Smash It Up
{{Short description|Song by The Damned}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Smash It Up
| cover = The Damned Smash It Up.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Damned
| album = Machine Gun Etiquette
| B-side = Burglar
| released = {{Start date|1979|10|12|df=y}}
| recorded = 1979
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 2:53
| label = Chiswick
CHIS 116
| writer =
- Dave Vanian
- Captain Sensible
- Rat Scabies
- Algy Ward
| producer =
- Roger Armstrong
- The Damned
| prev_title = Love Song
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = I Just Can't Be Happy Today
| next_year = 1979
}}
"Smash It Up" is a song by English punk rock band the Damned, released as a single on 12 October 1979 by Chiswick Records. It is considered the band's unofficial anthem.{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/the-damneds-smash-it-up-its-about-frothy-lager-hardly-a-call-to-revolution-67956 |title=The Damned's Smash It Up: "It's about frothy lager… hardly a call to revolution" |website=Uncut.co.uk |date=2015-04-24 |access-date=2016-10-15}}
The single was the second release from the band's third studio album Machine Gun Etiquette (1979), where it was listed as "Smash It Up (Part II)". The B-side of the single was "Burglar".{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Damned-Smash-It-Up/master/19053 |title=Damned, The – Smash It Up |date=1979 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=10 July 2013 }}
Production
"Smash It Up" was produced by the band and Roger Armstrong. It is structured in two-part form: a melodic instrumental introduction (written in homage to Marc Bolan after his tragic death) segueing into an energetic pop-punk song. The song's lyrics criticize those who indulge in hippie culture (referring to "blow wave hairstyles" and "Glastonbury hippies"{{cite web|url=http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/damned/smash+it+up_10076230.html |title=Smash It Up Lyrics - Damned |website=Lyricsfreak.com |access-date=2016-10-15}}) instead of advocating for political revolution.
Release
Chiswick reissued the single on their budget Big Beat imprint in February 1982.{{cite web |url=http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/the_damned/smash_it_up___burglar_f1/ |title=Smash It Up / Burglar |publisher=Rate Your Music |access-date=10 July 2013 }}{{deprecated source|certain=y|date=November 2024}} The single was also issued in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.
"Smash It Up" was boycotted by BBC Radio 1 because of its perceived anarchic lyrics,{{cite book |first= Barry|last= Hutchinson|year= 2017 |title= The Damned - the Chaos Years: An Unofficial Biography |publisher= Lulu Press |isbn= 9780244921552}} stalling at No. 35 in the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17625/damned/|title=UK Charts - The Damned |website=officialcharts.com |access-date=2017-10-29}}
In November 2004, Ace Records reissued the single on CD, with alternate versions of the song (including the previously unreleased third and fourth parts of "Smash It Up") and a video, directed by Martin Baker, added.
Promotion
The Damned performed "Smash It Up" (as well as "I Just Can't Be Happy Today") on the BBC2 television show The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1979.{{cite AV media|title=The Old Grey Whistle Test|medium=DVD|publisher=Warner Home Video|year=2003}}
Track listing
All songs written by Scabies, Sensible, Vanian, Ward.
- "Smash It Up" – 2:52
- "Burglar" – 3:33
;2004 CD release{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/smash-it-up-25th-anniversary-edition-mw0000143705 |title=The Damned – Smash It Up: 25th Anniversary Edition |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=10 July 2013 }}
- "Smash It Up" – 2:52
- "Burglar" – 3:33
- "Smash It Up Parts 1–4" – 8:43
Production credits
Producers
- Roger Armstrong
- The Damned
Musicians
- Dave Vanian − vocals
- Captain Sensible − guitar, keyboards
- Rat Scabies − drums, vocals on "Burglar"
- Algy Ward − bass
Cover versions
{{Infobox song
| name = Smash It Up
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Offspring
| album = Batman Forever soundtrack
| released = 1995
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Punk rock
| length = 3:24
| label = Epitaph
| writer = Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, Algy Ward
| producer =
| prev_title = Gotta Get Away
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = All I Want
| next_year = 1997
}}
The song was covered by Die Toten Hosen for the 1991 cover album Learning English, Lesson One.{{cite AV media notes |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/494518-Die-Toten-Hosen-Learning-English-Lesson-1/images |title=Learning English Lesson One Credits |publisher=Virgin Records |id=LPVIR 11 |type=liner notes |access-date=September 4, 2024}}
In 1995, The Offspring covered the song for the soundtrack to the film Batman Forever. Although the song appeared in the film for only a few seconds, the full version was included on the soundtrack.{{cite AV media notes |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/19506805-Various-Batman-Forever-Music-From-And-Inspired-By-The-Motion-Picture/images |title=Batman Forever Credits |publisher=Atlantic Records |id=RCD1 82759 |type=liner notes |access-date=September 4, 2024}} It peaked at No. 16 on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart and No. 47 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-offspring-mn0000472925/awards |title=The Offspring – Awards |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=10 July 2013 }} Its chart success came about since it was the band's first new single after the breakthrough of their Smash album, albeit before their follow-up album Ixnay on the Hombre. It was later released on The Offspring's Club Me EP and also on the "All I Want" CD single.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs master|19053|type=single}}
{{The Damned}}
{{TheOffspring}}
{{Tim Burton's/Joel Schumacher's Batman}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Batman (1989 film series) music
Category:The Damned (band) songs
Category:Songs written by Captain Sensible
Category:Songs written by David Vanian
Category:Songs written by Rat Scabies