World]]'' going so far as to state that the album's title was "too obscene to print". (A leaflet giving the background to this [[Situationist International|Situationist]]-style prank was subsequently issued by the band).<ref>[http://www.southern.com/southern/label/CRC/leaflet3.html]</ref> Now considered a rarity, the original flexi-disc fetches high prices on the collectors' market.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
Named as a reference to some of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s [[Penis envy|ideas concerning sexuality]],<ref>Berger, George. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gXKWUAIYcOsC&dq=penis+envy+crass&pg=PA198 ''The Story of Crass'']. PM Press. 2009.</ref> this release marked something of a departure from the [[hardcore punk|hardcore]] image that ''[[The Feeding of the 5000 (album)|The Feeding of the 5000]]'' and its follow up, ''[[Stations of the Crass]]'', had to some extent given the group, for it featured more obviously complex musical arrangements, as well as exclusively female vocals by [[Eve Libertine]] and [[Joy De Vivre]] (although [[Steve Ignorant]] remained a group member and is credited on the record sleeve as "not on this recording").<ref>{{cite book|first=Maria|last=Raha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-NGokpBxFcC&dq=nancy+spungen&pg=PA67|title=Cinderella's Big Score: Women of the Punk and Indie Underground|publisher=Seal Press|location=New York City|date=2005|isbn=978-1580051163}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The album addressed [[Feminism|feminist]] issues and once again attacked the institutions of 'the system' such as [[marriage]] and [[sexual repression]].<ref name="TMT">{{cite web|last1=Diamond|first1=Samuel (2013-02-06)|title=Crass - Penis Envy|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/delorean/crass-penis-envy|website=tinymixtapes.com|publisher=Tiny Mix Tapes|accessdate=2017-05-12}}</ref>


One track, not actually listed on the album cover, was a deliberately saccharine (described in fact by the band themselves as "pure, unadulterated shit")<ref name="TMT"/> parody of a "[[Middle of the road (music)|middle of the road]]" love song entitled "Our Wedding". This was given away as a [[flexi disc]] with a teenage girl's romance magazine called ''Loving'' after having been offered it by an organisation calling itself '''C'''reative '''R'''ecording '''A'''nd '''S'''ound '''S'''ervices (a [[backronym]] of Crass). A minor [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] furore erupted once the [[hoax]] was revealed, with the ''[[News of the World]]'' going so far as to state that the album's title was "too obscene to print".<ref name="DM">{{cite web|last1=Schnieder|first1=Martin (2014-02-05)|title='Our Wedding': Crass's Magnificent Romance-Mag Prank|url=http://dangerousminds.net/comments/our_wedding_crasss_magnificent_romance_mag_prank|website=dangerousminds.net|date=5 February 2014|publisher=Dangerous Minds|accessdate=2017-05-12}}</ref> (A leaflet giving the background to this [[Situationist International|Situationist]]-style prank was subsequently issued by the band).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.southern.com/southern/label/CRC/leaflet3.html |title=Crass Records (Show leaflets) |access-date=2003-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030423014254/http://www.southern.com/southern/label/CRC/leaflet3.html |archive-date=2003-04-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Now considered a rarity, the original flexi-disc fetches high prices on the collectors' market.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
The album was banned by the retailer HMV. During the mid-1980s, [[Greater Manchester Police]] under the direction of [[James Anderton]] seized copies along with other records by Crass and the [[Dead Kennedys]], from Eastern Bloc record shop. Frank Schofield was charged with displaying "obscene articles for publication for gain". The band [[Flux of Pink Indians]], its two record labels and its publishing company were also charged under the [[Obscene Publications Act]]. The judge ruled against Crass in the ensuing court case, although this decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal, apart from the lyrics to one song, "Bata Motel". The heavy costs incurred by this episode were a contributing factor in Crass deciding to disband.<ref>Rimbaud, P; sleeve notes to ''The Crassical Collection; Ten Notes On A Summer's Day'', Crass Records, 2012</ref>


