Description
Check the exclusive video of the LP for sale!
Check the exclusive video of the LP for sale!
Seven Days in Sammystown is a 1985 album by American New Wave band Wall of Voodoo. This was the first Wall of Voodoo album to feature Andy Prieboy on vocals. It includes their second cover version of a song made famous by Johnny Cash, “”Dark as a Dungeon””; the group had previously covered “”Ring of Fire”” on their Wall of Voodoo EP. The album got to #50 on the Australian charts. The track “”Far Side of Crazy”” featured in the 1985 movie Head Office.
Released 1985
Recorded 1985
Genre New wave
Length 43:44
Label IRS Records Vinyl in mint condition (visual inspection).
“”Far Side of Crazy”” – 4:05
“”Business of Love”” – 4:36
“”Faded Love”” – 1:02
“”Mona”” – 5:01
“”Room With a View“” – 2:59 Room With A View was deservedly released as a 7-inch single but the 7″ version is longer than the LP version!!
“”Blackboard Sky”” – 4:41
“”Big City”” – 4:30
“”Dark as a Dungeon”” – 4:43 Johnny Cash cover
“”Museums”” – 4:21
“”Tragic Vaudeville”” – 3:44
“”(Don’t Spill My) Courage”” – 4:17
Label: I.R.S. Records
Catalog#: ILP 26685
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
5.0 out of 5 stars I’m really not a huge Wall of Voodoo fan. I’ve never really felt compelled to purchase the albums. Not so with this release. Even though the group’s resident genius, Stan Ridgway, had left the fold, this album is great. When I saw it available, moved to purchase it.
5.0 out of 5 stars This album has intrigued me since I first heard it over twenty years ago with its Southwestern/mechanical sound. My best friend had a vinyl copy. Ten years ago, I happened upon a wobbly used cassette. Now, I have it on LP. I love the cover of “Dark as a Dungeon.” As for the originals, my favorites are the John Hinckley-inspired “Far Side of Crazy” and the flat-out brilliant “(Don’t Spill My) Courage.” I also find “Tragic Vaudeville” and “This Business of Love” (the most Ridgway-esque tune on the album) most enjoyable.
5.0 out of 5 stars If you’ve had this album in the 80’s, you know it’s a classic. Collectors are paying well over $150 for an original copy. If you’d like to own this again. this is your only option.
5.0 out of 5 stars I remember being sceptical about this album. Wall of Voodoo without Stan Ridgway!?! I already had Voodoo’s , Dark Continent, and Call of the West and they were among my favorite and most played albums. Certainly a new singer would change the band’s sound. I ran across the Ugly Americans live LP with Andy Prieboy on vocals, and it sounded great so I thought I’d give Sammystown a chance.
Well, I was right, the new singer did change the band’s sound…but for the better! This album takes Voodoo from the mechanical factory-like synth sound of the Ridgway era to whole new areas. “(Don’t Spill My) Courage” is a type of song I never expected Voodoo to play. “Big City” (about the dangers of LA) simply rocks (I played this song to death back in high school)! “Far Side of Crazy” and “Blackboard Sky” (both on the Ugly American’s album) are amazing as is “Tragic Vaudeville” which really rocks and has awesome vocals! “Mona” and “Museums” have a wonderful eerie beauty to them. Harkening back to their earlier songs about the working class stiff is a unique cover of the old miner’s union anthem “Dark As A Dungeon.” “Business of Love” shows signs of that great Voodoo humor. The unique Voodoo guitar sound is still there but the music has so much more meat to it and is a lot more accessible than the earlier albums. In sum, Wall of Voodoo matured!
5.0 out of 5 stars Still my favorite album ever
Dark-toned and energetic. It’s been almost 15 years but the unique pre-NIN sound fed through a new wave filter with a a dose of punk energy yields timeless bopping spazz rock. You will not be able to say this album sounds like any other. Andy Prieboy, probably the best song writer, has taken over lead singing from Stan Ridgway. Marc Moreland is still there with his Wall of Voodoo style new wave western guitar riffs. This is almost like a symphony in that you put the record on and it all flows from one song to another and the next thing you know you’re playing it all over again. Still, after probably almost 1000 plays, it’s still my favorite. Dark Continent is their next best record but it has far less dark-tone and thickness–just like the difference between Depeche Mode’s Speak and Spell and Music for the Masses. You must have this record.
