Entertainment!

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Entertainment! · Gang of Four's debut album was released in September 1979 on EMI, and in North America on Warner Bros. It is built on punk, with influences from funk, reggae and dub. The singer Jon King and the guitarist Andy Gill produced it together with their manager Rob Warr. The lyrics, influenced by Situationism, feminism and Marx, are about consumption, working life and the way the media colour reality. The starting point is that the personal is political. The sleeve shows a Native American and a cowboy shaking hands, with a caption that exposes the appearance of friendship.

At Home He's a Tourist reached number 58 in the British charts. For Top of the Pops a word in the lyrics had to be changed, but the band refused and the appearance did not take place. Critics called the record a pillar of post-punk. NME placed it at number five in its list for 1979.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Ether3:50Apple Music ↗
2. 2Natural's Not In It3:06Apple Music ↗
3. 3Not Great Men3:06Apple Music ↗
4. 4Damaged Goods3:26Apple Music ↗
5. 5Return the Gift3:06Apple Music ↗
6. 6Guns Before Butter3:45Apple Music ↗
7. 7I Found That Essence Rare3:13Apple Music ↗
8. 8Glass2:28Apple Music ↗
9. 9Contract2:40Apple Music ↗
10. 10At Home He's a Tourist3:29Apple Music ↗
11. 115.453:43Apple Music ↗
12. 12Love Like Anthrax4:22Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