The album was banned by the retailer [[HMV]]. During the mid-1980s, [[Greater Manchester Police]] under the direction of [[James Anderton]] seized copies along with other records by Crass and the [[Dead Kennedys]], from Eastern Bloc record shop. Frank Schofield was charged with displaying "obscene articles for publication for gain". The band [[Flux of Pink Indians]], its two record labels and its publishing company were also charged under the [[Obscene Publications Act]]. The judge ruled against Crass in the ensuing court case, although this decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal, apart from the lyrics to one song, "Bata Motel". The heavy costs incurred by this episode were a contributing factor in Crass deciding to disband.<ref>Rimbaud, P; sleeve notes to ''The Crassical Collection; Ten Notes On A Summer's Day'', Crass Records, 2012</ref>
The ''Crassical Collection'' version of this release, including new artwork by [[Gee Vaucher]], remastered sound, liner notes by [[Eve Libertine]] and [[Penny Rimbaud]] and bonus material, was released in November 2010.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
#"Bata Motel" - 3:34
|headline = Side A
#"Systematic Death" - 3:57
|title1 = Bata Motel
#"Poison in a Pretty Pill" - 3:40
|length1 = 3:34
#"What the Fuck?" - 6:43
|title2 = Systematic Death
#"Where Next Columbus?" - 3:11
|length2 = 3:57
#"Berkertex Bribe" - 3:21
|title3 = Poison in a Pretty Pill
#"Smother Love" - 1:48
|length3 = 3:40
#"Health Surface" - 3:31
|title4 = What the Fuck?
#"Dry Weather" - 3:06
|length4 = 6:43
#"Our Wedding" (unlisted track, also released as a flexi disc (see above)) - 2:04
}}
#"Yorkie Talk" (compiled from archive material, Southern Studios, January 2009)*
{{Track listing
#"Yes, Folks" (collage of "Our Wedding"/''Loving'' hoax. Southern Studios, January 2009)*
|headline = Side B
#"The Unelected President" (rewrite/remix of "Major General Despair" - previously released on ''Peace Not War'', Southern Studios, Spring 2003)*
|title5 = Where Next Columbus?
|length5 = 3:11
|title6 = Berkertex Bribe
|length6 = 3:21
|title7 = Smother Love
|length7 = 1:48
|title8 = Health Surface
|length8 = 3:31
|title9 = Dry Weather
|length9 = 3:06
|title10 = Our Wedding
|length10 = 2:04
|note10 = unlisted track
}}
{{Track listing
|headline = ''The Crassical Collection'' edition bonus tracks
|extra_column = Recorded
|title11 = Yorkie Talk
|length11 = 2:32
|note11 = compiled from archived material
|extra11 = Southern Studios, January 2009
|title12 = Yes, Folks
|note12 = sound collage
|extra12 = Southern Studios, January 2009
|length12 = 3:21
|title13 = The Unelected President
|extra13 = Southern Studios, Spring 2003
|note13 = remix/rewrite of "Major General Despair", previously released as "Peace Not War"
|length13 = 5:13
}}


==Personnel==
*''Crassical Collection'' bonus tracks.
*[[Eve Libertine]] - vocals

*[[Joy De Vivre]] - vocals on "Health Surface"
== Line up ==
#[[Eve Libertine]] - vocals
*[[Phil Free]] - lead guitar
*[[N.A.Palmer|B.A.Nana]] (N.A.Palmer) - rhythm guitar
#[[Joy De Vivre]] - vocals on "Health Surface"
#[[Phil Free]] - lead guitar
*[[Pete Wright (musician)|Pete Wright]] - bass guitar
*[[Penny Rimbaud]] - drums
#[[N.A.Palmer|B.A.Nana]] (N.A.Palmer) - rhythm guitar
*[[Gee Vaucher|G]] - harmonium on "What the Fuck?"
#[[Pete Wright (musician)|Pete Wright]] - bass guitar
*CRASS Member not on this recording - [[Steve Ignorant]]
#[[Penny Rimbaud]] - drums
*Engineered by [[John Loder (sound engineer)|John Loder]]
#[[Gee Vaucher|G]] - harmonium on "What the Fuck?"
*Paintings by G
#CRASS Member not on this recording - [[Steve Ignorant]]
*Design by Crass at Exitstencil Press
#Engineered by [[John Loder (sound engineer)|John Loder]]
#Paintings by G
#Design by Crass at Exitstencil Press


==References==
==References==
Line 73: Line 111:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.southern.com/southern/label/CRC/07006.html Crass Discography (''Penis Envy'')]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030415073653/http://www.southern.com/southern/label/CRC/07006.html Crass Discography (''Penis Envy'')]
* [http://www.punkbands.com/lyrics/bands/crass/envy.htm Crass - ''Penis Envy'' lyrics]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030728051244/http://www.punkbands.com/lyrics/bands/crass/envy.htm Crass - ''Penis Envy'' lyrics]


{{Crass}}
{{Crass}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1981 albums]]
[[Category:1981 albums]]

