Julian Cope – Peggy Suicide – Vinyl LP

“Peggy Suicide” is the seventh album by Julian Cope. It is generally seen as the beginning of Cope’s trademark sound and approach, and as a turning-point for Cope as a maturing artist. On the album’s songs, Cope laid bare many of his personal convictions including his hatred of organized religion and his increasing public interest in women’s rights, the occult, alternative spirituality (including paganism and Goddess worship), animal rights, and ecology. He had referred in passing to these beliefs in previous songs, but never so directly. The album was written in the aftermath of the British anti-poll tax riots in 1990. Cope had taken part in the protest, and several songs on the album refer directly to its events. Cope’s forthright new political stance was reflected in the song “Leperskin”, which refers to the contemporary British prime minister Margaret Thatcher (who resigned between the recording of Peggy Suicide and its release) as an “apostolic hag”. “Peggy Suicide” generated two singles – the calypso-styled “Beautiful Love” (a minor hit) and “East Easy Rider”. Another track, “Soldier Blue”, was remixed by The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy’s Michael Franti, who also provided a rap for the new mix. The album is produced by Donald Ross Skinner.

Disc 1
1 Pristeen
2 Double Vegetation
3 East Easy Rider
4 Promised Land
5 Hanging Out & Hung Up On The Line

Disc 2
1 Soldier Blue
2 You…
3 Not Raving But Drowning