Days in Europa

Writing

A rough translation of "Dulce et Decorum Est (Pro Patria Mori)" is "It is a sweet and glorious thing (to die for one's country)". "Dulce et Decorum Est" is also the name of a poem by Wilfred Owen.

Thanatos is the Greek word for "death" and the ancient Greek god of death, and is used in Freudian psychology to refer to the death wish/destructive urge, as opposed to Eros, the reproductive urge.

The album features lyrical references to World War I and World War II.

Release

Days in Europa was released in 1979.

Reception

Days in Europa has received a generally mixed response from critics. Ira Robbins of Trouser Press wrote "In polishing and refining the band's sound even a little, [producer Bill Nelson] smoothed off the vital edge."

Album cover controversy

The album was initially released with an Aryan album cover reminiscent of the 1936 Olympics, complete with Germanic Gothic-style lettering. The album was re-released the following year with a new cover. At the same time the opportunity was taken to change the album's track listing and re-mix some of the original songs, allegedly for the US market. Some of the original tracks resurfaced on later albums.

The second release's cover includes the controversial first cover as a picture on the wall behind the woman in white's head. On the back of the cover the illustration is repeated, only with the withdrawn release's picture on the wall being replaced with that of the earlier Scared to Dance album. The track "Pros and the Cons" is removed, and "Masquerade", also released as a single, is added.

Track listing

All tracks written by Richard Jobson and Stuart Adamson, except "Home of the Saved", written by Adamson.

Personnel