Latest revision as of 02:25, 26 September 2023

Penis Envy
Studio album by
Crass
Released1981
RecordedDecember 1980
StudioSouthern Studios (Wood Green, London)
GenreAnarcho-punk
Length34:50
LabelCrass Records
ProducerCrass
Crass chronology
Stations of the Crass
(1979) 		Penis Envy
(1981) 		Christ – The Album
(1982)
Alternative covers
Cover of the remastered 'Crassical Collection' rerelease
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
Ox-Fanzine[3]
Select[4]

Penis Envy, released in 1981, was the third LP by the anarchist punk band Crass. The album was included at #36 on Rolling Stone's "40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time" list in 2016.[5]

The Crassical Collection version of this release, including new artwork by Gee Vaucher, remastered sound, liner notes by Eve Libertine and Penny Rimbaud and bonus material, was released in November 2010.[6]

Background and release

[edit]

Named as a reference to some of Sigmund Freud's ideas concerning sexuality,[7] this release marked something of a departure from the hardcore image that The Feeding of the 5000 and its follow up, Stations of the Crass, had to some extent given the group, for it featured more obviously complex musical arrangements, as well as exclusively female vocals by Eve Libertine and Joy De Vivre (although Steve Ignorant remained a group member and is credited on the record sleeve as "not on this recording").[8] The album addressed feminist issues and once again attacked the institutions of 'the system' such as marriage and sexual repression.[9]

One track, not actually listed on the album cover, was a deliberately saccharine (described in fact by the band themselves as "pure, unadulterated shit")[9] parody of a "middle of the road" love song entitled "Our Wedding". This was given away as a flexi disc with a teenage girl's romance magazine called Loving after having been offered it by an organisation calling itself Creative Recording And Sound Services (a backronym of Crass). A minor tabloid furore erupted once the hoax was revealed, with the News of the World going so far as to state that the album's title was "too obscene to print".[10] (A leaflet giving the background to this Situationist-style prank was subsequently issued by the band).[11] Now considered a rarity, the original flexi-disc fetches high prices on the collectors' market.[citation needed]

The album was banned by the retailer HMV. During the mid-1980s, Greater Manchester Police under the direction of James Anderton seized copies along with other records by Crass and the Dead Kennedys, from Eastern Bloc record shop. Frank Schofield was charged with displaying "obscene articles for publication for gain". The band Flux of Pink Indians, its two record labels and its publishing company were also charged under the Obscene Publications Act. The judge ruled against Crass in the ensuing court case, although this decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal, apart from the lyrics to one song, "Bata Motel". The heavy costs incurred by this episode were a contributing factor in Crass deciding to disband.[12]

Track listing

[edit]
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Bata Motel"3:34
2."Systematic Death"3:57
3."Poison in a Pretty Pill"3:40
4."What the Fuck?"6:43
Side B
No.TitleLength
5."Where Next Columbus?"3:11
6."Berkertex Bribe"3:21
7."Smother Love"1:48
8."Health Surface"3:31
9."Dry Weather"3:06
10."Our Wedding" (unlisted track)2:04
The Crassical Collection edition bonus tracks
No.TitleRecordedLength
11."Yorkie Talk" (compiled from archived material)Southern Studios, January 20092:32
12."Yes, Folks" (sound collage)Southern Studios, January 20093:21
13."The Unelected President" (remix/rewrite of "Major General Despair", previously released as "Peace Not War")Southern Studios, Spring 20035:13

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Review".
  4. ^ Finlay, Leo (October 1990). "Their Only Silver Discs". Select. No. 4. p. 126.
  5. ^ n/a (2016-04-16) (6 April 2016). "40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ n/a (2015-06-06). "The Crassical Collection: Penis Envy". eyeplug.net. Eyeplug. Retrieved 12 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Berger, George. The Story of Crass. PM Press. 2009.
  8. ^ Raha, Maria (2005). Cinderella's Big Score: Women of the Punk and Indie Underground. New York City: Seal Press. ISBN 978-1580051163.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ a b Diamond, Samuel (2013-02-06). "Crass - Penis Envy". tinymixtapes.com. Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 12 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Schnieder, Martin (2014-02-05) (5 February 2014). "'Our Wedding': Crass's Magnificent Romance-Mag Prank". dangerousminds.net. Dangerous Minds. Retrieved 12 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Crass Records (Show leaflets)". Archived from the original on 23 April 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2003.
  12. ^ Rimbaud, P; sleeve notes to The Crassical Collection; Ten Notes On A Summer's Day, Crass Records, 2012
[edit]
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