Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts
| type = studio
| artist = the Adverts
| cover = Adverts - Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts album cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = 17 February 1978
| recorded = Late 1977
| venue =
| studio = Abbey Road Studios, London
| genre = Punk rock
| length = 31:03
| label = Bright
| producer = John Leckie
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Cast of Thousands
| next_year = 1979
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts
| type = studio
| single1 = One Chord Wonders"/"Quick Step
| single1date = 29 April 1977
| single2 = Safety in Numbers"/"We Who Wait
| single2date = 28 October 1977
| single3 = No Time to Be 21"/"New Day Dawning
| single3date = 20 January 1978
}}
}}
Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts is the debut studio album by English punk rock band the Adverts. It was released on 17 February 1978 by record label Bright.
Background
Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The album title was coined by Jane Suck.
Release
The album was preceded by the single "No Time to Be 21", which reached No. 34 on the UK Singles Chart. Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts reached No. 38 on the UK Albums Chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16410/adverts/ |title=Adverts |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=25 October 2020}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/crossing-the-red-sea-with-the-adverts-mw0000223470 |title=Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts – The Adverts |last=Thompson |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Thompson (author) |website=AllMusic |accessdate=22 April 2013}}
| rev2 = Alternative Rock
| rev3 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |chapter=The Adverts |last=Robbins |first=Ira |title=The New Rolling Stone Record Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Marsh |editor1-first=Dave |editor1-link=Dave Marsh |editor2-last=Swenson |editor2-first=John |publisher=Random House/Rolling Stone Press |edition=2nd |year=1983 |isbn=0-394-72107-1 |page=5}}
| rev4 = Spin Alternative Record Guide
| rev4score = 9/10{{cite book |chapter=Adverts |last=Bernstein |first=Jonathan |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=Vintage Books |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |page=9}}
| rev5 = Uncut
| rev5score = 8/10{{cite magazine |title=Punk Debuts |last=Watts |first=Peter |magazine=Uncut |issue=261 |date=February 2019 |page=45}}
}}
In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Dave Thompson called the album "a devastating debut" and "one of the finest albums not only of the punk era but of the 1970s as a whole". Trouser Press said that "in its own way", the album "is the equal of the first Sex Pistols or The Clash; a hasty statement that captures an exciting time".{{cite web |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=adverts |title=Adverts |last1=Young |first1=Jon |last2=Robbins |first2=Ira |website=Trouser Press |accessdate=22 April 2013}}
Legacy
In March 2003, Mojo magazine ranked Crossing the Red Sea No. 17 in its list of the 50 greatest punk albums.{{cite magazine |title=Top 50 Punk Albums |magazine=Mojo |issue=112 |date=March 2003}} The album featured in The Guardian{{'}}s list "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/17/1000tohearbeforeyoudie |title=1000 albums to hear before you die – Artists beginning with A |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 November 2007 |accessdate=25 October 2020}}
Track listing
= Original release =
{{track listing
| headline = Side A
| all_writing = T. V. Smith
| title1 = One Chord Wonders
| title2 = Bored Teenagers
| title3 = New Church
| title4 = On the Roof
| title5 = Newboys
| title6 = Bombsite Boy
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Side B
| title1 = No Time to Be 21
| title2 = Safety in Numbers
| title3 = Drowning Men
| title4 = On Wheels
| title5 = Great British Mistake
}}
= 2002 re-issue =
{{track listing
| total_length = 36:51
| title1 = One Chord Wonders
| length1 = 2:49
| title2 = Bored Teenagers
| length2 = 1:45
| title3 = New Church
| length3 = 2:26
| title4 = On the Roof
| length4 = 3:01
| title5 = Newboys
| length5 = 3:13
| title6 = Gary Gilmore's Eyes
| length6 = 2:16
| title7 = Bombsite Boy
| length7 = 3:27
| title8 = No Time to Be 21
| length8 = 2:36
| title9 = Safety in Numbers
| length9 = 3:15
| title10 = New Day Dawns
| length10 = 2:40
| title11 = Drowning Men
| length11 = 2:18
| title12 = On Wheels
| length12 = 3:17
| title13 = Great British Mistake
| length13 = 3:48
}}
Personnel
; The Adverts
- T. V. Smith – vocals
- Gaye Advert – bass guitar, vocals
- Howard Pickup – guitar, vocals
- Laurie Driver – drums
; Technical
- John Leckie – production
- Nicholas De Ville – design
- Martin Durrant – cover photography
References
{{reflist|2}}