In a Foreign Town
Encyclopedia
In a Foreign Town is an album by the English singer-songwriter Peter Hammill
. It was originally released in 1988 on Enigma Records
, and was subsequently reissued on Hammill's own Fie! label.
The album has not proved popular with many of Hammill's fans, due largely to the rather dated 1980s rhythm tracks and production. However, others value it highly because it is one of Hammill's most politically engaged albums, covering such topics as apartheid ("Sun City Nightlife"), big business ("Sci-Finance Revisited" - a reworking of "Sci-Finance", the Van der Graaf
song from Vital
) and global politics ("Hemlock").
The Fie! reissue contained an extra track:
And the Restless issue contains an additional track:
Peter Hammill
Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill is an English singer-songwriter, and a founding member of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Most noted for his vocal abilities, his main instruments are guitar and piano...
. It was originally released in 1988 on Enigma Records
Enigma Records
Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
, and was subsequently reissued on Hammill's own Fie! label.
The album has not proved popular with many of Hammill's fans, due largely to the rather dated 1980s rhythm tracks and production. However, others value it highly because it is one of Hammill's most politically engaged albums, covering such topics as apartheid ("Sun City Nightlife"), big business ("Sci-Finance Revisited" - a reworking of "Sci-Finance", the Van der Graaf
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...
song from Vital
Vital (album)
Vital is Van der Graaf Generator's first live album. Except for one-off reunions, it marked the end of Van der Graaf Generator as a band until their 2005 reunion. The album was credited under the truncated name Van der Graaf...
) and global politics ("Hemlock").
Track listing
All tracks written by Peter Hammill.- "Hemlock"
- "Invisible Ink"
- "Sci-Finance (Revisited)"
- "This Book"
- "Time to Burn"
- "Auto"
- "Vote Brand X"
- "Sun City Nightlife"
- "The Play's the Thing"
- "Under Cover Names"
The Fie! reissue contained an extra track:
- "Smile"
And the Restless issue contains an additional track:
- "Time to Burn (Instrumental)"
Personnel
- Peter Hammill – vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion
- Stuart Gordon - violin on (1)