Megatop Phoenix

Updated on Oct 30, 2023

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Released 5 September 1989 Length 59:05 Artist Big Audio Dynamite Label Columbia Records		Recorded 1 January 1989 Megatop Phoenix(1989) Kool-Aid(1990) Release date 5 September 1989 Producers Mick Jones, Bill Price

Genres Alternative rock, Alternative dance Similar Big Audio Dynamite albums, Alternative rock albums

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Megatop Phoenix is the fourth and last studio album by the original line-up of Big Audio Dynamite, released in 1989. This was also the last album to be released under the name of Big Audio Dynamite for six years (until 1995's F-Punk).

Overview

It was produced by Mick Jones and Bill Price. It was recorded and mixed by Bill Price at Konk Studios North London, assisted by George Holt and Fintan McDonald. It was compiled at Air Studios in the West End assisted by Andy Strange and mastered by Jacko at Tape One. The cover was designed by Bullitt and Big Audio Dynamite. Photos were by Dan Donovan assisted by Mark Bromfield. In 1990 Mick Jones formed Big Audio Dynamite II with totally different members. The phoenix in the title is a reference to a near-death experience of Jones, who had nearly died of pneumonia before recording the album but successfully recovered.

Samples

The album makes copious use of sampling from various musical and other sources. Many of the tracks listed are created mainly from samples. Some of the samples are identified with their source below.

"Start" – Opening moments of Powell and Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death

"Rewind" – Much of what is being tape-rewound during the latter part of the song is from "Stalag 123"

"Union, Jack" – Rule Britannia, Charlie Watts' drum opening from The Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Woman", Richard II, "You wouldn't know Karl Marx from a toffee apple" – from the film Britannia Hospital and "Heritage in motion" etc. from The Knack ...and How to Get It

"Contact" – Brief use of the main riff from "I Can't Explain" by The Who

"Dragon Town" – George Formby from "Mr Wu's a window cleaner now" and 'aaah aaah' portion of "S.F. Sorrow Is Born" by The Pretty Things

"Is Yours Working Yet?" – Alfred Hitchcock

"Around the Girl in 80 Ways" – Right Said Fred, by Bernard Cribbins

"James Brown" – "Living in America" by James Brown

"Micks a Hippie Burning" – Digging a hole, again by Bernard Cribbins and Withnail and I

"The Green Lady" – Snippet of instrumental break from "S.F. Sorrow Is Born" by The Pretty Things

"London Bridge" – London Pride by Noël Coward.

"Stalag 123" – The Great Escape Theme Music

"End" – Listen with Mother

According to The NME review of 2/9/1989 there are also samples of Arthur Scargill and BAD interviews.