Days in Europa
| Days in Europa | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 12 October 1979 (withdrawn) 7 March 1980 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | New wave | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Bill Nelson | |||
| Skids chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Second edition album cover, 1980 | ||||
Days in Europa is the second album by Scottish punk rock and new wave band Skids. It was released in 1979 by record label Virgin.
Writing
Track #3 on Side 1 is 'Dulce et Decorum Est (Pro Patria Mori)'. A rough translation is "It is a sweet and glorious thing (to die for one's country)". Dulce et Decorum Est is a poem by Wilfred Owen.
Track #3 on Side 2 is Thanatos, the Greek word for "death" and the name of the ancient Greek god of death. It 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 both World War I and World War II.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Music Week | [2] |
| Smash Hits | 8/10[3] |
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."[4] The Globe and Mail noted that "the record is new wave in tone, with some heavy metal tendencies."[5]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Richard Jobson and Stuart Adamson, except "Home of the Saved", written by Adamson.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Animation" | 4:51 |
| 2. | "Charade" | 3:53 |
| 3. | "'Dulce et Decorum Est (Pro Patria Mori)'" | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Pros and Cons" | 3:19 |
| 5. | "Home of the Saved" | 5:05 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Working for the Yankee Dollar" | 4:53 |
| 7. | "The Olympian" | 3:32 |
| 8. | "Thanatos" | 4:06 |
| 9. | "A Day in Europa" | 3:01 |
| 10. | "Peaceful Times" | 5:05 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Masquerade" (non-album single A-side, 1979) | 2:46 |
| 12. | "Out of Town" (1980 re-recording from The Absolute Game) | 4:08 |
| 13. | "Another Emotion" ("Masquerade" single B-side, 1979) | 3:00 |
| 14. | "Aftermath Dub" ("Masquerade" single B-side, 1979) | 3:00 |
| 15. | "Grey Parade" ("Charade" single B-side, 1979, composed Jobson, Adamson and Nelson) | 4:45 |
| 16. | "Working For the Yankee Dollar" (single A-side remix, 1979) | 3:39 |
| 17. | "Vanguard's Crusade" ("Working For the Yankee Dollar" single B-side, 1979) | 4:42 |
1980 re-release
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Animation" | 4:27 |
| 2. | "Charade" | 4:00 |
| 3. | "'Dulce et Decorum Est (Pro Patria Mori)'" | 4:34 |
| 4. | "The Olympian" | 3:22 |
| 5. | "Home of the Saved" | 4:26 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Working for the Yankee Dollar" | 3:52 |
| 7. | "Thanatos" | 4:02 |
| 8. | "Masquerade" | 2:44 |
| 9. | "A Day in Europa" | 2:56 |
| 10. | "Peaceful Times" | 5:00 |
Personnel
- Skids
- Richard Jobson – vocals
- Stuart Adamson – guitar, vocals, keyboards
- William Simpson – bass guitar, vocals
- Additional personnel
- Rusty Egan – drums
- Bill Nelson – keyboards
- Thomas Kellichan – drums on "Masquerade" (second version only)
References
- ^ Ogg, Alex. "Days in Europa – The Skids | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ^ "Album Reviews: Skids — Days in Europa" (PDF). Music Week. Gwent: Pensord Press Ltd. 17 November 1979. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2025 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
- ^ Starr, Red (18 October 1979). "Albums". Smash Hits: 29.
- ^ Robbins, Ira. "trouserpress.com :: Skids". Trouser Press. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ^ McGrath, p (5 July 1980). "Days in Europa Skids". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.
External links
- Days in Europa at Discogs (list of releases)