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection!
Nobody was angrier than me when Stan left the band, I was pissed. I was sure that WOV would suck without him. Wow, was I shocked when I heard this LP for the first time, it was GREAT! Different direction for sure, but the constant was Marc Moreland’s guitar playing and songwriting ability. Coupled with that is the energy and charisma of Andy Prieboy. I know that Stan fans feel it is disrespectful to Call of the West and Stan to say this album is WOV’s best, but it certainly ties any other album WOV did for best. Big City, Dark as a Dungeon, Museums, Tragic Vaudeville and (Don’t Spill My)Courage, are all great songs. Heck, come to think of it, every song on this album is great.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Unappreciated
“Museums” is a beautiful song. “Tragic Vaudeville” is energetic while the lyrics are true-to-life. “Faded Love” is brief, seemingly bland, but poignant. Every song has a different mood, and with the possible exception of “Room With a View” is solid. I own at least 8000 CDs and LPs in a wide variety of genres and this is definitely a Top 5 pick. I had no idea it is so rare. I’d like to thank the tortured souls who made this music for their (unappreciated) efforts.
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest albums ever, period!
“Seven Days in Sammystown” has to be one of the most historic albums in the history of rock music. Why? Because, here you had a band that had just lost their singer/songwriter/genius Stan Ridgway and what do they do? They make their greatest album ever. I still am not sure why this album never gained more radio play. Oh sure “Far Side of Crazy” got some playing time, but “Tragic Vaudvilled” and “Big City” and “Courage” are just as good. Heck, there are no bad songs on this truly great album.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, one of my favorite Albums!
I’ll make this short. Buy this LP. It really is that good.
I remember when Stan left. We were all stunned. But this LP was incredible when I got it back in 1986 or so, and 25 years later it’s still incredible.
There is a reason why every single buyer of this LP has given it 5 stars. It really is that good.
5.0 out of 5 starsI used to listen to this every day in college
I couldn’t get enough of this record back in the 80s. I then never picked it up again until recently. It still sounds the same. Not as exciting as it was 25 years ago, but I’d still call it one of the all time best albums that I’ve ever gotten to spend quality time with.
5.0 out of 5 stars Pure genius
This music has not date at all.This is the post Stan Ridgway WOV, but the music is excellent..Standout tracks are Tragic Vaudeville, Don’t spill my courage away, Blackboard Sky and Johnny Cash tune Dark as a dungeon..If you get chance to hear, or even own it, go for it.. Excellent, and currently unavailable, a crime in itself considering so much rubbish around today…
5.0 out of 5 stars A museum full of culture
Why is this wonderful, wonderful, wonderful album still out of print in today’s consumerist utopia of freedom and choice? When almost every other album by any cheapskate charlatan who ever stood in front of a mic is available in such unwanted, environment-destroying abundance in every flipping shop in town? Why are people buying U2’s Greatest Hits again again again, when a twisted, romantic, sinister and beautiful masterpiece like this gets lost in the mists of time? I just wasn’t made for these times.
5.0 out of 5 stars Far Side Of Crazy
Great rock song on a great Album. ‘The best song is the single ‘Far Side Of Crazy’, which hit the top 20 here in Australia back in 1986. The song is still played by FM rock stations, especially Brisbane’s Triple M FM104.
5.0 out of 5 stars Even sans Stan, etc. A great work!
Courage, Mona, with mandolin, and Dark as a Dungeon. Outstanding
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
Wall of Voodoo are/were the most original band I ever heard. In my humble opinion this is their most complete album. Tracks like Far Side of Crazy, Big City, Room with a View and Blackboard Sky are gems. The line “I’m sorry old man, it’s nothing personal you understand, but I just gotta run this lead pipe on someone” says it all. Dark, witty and original.
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best albums ever
Ridgeway or no Ridgeway, this is one of the best rock albums ever created. This is Sgt. Pepper. It’s a shame that this group is almost exclusively known for “Mexican Radio.”
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