Scared to Dance | ||||
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Studio album by Skids | ||||
Released | 23 February 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1978 at Air Studios, London | |||
Genre | Punk rock | |||
Length | 37:50 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | David Batchelor | |||
Skids chronology | ||||
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Singles from Scared to Dance | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Smash Hits | 9/10 |
Scared to Dance is the debut studio album by Scottish new wave band Skids. It was released on 23 February 1979 by record label Virgin.
Anti-war themes are a recurring motif in the album. There are also a great deal of references in singer Richard Jobson's lyrics to the band's home region in Scotland.
Scared to Dance was produced by David Batchelor and engineered by Mick Glossop.
Scared to Dance was the first album to feature Stuart Adamson's 'bagpipe guitar', which would be the trademark of his later band Big Country.
The album was preceded by the single "Into the Valley", released on 16 February 1979, which reached No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart.Scared to Dance was released on 23 February, reaching No. 19 on the UK Albums Chart.
Scared to Dance has been well received by critics. Ira Robbins of Trouser Press called the album "excellent [...] Using loud guitar and semi-martial drumming for its basis, Jobson's hearty singing sounds like an 18th century general leading his merry troops down from the hills into glorious battle."
The song "The Saints Are Coming" was later covered by Green Day and U2 and released as a charity single, reaching #1 in several countries.
"Into the Valley" became popular as adopted and sung by fans of Dunfermline Athletic F.C., the band's local football team, as well as Charlton Athletic F.C. in England whose ground is known as The Valley.