The Boomtown Rats (album) explained

The Boomtown Rats
Type:	studio
Artist:	The Boomtown Rats
Cover:	Boomtown Rats - The Boomtown Rats album cover.jpg
Studio:	Dierks (Stommeln)
Genre:	Pop punk, punk rock
Producer:	Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Next Title:	A Tonic for the Troops
Next Year:	1978

The Boomtown Rats is the debut album by Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats, released in September 1977. It included the Rats' first hit single, "Lookin' After No. 1", as well as the subsequent single, "Mary of the 4th Form". The album peaked at No. 18 in the UK Albums Chart in 1977.^[1]

Track listing (1977 LP)

All lyrics written by Bob Geldof, all music arranged by The Boomtown Rats

1. "Lookin' After No. 1"
2. "Neon Heart"
3. "Joey's on the Street Again"
4. "Never Bite the Hand That Feeds"
5. "Mary of the 4th Form"
6. "(She's Gonna) Do You In"
7. "Close As You'll Ever Be"
8. "I Can Make It If You Can"
9. "Kicks"

Track listing (2005 CD reissue)

1. "Lookin' After No. 1"
2. "Mary of the 4th Form"
3. "Close As You'll Ever Be"
4. "Neon Heart"
5. "Joey's On the Streets Again"
6. "I Can Make It If You Can"
7. "Never Bite The Hand That Feeds"
8. "(She's Gonna) Do You In"
9. "Kicks"

Bonus Tracks

1. "Doin' It Right" - 1975 Live Demo
2. "My Blues Away" - 1975 Live Demo
3. "A Second Time" - 1975 Live Demo
4. "Fanzine Hero" - 1975 Live Demo
5. "Barefootin'" - Live at Moran's Hotel, Dublin, 1975
6. "Mary of the 4th Form" - Single Version

Personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes.^[2]

The Boomtown Rats

• Bob Geldof – lead vocals, harmonica
• Garry Roberts – guitar, backing vocals
• Gerry Cott – guitar
• Johnnie Fingers – keyboards, backing vocals
• Pete Briquette – bass, backing vocals
• Simon Crowe – drums, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Albie Donnelly – saxophone

Technical

• Adrian Boot – photography
• Steve Brown – editing, engineering, mastering, mixing
• Sue Dubois – art direction, design
• Geoff Halpin – design
• Robert John "Mutt" Lange – mixing, production
• Hannah Sharn – photography

Notes and References

1. Book: Roberts. David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. British Hit Singles & Albums. Guinness World Records Limited. 19th. 1-904994-10-5. 71.
2. The Boomtown Rats. The Boomtown Rats. Ensign Records. 1977. ENVY 1. liner notes.