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{{Other uses|Mr. Universe (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Mr. Universe (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
| Name = Mr. Universe
{{Infobox album
| Type = studio
| Longtype =
| name = Mr. Universe
| Artist = [[Gillan]]
| type = studio
| Cover = Mr. Universe - Gillan.jpg
| artist = [[Gillan (band)|Gillan]]
| Released = October 1979
| cover = Mr. Universe - Gillan.jpg
| Recorded = Kingsway Recorders, London, UK
| alt =
| released = 12 October 1979<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Gillan | first1 = Ian | author-link1 = Ian Gillan | title = The Autobiography | edition = 3rd | publisher = John Blake Publishing | year = 2016 | page = 324 | isbn = 978-1-786-06135-5}}</ref>
| Genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]], [[Hard rock]]
| recorded = June–July 1979<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Gillan | first1 = Ian | author-link1 = Ian Gillan | title = The Autobiography | edition = 3rd | publisher = John Blake Publishing | year = 2016 | page = 324 | isbn = 978-1-786-06135-5}}</ref>
| Length = 44:09
| studio = Kingsway Recorders, London, UK
| Label = Acrobat
| genre = [[Hard rock]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
| Producer = Paul "Chas" Watkins<br />Ian Gillan<br />Colin Towns<br />John McCoy
| Reviews =
| length = 44:09
| label = Acrobat (UK)<br/>[[Eastworld]] (Japan)<br/>Interfusion (Australia)
* [[Allmusic]] {{Rating|4|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=|pure_url=yes}} link]
| producer = Paul "Chas" Watkins, [[Ian Gillan]], [[Colin Towns]], [[John McCoy (musician)|John McCoy]]
| Last album = ''[[Gillan (album)|Gillan]]''<br />(1978)
| prev_title = [[Gillan (album)|Gillan]]
| This album = '''''Mr. Universe'''''<br />(1979)
| prev_year = 1978
| Next album = ''[[Glory Road (album)|Glory Road]]''<br />(1980)
| Misc = {{Extra album cover
| next_title = [[Glory Road (Gillan album)|Glory Road]]
| next_year = 1980
| Upper caption = Alternative cover
| Type = studio
| misc = {{Singles
| Cover = Universe-jap-lp.jpg
| name = Mr. Universe
| type = studio
| Lower caption = Cover of the Japanese release
| single1 = Vengeance
}}
| single1date = 5 October 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Gillan&titel=Vengeance&cat=s|title=Gillan singles}}</ref>
}}
{{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = studio
| cover = Universe-jap-lp.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = Cover of the Japanese release
}}
{{Audio sample
| type = studio
| file = Secret_of_the_dance_sample.ogg
| description = "Secret of the Dance"<br/>This sample from the album clearly demonstrates the band's dramatic departure from the [[jazz-rock fusion]] sound of the [[Ian Gillan Band]]
}}
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}} <ref>{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r38889}}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mr-universe-mw0000310061 |title=Gillan - Mr. Universe review |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |accessdate=2019-05-19 }}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
| no prose = yes
|rev3Score = 10/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book |last1 = Popoff |first1 = Martin |authorlink1 = Martin Popoff |title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies |publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] |date = October 2003 |location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], [[Canada]] |isbn = 978-1894959025 |pages=116–117}}</ref>
| noprose = yes
}}
}}


'''''Mr. Universe''''' is the second album by the British [[Rock (music)|rock]] band [[Gillan]], and the first with the classic line-up with Gillan, Towns, McCoy, Tormé and Underwood.
'''''Mr. Universe''''' is the second studio album by the British [[hard rock]] band [[Gillan (band)|Gillan]], and the first with the classic line-up with [[Ian Gillan]], [[Colin Towns]], [[John McCoy (musician)|John McCoy]], [[Bernie Tormé]] and [[Mick Underwood]].
Released in October 1979. The album reached No. 11 in the [[UK Albums Chart]],<ref name="GB">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18563/gillan/ |title=Gillan Official Charts |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |accessdate=2019-05-19 }}</ref> and sold over 2 million copies worldwide.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
Released in October 1979. The album reached #11 in the UK album charts.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
*All songs written by [[Ian Gillan]] and [[Colin Towns]] except where noted.
All songs written by [[Ian Gillan]] and [[Colin Towns]] except where noted.


Side 1
;Side one
# "Second Sight" - (2.33) ([[Colin Towns|Towns]])
# "Second Sight" ''<small>(Towns)</small>'' – 2:33
# "Secret Of The Dance" - (2.54)
# "Secret of the Dance" – 2:54
# "She Tears Me Down" - (5.07) ([[Colin Towns|Towns]])
# "She Tears Me Down" ''<small>(Towns)</small>'' – 5:07
# "Roller" - (4.43)
# "Roller" – 4:43
# "Mr Universe" - (6.14)
# "Mr. Universe" – 6:14


Side 2
;Side two
# "Vengeance" - (3.34)
#<li value="6">"Vengeance" – 3:34
# "Puget Sound" - (4.23) (Gillan/Towns/McCoy/Tormé/Underwood)
# "Puget Sound" ''<small>(Gillan, Towns, [[John McCoy (musician)|John McCoy]], [[Bernie Tormé]], [[Mick Underwood]])</small>'' – 4:23
# "Dead Of Night" - (4.04)
# "Dead of Night" – 4:04
# "Message In A Bottle" - (3.09)
# "Message in a Bottle" – 3:09
# "Fighting Man" - (7.28) ([[Colin Towns|Towns]])<nowiki>*</nowiki>
# "Fighting Man" ''<small>(Towns)</small>'' – 7:28<nowiki>*</nowiki>


<nowiki>*</nowiki> Recorded at an earlier session with a different line-up and can be found on the original Japanese version of the album ''[[Gillan (album)|Gillan]]''. Musicians for this track were [[Ian Gillan]], [[Colin Towns]], [[John McCoy (musician)|John McCoy]], [[Steve Byrd]] (guitar) and [[Liam Genockey]] (drums).
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Recorded at an earlier session (July/August 1978) with a different line-up and can be found on the original Japanese version of the album ''[[Gillan (album)|Gillan]]''. Musicians for this track were [[Ian Gillan]], [[Colin Towns]], [[John McCoy (musician)|John McCoy]], [[Steve Byrd]] (guitar) and [[Liam Genockey]] (drums).


==Alternative version==
==Alternate version==
An alternate album also called ''Mr. Universe'' was released on September 20, 1979 in Japan by Toshiba-EMI's ([[Eastworld]]) billed as Ian Gillan as opposed to "Gillan" and later in the year in Australia (Interfusion) and New Zealand ([[Parlophone]]). This release contained several tracks that were not on the version as above.
A variant of the album was also released in 1979 in Japan (East World), Australia (Interfusion) and New Zealand (Parlophone) only. The release contained alternative tracks to avoid reusing songs already released in these countries on the album ''[[Gillan (album)|Gillan]]''. The track listing was as follows:


Side 1
;Side 1
# "Vengeance" - (3.34)
# "Vengeance" – 3:34
# "Mr Universe" - (6.14)
# "Mr. Universe" – 6:14
# "She Tears Me Down" - (5.08) ([[Colin Towns|Towns]])
# "She Tears Me Down" – 5:08
# "Your Sister's On My List" - (4.09) <nowiki>***</nowiki>
# "Your Sister's on My List" – 4:09<nowiki>***</nowiki>


Side 2
;Side 2
# "Street Theatre" - (2.42) ([[Colin Towns|Towns]])<nowiki>*</nowiki>
#<li value="5"> "Street Theatre" ''<small>(Towns)</small>'' – 2:42<nowiki>*</nowiki>
# "Roller" - (4.37)
# "Roller" – 4:37
# "Puget Sound" - (4.26) (Gillan/Towns/McCoy/Tormé/Underwood)
# "Puget Sound" – 4:26
# "Move With The Times" - (5.00) (Gillan/Towns/McCoy)<nowiki>*</nowiki>
# "Move with the Times" ''<small>(Gillan, Towns, McCoy)</small>'' – 5:00<nowiki>*</nowiki>
# "Sleeping On The Job" - (3.34) <nowiki>**</nowiki>
# "Sleeping on the Job" – 3:34<nowiki>**</nowiki>


Total running time 39.24
Total running time 39:24


<nowiki>*</nowiki> These appear on the 1993 RPM release Gillan - The Japanese Album, see [[Gillan (album)]]<br />
<nowiki>*</nowiki> These appear on the 1993 RPM release ''Gillan – The Japanese Album'', see ''[[Gillan (album)|Gillan]]''<br />
<nowiki>**</nowiki> This version has not yet been released on CD <br />
<nowiki>**</nowiki> This version has not yet been released on CD <br />
<nowiki>***</nowiki>Used as a B-side to the UK ''Trouble'' single and appears on the first release of [[Future Shock (Gillan album)|Future Shock]] on CD as a bonus track
<nowiki>***</nowiki>Used as a B-side to the UK "Trouble" single and appears on the first release of ''[[Future Shock (Gillan album)|Future Shock]]'' on CD as a bonus track


==1989 Re-release==
==1989 re-release bonus tracks==
In 1989 the album was re-released in CD format on the Virgin label. The revised track listing was as follows:
In 1989 the album was re-released on CD by [[Virgin Records]], produced by Ian Gillan and Paul "Chas" Watkins, and mixed by John McCoy and Watkins. It followed the original UK track listing and included six bonus tracks:


#<li value="11"> "On the Rocks" (live) – 6:38<nowiki>**</nowiki>
# "Second Sight" - (2.33) ([[Colin Towns|Towns]])
# "Bite the Bullet" (live) – 5:38<nowiki>**</nowiki>
# "Secret Of The Dance" - (2.54)
# "Mr. Universe" (live) – 7:20<nowiki>***</nowiki>
# "She Tears Me Down" (5.08) ([[Colin Towns|Towns]])
# "Vengeance" (live) – 4:42<nowiki>***</nowiki>
# "Roller" - (4.43)
# "[[Smoke on the Water]]" (live) ''<small>([[Ritchie Blackmore]], Gillan, [[Roger Glover]], [[Jon Lord]], [[Ian Paice]])</small>'' – 10:10<nowiki>***</nowiki>
# "Mr Universe" - (6.14)
# "[[Lucille (Little Richard song)|Lucille]]" (live) ''<small>([[Little Richard|Richard Wayne Penniman]], Albert Collins)</small>'' – 2:32<nowiki>****</nowiki>
# "Vengeance" - (3.34)
# "Puget Sound" - (4.23) (Gillan/Towns/McCoy/Tormé/Underwood)
# "Dead Of Night" (4.04)
# "Message In A Bottle" - (3.09)
# "Fighting Man" - (7.28) ([[Colin Towns|Towns]])<nowiki>*</nowiki>
# "On The Rocks" (live) - (6.38) <nowiki>**</nowiki>
# "Bite The Bullet" (live) - (5.38) <nowiki>**</nowiki>
# "Mr Universe" (live) - (7.20) <nowiki>***</nowiki>
# "Vengeance" (live) - (4.42) <nowiki>***</nowiki>
# "Smoke On The Water" (live) - (10.10) (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)<nowiki>***</nowiki>
# "Lucille" (live) - (2.32) (Penniman/Collins)<nowiki>****</nowiki>


Total running time 80.02
Total running time 80:02


<nowiki>**</nowiki> Recorded at the [[Reading Festival]], 29 August 1981
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Recorded at an earlier session with a different line-up and can be found on the original Japanese version of the [[Gillan (album)|Gillan]] album. Musicians were Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Steve Byrd (guitar) and Liam Genocky (drums)


<nowiki>**</nowiki> Recorded at the Reading Festival 29 August 1981
<nowiki>***</nowiki> Recorded at the Reading Festival, 22 August 1980


<nowiki>***</nowiki> Recorded at the Reading Festival 22 August 1980
<nowiki>****</nowiki> Recorded at [[Rock City (venue)|Nottingham Rock City]], 4 March 1981, previously unreleased, in 2009 was included on ''Live: Triple Trouble'' album


Tracks 11 - 15 appear as live bonus tracks on the 2007 Edsel Demon Music Group re-issue of ''[[Double Trouble (Gillan album)|Double Trouble]]''
<nowiki>****</nowiki> Previously unreleased


==2007 re-release bonus track==
This version of the album was produced by Ian Gillan and Paul "Chas" Watkins, and mixed by John McCoy and Watkins.
In 2007, the album was re-released in remastered format with new sleevenotes by Ian Gillan by Demon Music Group and one bonus track:


#<li value="11">"Smoke on the Water" (live at Kingsway Recorders) – 8:25
==2007 Re-release==


Total running time 52:34
Re-released in remastered Format with new sleevenotes by Ian Gillan by Demon Music Group

# Second Sight
# Secret of the Dance
# She tears me down
# Roller
# Mr Universe
# Vengeance
# Puget Sound
# Dead of Night
# Message in a Bottle
# Fighting Man
# Smoke on the Water - Bonus Track (live at the Kingsway Recorders)


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
;Gillan
* [[Ian Gillan]] - vocals, harmonica
* [[Ian Gillan]] – [[vocals]], [[harmonica]], producer
* [[Colin Towns]] - keyboards/flute
* [[John McCoy (musician)|John McCoy]] - bass guitar
* [[Bernie Tormé]] – [[guitar]]
* [[Colin Towns]] – [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[flute]], producer
* [[Bernie Tormé]] - guitar
* [[John McCoy (musician)|John McCoy]] – [[bass guitar|bass]], producer
* [[Mick Underwood]] - drums/percussion
* [[Mick Underwood]] – [[drums]], [[percussion]]


;Production
==Audio files==
*Paul "Chas" Watkins – producer, engineer
{{Listen|filename=Secret_of_the_dance_sample.ogg |title="Secret Of The Dance"|description=This sample from the album clearly demonstrates the band's dramatic departure from the [[jazz-rock fusion]] sound of the [[Ian Gillan Band]]— 500 KB|format=[[Ogg]]}}
*George Peckham – mastering

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1979)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|11|date=19791021|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 12, 2024}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (2007)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
{{Album chart|UKIndependent|33|date=20070408|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 12, 2024}}
|}


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Ian Gillan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mr. Universe (Album)}}
[[Category:1979 albums]]
[[Category:Gillan albums]]
[[Category:New Wave of British heavy metal albums]]


{{Authority control}}
[[fi:Mr. Universe (albumi)]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mister Universe (album)}}
[[Category:1979 albums]]
[[Category:Gillan (band) albums]]

Latest revision as of 12:51, 8 June 2024

For other uses, see Mr. Universe (disambiguation).

Mr. Universe
Studio album by
Gillan
Released12 October 1979[1]
RecordedJune–July 1979[2]
StudioKingsway Recorders, London, UK
GenreHard rock, heavy metal
Length44:09
LabelAcrobat (UK)
Eastworld (Japan)
Interfusion (Australia)
ProducerPaul "Chas" Watkins, Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy
Gillan chronology
Gillan
(1978) 		Mr. Universe
(1979) 		Glory Road
(1980)
Singles from Mr. Universe
  1. "Vengeance"
    Released: 5 October 1979[3]
Alternative cover
Cover of the Japanese release
Audio sample
"Secret of the Dance"
This sample from the album clearly demonstrates the band's dramatic departure from the jazz-rock fusion sound of the Ian Gillan Band
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal10/10[5]

Mr. Universe is the second studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan, and the first with the classic line-up with Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Bernie Tormé and Mick Underwood. Released in October 1979. The album reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart,[6] and sold over 2 million copies worldwide.[citation needed]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Ian Gillan and Colin Towns except where noted.

Side one
  1. "Second Sight" (Towns) – 2:33
  2. "Secret of the Dance" – 2:54
  3. "She Tears Me Down" (Towns) – 5:07
  4. "Roller" – 4:43
  5. "Mr. Universe" – 6:14
Side two
  2. "Vengeance" – 3:34
  3. "Puget Sound" (Gillan, Towns, John McCoy, Bernie Tormé, Mick Underwood) – 4:23
  4. "Dead of Night" – 4:04
  5. "Message in a Bottle" – 3:09
  6. "Fighting Man" (Towns) – 7:28*

* Recorded at an earlier session (July/August 1978) with a different line-up and can be found on the original Japanese version of the album Gillan. Musicians for this track were Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Steve Byrd (guitar) and Liam Genockey (drums).

Alternate version

[edit]

An alternate album also called Mr. Universe was released on September 20, 1979 in Japan by Toshiba-EMI's (Eastworld) billed as Ian Gillan as opposed to "Gillan" and later in the year in Australia (Interfusion) and New Zealand (Parlophone). This release contained several tracks that were not on the version as above.

Side 1
  1. "Vengeance" – 3:34
  2. "Mr. Universe" – 6:14
  3. "She Tears Me Down" – 5:08
  4. "Your Sister's on My List" – 4:09***
Side 2
  2. "Street Theatre" (Towns) – 2:42*
  3. "Roller" – 4:37
  4. "Puget Sound" – 4:26
  5. "Move with the Times" (Gillan, Towns, McCoy) – 5:00*
  6. "Sleeping on the Job" – 3:34**

Total running time 39:24

* These appear on the 1993 RPM release Gillan – The Japanese Album, see Gillan
** This version has not yet been released on CD
***Used as a B-side to the UK "Trouble" single and appears on the first release of Future Shock on CD as a bonus track

1989 re-release bonus tracks

[edit]

In 1989 the album was re-released on CD by Virgin Records, produced by Ian Gillan and Paul "Chas" Watkins, and mixed by John McCoy and Watkins. It followed the original UK track listing and included six bonus tracks:

  2. "On the Rocks" (live) – 6:38**
  3. "Bite the Bullet" (live) – 5:38**
  4. "Mr. Universe" (live) – 7:20***
  5. "Vengeance" (live) – 4:42***
  6. "Smoke on the Water" (live) (Ritchie Blackmore, Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice) – 10:10***
  7. "Lucille" (live) (Richard Wayne Penniman, Albert Collins) – 2:32****

Total running time 80:02

** Recorded at the Reading Festival, 29 August 1981

*** Recorded at the Reading Festival, 22 August 1980

**** Recorded at Nottingham Rock City, 4 March 1981, previously unreleased, in 2009 was included on Live: Triple Trouble album

Tracks 11 - 15 appear as live bonus tracks on the 2007 Edsel Demon Music Group re-issue of Double Trouble

2007 re-release bonus track

[edit]

In 2007, the album was re-released in remastered format with new sleevenotes by Ian Gillan by Demon Music Group and one bonus track:

  2. "Smoke on the Water" (live at Kingsway Recorders) – 8:25

Total running time 52:34

Personnel

[edit]
Gillan
Production
  • Paul "Chas" Watkins – producer, engineer
  • George Peckham – mastering

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1979) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 11
Chart (2007) Peak
position
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[8] 33

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gillan, Ian (2016). The Autobiography (3rd ed.). John Blake Publishing. p. 324. ISBN 978-1-786-06135-5.
  2. ^ Gillan, Ian (2016). The Autobiography (3rd ed.). John Blake Publishing. p. 324. ISBN 978-1-786-06135-5.
  3. ^ "Gillan singles".
  4. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Gillan - Mr. Universe review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  5. ^ Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-1894959025.
  6. ^ "Gillan Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
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