# Phantasmagoria (The Damned album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
Phantasmagoria is the sixth album by English rock band the Damned, released by MCA in July 1985. Special editions were available on white vinyl or picture disc; some versions included a free 12-inch of their No. 3 hit "Eloise". It is the first album by the band without original member Captain Sensible, and was a style shift to gothic rock compared to the band's punk sound of its early career.

## History

After much wrangling, the Damned received a new contract with MCA Records in October 1984 on the strength of the song "Grimly Fiendish", issued as a single the following March. They recorded the album in Eel Pie Studios from March to June 1985. It reached No. 11 in the charts, and was the band's highest-charting album ever, until the release of Evil Spirits in 2018, which cracked the top-ten at No. 7. The non-album single "Eloise," (a Barry Ryan cover), released six months later, became a huge UK hit, reaching No. 3.
The Damned centred the entire album around David Vanian's deep voice, giving much of the album a gothic feeling. The album was remastered and reissued by Geffen Records in Japan in 2007, featuring replicas of the LP's outer and inner sleeves and a CD label resembling the white vinyl edition. In 2009, an expanded edition was issued by Universal Music Group in Europe.

## Artwork

The cover image of Susie Bick was taken by photographer Bob Carlos Clarke at Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road.

## Track listing

All tracks are written by Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies, Roman Jugg and Bryn Merrick, except where noted

### Note

* The non-album single "Eloise" appeared as a bonus track on the 1986 re-issued LP versions in Australia, Germany and Italy.

### 2009 expanded edition
#### Notes

* "Edward the Bear" (single version) is produced by Bob Sargeant and the Damned.
* "Nightshift" and "Would You" are produced by the Damned.
* "Let There Be Rats" and "Wiped Out" were originally released as a Rat Scabies 7" solo single in 1984; produced by Will Birch.
* Live tracks recorded at Woolwich Coronet, 11 July 1985; engineered and mixed by Jon Kelly; all tracks feature Paul Shepley on keyboards; "Pretty Vacant"and "Wild Thing" features Rat Scabies on guitar and Roman Jugg on drums.
* "The Shadow of Love", "Is It a Dream" and "Street of Dreams" recorded for Janice Long Session, 14 April 1985; produced by Harry Parked, engineered by Barry Adams and Peter Watts.

## Personnel
### The Damned

* Dave Vanian – lead vocals
* Roman Jugg – guitar, keyboards, lead vocals (7), backing vocals
* Bryn Merrick – bass, backing vocals
* Rat Scabies – drums

### Additional musicians

* Paul Shepley – additional keyboards (8)
* Andy Richards – additional keyboards
* Luís Jardim – percussion
* Gary Barnacle – saxophone and brass
* Steve Nieve – keyboard inspiration (4)

### Production

* Jon Kelly – production, engineering (except 6)
* Chris Ludwinsky – additional engineering
* Bob Sargeant – production (6)
* The Damned – production (6)
* Bob Carlos Clarke – cover photography
* Booce – cover artwork

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 60,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||