Difference between revisions of "Showbiz (album)"

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[[Image:showbiz.jpg|right|thumb|Cover art]]
[[File:Muse - Showbiz.jpg|right|thumb|Cover art]]
[[Image:scab.jpg|right|thumb|Cover art back]]
[[File:Showbiz back cover art.jpg|right|thumb|Cover art back]]
[[File:Showbiz disc.jpg|right|thumb|Showbiz CD]]
{{Discobox
{{Discobox
| Name = Showbiz  
| Name = Showbiz  
Line 28: Line 29:
  title = Recording completed | desc=MicroCuts news | date=1999-05-15 | fetch=2006-11-21 | pub = MicroCuts | url=http://microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/05151999-recording_completed.php | dom=microcuts.net | type = ext
  title = Recording completed | desc=MicroCuts news | date=1999-05-15 | fetch=2006-11-21 | pub = MicroCuts | url=http://microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/05151999-recording_completed.php | dom=microcuts.net | type = ext
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
|[[East West Records|East West]] <small>(reissue)</small>
|[[East West Records|East West]] <small>(re-issue)</small>
|[[A&E Records]] <small>(reissue)</small>
|[[A&E Records]] <small>(reissue)</small>
|[[Warner]] <small>(vinyl reissue)</small>
|[[Warner]] <small>(vinyl reissue)</small>
Line 53: Line 54:
|547 979-4 <small>([[Motor]] releases)</small>
|547 979-4 <small>([[Motor]] releases)</small>
|547 979-9 <small>(UA CD)</small>
|547 979-9 <small>(UA CD)</small>
|WB47382 <small>(vinyl reissue)</small>
|WB47382 <small>(vinyl re-issue)</small>
|CPT-2430 <small>(KR cassette)</small>
|CPT-2430 <small>(KR cassette)</small>
|MUSE 2 <small>(promo EP)</small>
|MUSE 2 <small>(promo EP)</small>
Line 65: Line 66:
|7<sup>th</sup> September 1999 <small>(FR)</small><ref name="mc19990907"/>  
|7<sup>th</sup> September 1999 <small>(FR)</small><ref name="mc19990907"/>  
|28<sup>th</sup> September 1999 <small>(US)</small><ref name="mc19990515"/>
|28<sup>th</sup> September 1999 <small>(US)</small><ref name="mc19990515"/>
|6<sup>th</sup> November 2006 <small>(reissue)</small>
|6<sup>th</sup> November 2006 <small>(re-issue)</small>
|15<sup>th</sup> December 2007 <small>(JP reissue)</small>
|15<sup>th</sup> December 2007 <small>(JP re-issue)</small>
|18<sup>th</sup> August 2009 <small>(vinyl reissue)</small>
|18<sup>th</sup> August 2009 <small>(vinyl re-issue)</small>
}}
}}
| Chart Position = 29 <small>(UK)</small>
| Chart = 29 <small>(GB)</small>
| Previousalbum =  
| Next = Origin of Symmetry
| Name= Showbiz
| NextLink = Origin of Symmetry
| Nextalbum = Origin of Symmetry
| single1 = Uno | image1 = Uno.png
| single1 = Uno | image1 = Uno.png
| single2 = Cave | image2 = Cave CD1.png
| single2 = Cave | image2 = Cave CD1.png
Line 79: Line 79:
| single5 = Unintended | image5 = Unintended CD1.png
| single5 = Unintended | image5 = Unintended CD1.png
| single6 = Muscle Museum | image6 = Muscle Museum RR CD1.png
| single6 = Muscle Museum | image6 = Muscle Museum RR CD1.png
| type = album
| Type = album
| singlescount = 6
| singlescount = 6
}}
}}


<flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/ShowbizAlbum.mp3|rightbg=0xFFCCFF|leftbg=0xFFCCFF|bg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3>
==Information==
 
