The Skids - The Absolute Game (45th Anniversary Blue Stone Translucent 2LP) [NAD2026]

Cat. no: DEMREC1353
Format: LP2 NAD2026 - 45TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Barcode: 5014797913776
Release Date: 17 Oct 2026
Genre: Rock

Truly one of the greatest British bands to come out of the 1976 / 1977 musical rupture that was Punk, Dunfermline's Skids went on to demonstrate they had so much more to them than many of their contemporaries

Always a tight and powerful musical powerhouse they enjoyed a string of classic chart hits between 1978 and 1979 ('Into The Valley', 'Masquerade', 'Working For TheYankee Dollar' etc).

Following this, they surprised and delighted fans and critics alike with 1980's ambitious and experimental third album outing 'The Absolute Game'. The album was also the frst to feature feature new bassist Russell Webb and his inclusion, along with the contribution of new producer Mick Glossop, made for an accomplished and progressive evolution.

The frst sign that the band had upped the ante somewhat came with the album's frst single (and its opener), 'Circus Games', which fused incisive lyrics and rallying vocal delivery with a powerful backing track, replete with synth stylings and even a schoolkids' chorus. Future singles to be culled included 'A Woman In Winter' and the glorious 'Goodbye Civilian'. Record Collector latersaid of the album: "Endlessly inventive and perfectly executed, it deservedly became their most successful release".

Initial copies of 'The Absolute Game' came with the free mini album 'Strength Through Joy' an experimental mini- album that blended world music infuences and atmospheric and ambient sounds that perfectly ftted 1980's Peter Gabriel / Talking Heads / 'Scary Monsters' Bowie zeitgeist.

For this stunning 2LP vinyl reissue, 'The Absolute Game', and 'Strength Through Joy', have been remastered from the source tapes, thereby correcting previous problems with the album's tape transfers. The work was undertaken by respected audio engineer George Shilling (previous creditsinclude Blur, Teenage Fanclub, Bernard Butler, Oasis, Primal Scream).

Artwork has been lovingly recreated with the original's lyric sheet and Skids merchandise inserts promoted onto illustrated inner bags. The albums have pressed onto translucent blue stone vinyl.

Tracks: Circus Games / Out Of Town / Goodbye Civilian / The Children Saw The Shame / A Woman In Winter / Hurry On Boys / Happy To Be With You / The Devils Decade / One Decree / Arena / An Incident In Algiers / Grievance / Strength Through Joy / Filming Africa / A Man For All Seasons / Snakes And Ladders / Surgical Triumph / The Bell Jar