B-side "Help!" Genre Punk rock | Format 7-inch single Length 2:39 | |
Released 22 October 1976 (1976-10-22) Recorded 1976,
Pathway Studios, London | ||
"New Rose" is the first single by British punk rock group the Damned, released on 22 October 1976 on Stiff Records. It was the first single by a British punk group, and was released in the Netherlands, Germany and France in 1977.
Contents
Written by guitarist Brian James, "New Rose" was also included on the group's full-length debut album, Damned Damned Damned. The deadpan intro by singer Dave Vanian ("Is she really going out with him?") parodied the 1964 Shangri-Las song "Leader of the Pack".
The single's B-side was a cover of the Beatles' hit "Help!", performed about twice as fast as the original. Both songs became staples of the Damned's live shows, and appeared on various compilations.
"New Rose" was reissued in Stiff's Damned 4 Pack mail-order set. Original copies had a press-out centre, while reissues had a solid centre. Copies from the four-pack had matrix details: "Bilbo tape" handwritten and "AY 50332" printed. A CD version was issued in the Stiff Singles 1976–1977 boxed set by Castle Music in 2003. "Help!" also appeared on Hits Greatest Stiffs.
Production
The song was produced by Nick Lowe. It was recorded at Pathway Studios in London, recorded in one day, according to drummer Rat Scabies. and "Nick Lowe may have taken an extra day to mix it".
Release
"New Rose" was released on 22 October 1976. James stated that Captain Sensible initially wanted the song "I Fall" as the first single. Sensible later said that "I Fall" would have been "even more gobsmacking because it's so snotty and fast"
Cover versions
Guns N' Roses covered the track on their 1993 covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?". When asked about the Guns N' Roses cover, Captain Sensible said that he had not heard it, as he does not listen to music released after 1980.
Track listing
- "New Rose" (James) – 2:46
- "Help!" (Lennon–McCartney) – 1:43