A lot of the songs that appear on Showbiz, were written on Matthew's nan's basement with damp down the walls, egg boxes up them and weird shiny black spiders, which inspired Muse around that time musically.<ref>
{{cite/web |
title=Game of Drones: Album seven finds Muse at their ridiculous best... | date=2015-05-20 | fetch=2015-05-20 | desc=Album Review| auth=Gavin Haynes | pub=NME | url=http://www.nme.com/features/muse-interview-on-modern-warfare-the-conspiracies-that-drive-new-album-drones-and-matt-bellamys-nigh?recache=2&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=muse | dom=nme.com| type=ext
}}</ref>
 
{{disco-info |
Showbiz was Muse's debut album, having been recorded between 1998 and 1999. The songs themselves included some of the older songs in Muse's repertoir, dating as far back as 1996. All songs on the album had been witten by 1997. These were among the "fifty or so" that Muse had written before entering the studio.<ref name="xfmdoc">{{cite/xfm20071007}}</ref> The band picked those which they deemed least progressive to make up Showbiz.


==Information==
[[John Leckie]], who produced the album, started attending Muse's concerts in the latter half of 1998. Leckie was based at [[Sawmills Studio|Sawmills recording studio]], where owner Dennis Smith had given the band free recording time the previous year, from which the [[Muse EP]] resulted. He built up a relationship with the band during this time, coming to say that he'd want to work with the band if ever they could afford him. Leckie had not worked with any bands quite some time prior to doing so with Muse. The recording had finished by the 15th of May 1999.<ref name="mc19990515"/> Thirteen songs were recorded for album release, with Spiral Static being the one not to make it on the album. While attempted in sessions, the vocals were too difficult for Matt to get a sound to his liking, so it was abandoned, only to be finished in January of 2000 as a Japanese bonus track.
Showbiz was Muse's debut album, having been recorded between 1998 and 1999. The songs themselves included some of the older songs in Muse's repertoir, dating as far back as 1996. These were among the "fifty or so" that Muse had written before entering the studio.<ref name="xfmdoc">{{cite |
 
  | title = Muse: The Making of Origin of Symmetry | desc = Documentary about the album | date = 2007-11-07 | doc = Muse: The Making of Origin of Symmetry (20071007 XFM documentary) | pub=XFM | type = int
Other songs such as Pink Ego Box (then known as Instant Messenger) were considered but ultimately left for b-side release as the band didn't think they were good enough for album inclusion. Others, such as Do We Need This and Nature_1 (then known as Natural Disaster), were known to be saved for the second album although neither would make the final cut, with Do We Need This ending up as a Muscle Museum b-side due to Matt's change in opinion of the song.
}}</ref> The band picked those which they deemed least progressive to make up Showbiz.
}}
 
Matthew described the album as: "It's all about power and hitting people with large walls of sound." and that "Some of the songs on Showbiz have changed shape over the course of the five years we've been playing them," Bellamy suggests. "You could translate songs differently, in a loud and heavy way, or a mellow and quiet way, and still make it sound good. On songs like 'Falling Down' and 'Unintended,' the words came first. But usually the music is first, then the melody. Then it's getting the lyrics to fit around the music."<ref name="CDNOWInterview1999">
{{cite |
  title=CD now - interview (1999) | desc=Interview| date=1999 | auth=John Fortunato  | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050307105351/http://www.rocketbabydolls.com/cdnow2.html | dom= | fetch=2015-26-08 | type=ext
}}</ref>


John Leckie, who produced the album, started attending Muse's concerts in the latter half of 1998. Leckie was based at Saw Mills recording studio, where owner Dennis Smith had given the band free recording time the previous year, from which the Muse EP resulted. He built up a relationship with the band during this time, coming to say that he'd want to work with the band if ever they could afford him. Leckie had not worked with any bands quite some time prior to doing so with Muse. The recording had finished by the 15th of May 1999.<ref name="mc19990515"/>
Chris said about the album that: "It's not all about relationships with people. It's sometimes about growing up with all this technology and everything around us. I think you could learn to do things the wrong way. The problem becomes communicating with people," Wolstenholme explains. "Then again, on the other hand, the Internet and e-mail have made that easier. It's a smaller world. Our songs could seem negative from the outside, but it's uplifting for me. It's about sharing experiences."<ref name="CDNOWInterview1999">
{{cite |
title=CD now - interview (1999) | desc=Interview| date=1999 | auth=John Fortunato  | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050307105351/http://www.rocketbabydolls.com/cdnow2.html | dom= | fetch=2015-26-08 | type=ext
}}</ref>


==Release==
==Release==
The booklet which comes with the album does not have lyrics on it, but instead, a line from each song is cited in bold letters. A limited "Festival Edition" was released in the Benelux region featuring a bonus disc with the same content as the Japanese [[Random 1-8 (EP)|''Random 1-8'' EP]], although without the three hidden "Sunburn" remixes after "Do We Need This (live)".
The booklet which comes with the album does not have lyrics on it, but instead, a line from each song is cited in bold letters. A limited "Festival Edition" was released in the Benelux region featuring a bonus disc with the same content as the Japanese [[Random 1-8 (EP)|''Random 1-8'' EP]], although without the three hidden "[[Sunburn]]" remixes after "[[Do We Need This (song)|Do We Need This]] (live)".


The UK and US promo CDs are held between two pieces of perspex, one engraved with the Muse logo, bolted down the middle. The aforementioned CD originally came with a special perspex spanner. Two other promo CDs, one with alternative artwork, another with a gold promo stamp, were made in the US. A variety of promotional CD-Rs were used to promote the album in the UK, US and Japan. The exclusive advanced promo CD was an European promo used for promoting Showbiz, and contains six faded song samples from the album.  
The UK and US promo CDs are held between two pieces of perspex, one engraved with the Muse logo, bolted down the middle. The aforementioned CD originally came with a special perspex spanner. Two other promo CDs, one with alternative artwork, another with a gold promo stamp, were made in the US. A variety of promotional CD-Rs were used to promote the album in the UK, US and Japan. The exclusive advanced promo CD was an European promo used for promoting Showbiz, and contains six faded song samples from the album.  


The album has gone to sell over 300,000 in the UK making it Platinum, and has sold over 700,000 copies worldwide. Whilst the first release was on the [[Mushroom]] and [[Taste Media]] labels in the UK, the album was reissued on CD in 2006 in the UK on [[East West Records]]. ''Showbiz'' will reissued on double 12" vinyl under [[Warner]] in Europe and North America in July 2009.
The album has gone to sell over 300,000 in the UK making it Platinum, and has sold over 700,000 copies worldwide. Whilst the first release was on the [[Mushroom]] and [[Taste Media]] labels in the UK, the album was reissued on CD in 2006 in the UK on [[East West Records]]. ''Showbiz'' was reissued on double 12" vinyl under [[Warner]] in Europe and North America on the 18th of August, 2009 to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the debut album.
 
==Pre-release==
A large number of different promo CDs were distributed across the world to promote ''Showbiz''. The UK promo came screwed between two embossed perspex plates. Some copies came with a perspex spanner to undo the bolt on the screw. Muse had a box of spare spanners on their tour bus so that anyone with a promo but no spanner could retrieve one for from the band after gigs.
 
==10th Anniversary Contest==
On the 4th of October, 2009 the [http://muse.mu/news/article/520/showbiz-is-10/?comment-page=1 muse.mu] website announced that 3 lucky fans could win signed copies of ''Showbiz'' if they could guess what "rocker" tried to sign Muse sometime after [[Maverick]] did.
 
The winners were later revealed to be Luke McCarthy-Reed, Helen Fordyce and Dom Green. The answer was [[System of a Down|Serj Tankian]].


==Track list==
==Track list==
Line 215: Line 239:
#[[Unintended (song)|Unintended]]
#[[Unintended (song)|Unintended]]


==Showbiz gallery==
==Personnel==
<ul class="col"><li><p class="gu" style="font-size:1.3em">'''Display gallery »'''</p></li>
'''Muse''':
<li class="di"><gallery>
<li>
Image:MD_Showbiz_Cover.jpg|Mini-disc cover art
[[Matthew Bellamy]] - vocals; lead and rhytm guitars; piano; hammond organ (tracks 4, 7 and 10); mellotron (tracks 2 and7); Wurlitzer piano (tracks 3 and 12); synthesizer (track 5); guitar synthesizer (track 9); harmonium on (track 10); string arrangements (track 6); production and mixing (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9); artwork
Image:MD_Showbiz_Interior_and_Disc.jpg|Mini-disc interior and disc
</li>
Image:MD_Showbiz_Disc_Back.jpg|Mini-disc disc back
<p>
Image:MD_Showbiz_Back_Cover.jpg|Mini-disc back cover
<li>
Image:LPShowbiz_Cover.jpg|Vinyl cover art
[[Chris Wolstenholme]] - bass; backing vocals; double bass on (tracks 4 and 7); production and mixing (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9)
Image:LPShowbiz_Back_Cover.jpg|Vinyl back cover
</li>
Image:LPShowbiz_Interior.jpg|Vinyl interior
</p>
Image:LPShowbiz_Discs.jpg|Vinyl discs
<p>
Image:LPShowbiz_Interior_Sleeves.jpg|Vinyl sleeves
<li>
Image:LPShowbiz_Interior_Sleeves_Back.jpg|Vinyls sleeves back
[[Dominic Howard]] - drums; percussion (tracks 6, 8 and 12)'; synthesizer (track 2); production and mixing (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9)
Image:Showbiz_2CD_cover_Benelux.jpg|BX Limited Festival Edition cover
</li>
Image:Showbiz_2CD_interior_and_disc_1_Benelux.jpg|BX Limited Festival Edition interior and disc 1
</p>
Image:Showbiz_2CD_interior_and_disc_2_Benelux.jpg|BX Limited Festival Edition interior and disc 2
<br>
Image:Showbiz_2CD_back_cover_Benelux.jpg|BX Limited Festival Edition back cover
'''Additional Personnel''':
Image:Showbiz_UA_cover.jpg|UA cover art
<li>
Image:Showbiz_UA_back_cover.jpg|UA back cover
[[John Leckie]] - production and mixing (tracks 1, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12)
Image:Showbiz_Japan_Cover.jpg|JP limited edition cover art
</li>
Image:showbizpro.jpg|UK promo cover art
<p>
Image:Showbiz_US2_Cover.jpg|US promo cover art
<li>
Image:Goldstamppromo.JPG|Gold stamped promo cover art
[[Paul Reeve]] - production and mixing (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9); backing vocals (tracks 7, 8, 11 and 12)
Image:German_Showbiz_Promo_II.jpg|DE promo cover Art
</li>
Image:German_Showbiz_Promo_I.jpg|DE promo back cover and CD
</p>
Image:Showbiz_2_Track_Sampler_I.JPG|Two track sampler cover art
<p>
Image:Showbiz_2_Track_Sampler_II.JPG|Two track sampler back cover
<li>
Image:Showbiz_2_Track_Sampler_III.JPG|Two track sampler CD
Tanya Andrew - artwork
Image:Showbiz_Sampler.jpg|Exclusive advanced promo cover art
</li>
Image:Showbiz_CoverCDR.jpg|CD-R cover
</p>
Image:Showbiz_DiscCDR.jpg|CD-R disc
<p>
Image:Showbiz_Sampler_Cover_and_DiscCDR.jpg|UK sampler CD-R
<li>
Image:Showbiz_Acetate_Sample_1_II.jpg|Sampler promo CD-R
Craig Gentle - design
Image:Showbiz_Acetate_Sample_2_II.jpg|Another sampler promo CD-R
</li>
Image:Showbiz_FR_Promo_I.jpg|French promo
</p>
Image:Showbiz_FR_Promo_II.jpg|French promo CD
<p>
Image:French_Promo_Acetate_Front.jpg|French promo CD
<li>
Image:Showbiz_Promo_Acetate_FR Back.jpg|French promo CD
Ralf Strathmann - photography
Image:Showbiz_Promo_Acetate_CD.jpg|French promo CD
</li>
Image:Showbiz_US_Promo_II.jpg|US Promo cover art
</p>
Image:Showbiz_US_Promo_I.jpg|US Promo back cover and CD
<p>
Image:Showbiz_US_CDR.jpg|US CD-R promo
<li>
Image:Showbiz_US_CDR_II.jpg|US CD-R promo back cover
Frederic Gresse - photography
Image:Showbiz_JP_Promo.jpg|JP promotion sampler (yellow)
</li>
Image:Promotion_Sampler_orange_cover_Japan.jpg|JP promotion sampler (orange) cover
</p>
Image:Promotion_Sampler_orange_interior_and_disc_Japan.jpg|JP promotion sampler (orange) interior and disc
Image:MDShowbiz_Cover.jpg|Cassette cover art
Image:Showbiz_Cassette_II.JPG|UK cassette back cover art
Image:MDShowbiz_A_Side.jpg|Cassette A side
Image:MDShowbiz_B_Side.jpg|Cassette B side
Image:MDShowbiz_Turkey_Cover.jpg|TR cassette cover art
Image:Showbiz_Cassette_Turkey.JPG|TR cassette back cover art
Image:Showbiz_Korea_CoverMC.jpg|KR cassette cover art
Image:Showbiz_Korea_Back_CoverMC.jpg|KR cassette back cover art
Image:Showbiz_Russia_Cover.jpg|RU cassette cover art
Image:Showbiz_Russia_Back_Cover.jpg|RU cassette back cover art
Image:Showbiz_Cassette_Indonesia_Cover.jpg|ID cassette cover art
Image:Showbiz Cassette Back Cover.jpg|ID cassette back cover
Image:Showbiz_Cassette_Indonesia_A_Side.jpg|ID cassette side 1
Image:Showbiz_Cassette_Indonesia_B_Side.jpg|ID cassette side 2
Image:Showbiz_thai_mc.jpg|TH cassette cover art
Image:Showbiz_thai_mc_2.jpg|TH cassette back cover
Image:Showbiz_JP_Promo_Cassette.JPG|JP promo cassette
Image:Showbiz_Promo_Cassette_JP_I.jpg|Another JP promo cassette front cover
Image:Showbiz_Promo_Cassette_JP_II.jpg|Another JP promo cassette
Image:Showbiz_Ukraine_Cover.jpg|UA promo cassette cover
Image:Showbiz_Ukraine_Back_Cover.jpg|UA promo cassette back cover
Image:Muse_EPK.jpg|Muse EPK promo VHS
Image:Showbiz_EPK2.jpg|EPK promo VHS
Image:Showbiz_TP.jpg|Vinyl test-pressing (one of a kind)
</gallery></li></ul>


