Mr Universe by Gillan (Acrobat 1979)

Gillan

MR UNIVERSE (ACROBAT 1979)

Released in October 1979 on the Acrobat label

Recorded at Kingsway Recorders, London, UK

Genre: Heavy metal, hard rock

Length: 44:09 minutes

Produced by Paul "Chas" Watkins, Ian Gillan, Colin Towns and John McCoy

Professional reviews: Allmusic 4/5 stars

Gillan Discography

Gillan (aka The Japanese Album) (1978)/ Mr. Universe (1979)/ Glory Road (1980)/ Future Shock (1981)/ Double Trouble (1981)/ Magic (1982)/ Triple Trouble (Released 2009, recorded live 1981/1982)

M

r. Universe is the second album by the British rock band Gillan, and the first with the classic line-up of Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Bernie Tormé and Mick Underwood. Released in October 1979, the album reached number 11 in the UK album charts.

 Cover of Gillan

Original Album

Side One

1.       Second Sight (Colin Towns) (2.33)

2.       Secret Of The Dance (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (2.54)

3.       She Tears Me Down (Colin Towns) (5.07)

4.       Roller (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (4.43)

5.       Mr Universe (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (6.14)

Cover of the Japanese release

Side Two

6.       Vengeance (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (3.34)

7.       Puget Sound (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns/John McCoy/ Bernie Tormé/ Mick Underwood) (4.23)

8.       Dead Of Night (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (4.04)

9.       Message In A Bottle (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (3.09)

10.   Fighting Man* (Colin Towns) (7.28)

* Recorded at an earlier session with a different line-up and can be found on the original Japanese version of the album Gillan. Musicians on this track are Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Steve Byrd (guitar) and Liam Genocky (drums).

Alternative Version

A variant of the album was also released in 1979 in Japan (East World), Australia (Interfusion) and New Zealand (Parlophone) only. The release contained alternative tracks to avoid reusing songs already released in these countries on the album Gillan. The track listing was as follows:

Side One

1.       Vengeance (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (3.34)

2.       Mr Universe (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (6.14)

3.       She Tears Me Down (Colin Towns) (5.08)

4.       Your Sister's On My List*** (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (4.09)

Side Two

5.       Street Theatre* (2.42) (Colin Towns)

6.       Roller (4.37) (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns)

7.       Puget Sound (4.26) (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns/ John McCoy/ Bernie Tormé/ Mick Underwood)

8.       Move With The Times* (5.00) (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns/ John McCoy)

9.       Sleeping On The Job** (3.34) (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns)

Total running time 39.24

* These appear on the 1993 RPM release Gillan - The Japanese Album
** This version has not yet been released on CD
*** Used as a B-side to the UK Trouble single and appears on the first release of Future Shock on CD as a bonus track

1989 Re-release

In 1989 the album was re-released in CD format on the Virgin label. The revised track listing was as follows:

1.       Second Sight (Colin Towns) (2.33)

2.       Secret Of The Dance (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (2.54)

3.       She Tears Me Down (Colin Towns) (5.08)

4.       Roller (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (4.43)

5.       Mr Universe (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (6.14)

6.       Vengeance (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (3.34)

7.       Puget Sound (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns/ John McCoy/ Bernie Tormé/ Mick Underwood) (4.23)

8.       Dead Of Night (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (4.04)

9.       Message In A Bottle (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (3.09)

10.   Fighting Man* (Colin Towns) (7.28)

11.   On The Rocks (live)** (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (6.38)

12.   Bite The Bullet (live)** (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (5.38)

13.   Mr Universe (live)*** (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (7.20)

14.   Vengeance (live)*** (Ian Gillan/ Colin Towns) (4.42)

15.   Smoke On The Water (live)*** (Ritchie Blackmore/ Ian Gillan/ Roger Glover/ Jon Lord/ Ian Paice) (10.10)

16.   Lucille (live)**** (Penniman/ Collins) (2.32)

Total running time 80.02

* Recorded at an earlier session with a different line-up and can be found on the original Japanese version of the Gillan album. Musicians were Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Steve Byrd (guitar) and Liam Genocky (drums)

** Recorded at the Reading Festival 29 August 1981

*** Recorded at the Reading Festival 22 August 1980

**** Previously unreleased

This version of the album was produced by Ian Gillan and Paul "Chas" Watkins, and mixed by John McCoy and Paul “Chas” Watkins.

2007 Re-release

Re-released in remastered Format with new sleeve notes by Ian Gillan by Demon Music Group

1.       Second Sight

2.       Secret of the Dance

3.       She tears me down

4.       Roller

5.       Mr Universe

6.       Vengeance

7.       Puget Sound

8.       Dead of Night

9.       Message in a Bottle

10.   Fighting Man

11.   Smoke on the Water - Bonus track (live at the Kingsway Recorders)

Personnel

Ian Gillan: vocals, harmonica

Colin Towns: keyboards/ flute

John McCoy: bass guitar

Bernie Tormé: guitar

Mick Underwood: drums/ percussion

Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia