| Endangered Species | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Klaatu |
| Cover: | Klaatu-Endangered Species-album.jpg |
| Released: | June 1980 |
| Recorded: | 1980 |
| Length: | 33:48 |
| Label: | Daffodil, Capitol |
| Producer: | Christopher Bond |
| Prev Title: | Sir Army Suit |
| Prev Year: | 1978 |
| Next Title: | Magentalane |
| Next Year: | 1981 |
Endangered Species is the fourth and penultimate album by the Canadian rock band Klaatu, released in mid-1980. Upon release, it was marketed as an attempt at a harder rock and roll sound geared for AOR radio, and contrasted with the pop stylings of their previous album Sir Army Suit.[1]
According to Dave Bradley, "An outside producer was brought in, most of the instruments were played by Los Angeles based session musicians, and the band members were asked to add their voices and (usually) one lead instrument per song. The band was sent home before the album was even mixed." John Woloschuk, bass player of Klaatu, said that all of Dee Long's lead guitar parts were overdubbed by Chris Bond, with the only exception being Long's guitar solo on "Sell Out, Sell Out."[2]
One track on the album ("Sell Out, Sell Out") was a searing attack on Capitol's attempts to "jump on the bandwagon."
The album was a commercial and critical failure. As a result, the band was dropped shortly afterwards by Capitol, though Capitol's Canadian division picked up the band and released their final album Magentalane in Canada only.
AllMusic described Endangered Species as a "downright ghastly pop-rock affair",[3] and deemed its songs "dismal".[4]
Regular Klaatu artist Ted Jones, who had not painted the cover for the group's previous album Sir Army Suit, returned to paint the album cover.[5]
The following tracks were recorded but not included on the final album:[2]
Klaatu
Additional musicians