The Skids – The Absolute Game (45th Anniversary)

Pre Order 17th October

Truly one of the greatest British bands to come out of the 1976 / 1977

musical rupture that was Punk, Dunfermline's Skids went on to demonstrate

they had so much more to them than many of their contemporaries

Always a tight and powerful musical powerhouse they enjoyed a string of classic

chart hits between 1978 and 1979 ('Into The Valley', 'Masquerade', 'Working For

TheYankee Dollar' etc).

Following this, they surprised and delighted fans and critics alike with 1980's

ambitious and experimental third album outing 'The Absolute Game'. The album was

also the frst to feature feature new bassist Russell Webb and his inclusion, along with

the contribution of new producer Mick Glossop, made for an accomplished and

progressive evolution.

The frst sign that the band had upped the ante somewhat came with the album's frst

single (and its opener), 'Circus Games', which fused incisive lyrics and rallying vocal

delivery with a powerful backing track, replete with synth stylings and even a

schoolkids' chorus. Future singles to be culled included 'A Woman In Winter' and the

glorious 'Goodbye Civilian'. Record Collector latersaid of the album: "Endlessly

inventive and perfectly executed, it deservedly became their most successful release".

Initial copies of 'The Absolute Game' came with the free mini album 'Strength Through

Joy' an experimental mini- album that blended world music infuences and

atmospheric and ambient sounds that perfectly ftted 1980's Peter Gabriel / Talking

Heads / 'Scary Monsters' Bowie zeitgeist.

For this stunning 2LP vinyl reissue, 'The Absolute Game', and 'Strength Through Joy',

have been remastered from the source tapes, thereby correcting previous problems

with the album's tape transfers. The work was undertaken by respected audio

engineer George Shilling (previous creditsinclude Blur, Teenage Fanclub, Bernard

Butler, Oasis, Primal Scream).

Artwork has been lovingly recreated with the original's lyric sheet and Skids

merchandise inserts promoted onto illustrated inner bags. The albums have pressed

onto translucent blue stone vinyl.