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The Great Rock ’n’ Roll Swindle

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

The Great Rock ’n’ Roll Swindle · This double album was released on 23 February 1979 on Virgin Records as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The band had split up a year earlier and singer Johnny Rotten did not want to take part. Manager Malcolm McLaren therefore had to sell a double LP without the original singer. He found a rehearsal session from October 1976 that producer Dave Goodman had secretly recorded. McLaren combined Lydon's vocals and Glen Matlock's bass part with newly recorded guitar and drums by Steve Jones and Paul Cook. This made it seem as if the original line-up still existed.

Many songs have no vocals by Rotten. Sid Vicious sings covers, including My Way, Jones and Cook take care of their own songs, and Edward Tudor-Pole sings the title song. There are also curiosities, such as French street musicians playing Anarchy in the UK. McLaren used the confusion to promote both the soundtrack and the film.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to My Way and notice how Sid Vicious sings a familiar song as a biting parody.

Track list

  1. 1God Save The Queen (Symphony) [feat. Malcolm McLaren]4:00Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Johnny B Goode2:36Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Road Runner3:40Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Black Arabs4:46Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Anarchy In The UK4:05Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Substitute3:03Apple Music ↗
  7. 7Don't Give Me No Lip, Child3:28Apple Music ↗
  8. 8(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone3:06Apple Music ↗
  9. 9L'Anarchie Pour Le UK (feat. Louis Brennon)3:24Apple Music ↗
  10. 10Einmal War Belsen Bortrefflich2:09Apple Music ↗
  11. 11Einmal War Belsen Wirflich Bortrefflich (feat. Ronnie Biggs)2:13Apple Music ↗
  12. 12Silly Thing2:52Apple Music ↗
  13. 13My Way4:05Apple Music ↗
  14. 14I Wanna Be Me3:04Apple Music ↗
  15. 15Something Else2:10Apple Music ↗
  16. 16Rock Around The Clock (feat. Edward Tenpole)2:04Apple Music ↗
  17. 17Lonely Boy3:02Apple Music ↗
  18. 18No One Is Innocent (feat. Ronnie Biggs)2:57Apple Music ↗
  19. 19C'Mon Everybody1:55Apple Music ↗
  20. 20EMI (Orchestral)3:44Apple Music ↗
  21. 21The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle (feat. Edward Tenpole)4:15Apple Music ↗
  22. 22Friggin' In The Riggin'3:32Apple Music ↗
  23. 23You Need Hands (feat. Malcolm McLaren)2:50Apple Music ↗
  24. 24Who Killed Bambi? (feat. Edward Tenpole)3:02Apple Music ↗
  25. 25Watcha Gonna Do About It?2:00Apple Music ↗

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

See also

Categories: Albums and songs