==References==
== First album recording gallery ==
<references/>
<gallery>
File: ShowibizMakingOf_01.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_02.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_03.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_04.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_05.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_06.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_07.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_08.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_09.jpg
File: ShowibizMakingOf_10.jpg
</gallery>
 
==Showbiz Gallery==
<gallery>
File:MD Showbiz Cover.jpg|Mini-disc cover art
File:MD Showbiz Interior and Disc.jpg|Mini-disc interior and disc
File:MD Showbiz Disc Back.jpg|Mini-disc disc back
File:MD Showbiz Back Cover.jpg|Mini-disc back cover
File:LPShowbiz Cover.jpg|Vinyl cover art
File:LPShowbiz Back Cover.jpg|Vinyl back cover
File:LPShowbiz Interior.jpg|Vinyl interior
File:LPShowbiz Discs.jpg|Vinyl discs
File:LPShowbiz Interior Sleeves.jpg|Vinyl sleeves
File:LPShowbiz Interior Sleeves Back.jpg|Vinyls sleeves back
File:Showbiz 2CD cover Benelux.jpg|BX Limited Festival Edition cover
File:Showbiz 2CD interior and disc 1 Benelux.jpg|BX Limited Festival Edition interior and disc 1
File:Showbiz 2CD interior and disc 2 Benelux.jpg|BX Limited Festival Edition interior and disc 2
File:Showbiz 2CD back cover Benelux.jpg|BX Limited Festival Edition back cover
File:Showbiz UA cover.jpg|UA cover art
File:Showbiz UA back cover.jpg|UA back cover
File:Showbiz Japan Cover.jpg|JP limited edition cover art
File:showbizpro.jpg|UK promo cover art
File:Showbiz US2 Cover.jpg|US promo cover art
File:Goldstamppromo.JPG|Gold stamped promo cover art
File:German Showbiz Promo II.jpg|DE promo cover Art
File:German Showbiz Promo I.jpg|DE promo back cover and CD
File:Showbiz 2 Track Sampler I.JPG|Two track sampler cover art
File:Showbiz 2 Track Sampler II.JPG|Two track sampler back cover
File:Showbiz 2 Track Sampler III.JPG|Two track sampler CD
File:Showbiz Sampler.jpg|Exclusive advanced promo cover art
File:Showbiz CoverCDR.jpg|CD-R cover
File:Showbiz DiscCDR.jpg|CD-R disc
File:Showbiz Sampler Cover and DiscCDR.jpg|UK sampler CD-R
File:Showbiz Acetate Sample 1 II.jpg|Sampler promo CD-R
File:Showbiz Acetate Sample 2 II.jpg|Another sampler promo CD-R
File:Showbiz FR Promo I.jpg|French promo
File:Showbiz FR Promo II.jpg|French promo CD
File:French Promo Acetate Front.jpg|French promo CD
File:Showbiz Promo Acetate FR Back.jpg|French promo CD
File:Showbiz Promo Acetate CD.jpg|French promo CD
File:Showbiz US Promo II.jpg|US Promo cover art
File:Showbiz US Promo I.jpg|US Promo back cover and CD
File:Showbiz US CDR.jpg|US CD-R promo
File:Showbiz US CDR II.jpg|US CD-R promo back cover
File:Showbiz JP Promo.jpg|JP promotion sampler (yellow)
File:Promotion Sampler orange cover Japan.jpg|JP promotion sampler (orange) cover
File:Promotion Sampler orange interior and disc Japan.jpg|JP promotion sampler (orange) interior and disc
File:MDShowbiz Cover.jpg|Cassette cover art
File:Showbiz Cassette II.JPG|UK cassette back cover art
File:MDShowbiz A Side.jpg|Cassette A side
File:MDShowbiz B Side.jpg|Cassette B side
File:MDShowbiz Turkey Cover.jpg|TR cassette cover art
File:Showbiz Cassette Turkey.JPG|TR cassette back cover art
File:Showbiz Korea CoverMC.jpg|KR cassette cover art
File:Showbiz Korea Back CoverMC.jpg|KR cassette back cover art
File:Showbiz Russia Cover.jpg|RU cassette cover art
File:Showbiz Russia Back Cover.jpg|RU cassette back cover art
File:Showbiz Cassette Indonesia Cover.jpg|ID cassette cover art
File:Showbiz Cassette Back Cover.jpg|ID cassette back cover
File:Showbiz Cassette Indonesia A Side.jpg|ID cassette side 1
File:Showbiz Cassette Indonesia B Side.jpg|ID cassette side 2
File:Showbiz thai mc.jpg|TH cassette cover art
File:Showbiz thai mc 2.jpg|TH cassette back cover
File:Showbiz JP Promo Cassette.JPG|JP promo cassette
File:Showbiz Promo Cassette JP I.jpg|Another JP promo cassette front cover
File:Showbiz Promo Cassette JP II.jpg|Another JP promo cassette
File:Showbiz Ukraine Cover.jpg|UA promo cassette cover
File:Showbiz Ukraine Back Cover.jpg|UA promo cassette back cover
File:Muse EPK.jpg|Muse EPK promo VHS
File:Showbiz EPK2.jpg|EPK promo VHS
File:Showbiz TP.jpg|Vinyl test-pressing
</gallery>
 
==Spread Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Sho_AU_CD.jpg|AU CD (Mushroom)
File:Showbiz DE CD - dark inlay.jpg|DE CD (dark inlay)
DE showbiz advance promo.JPG|DE advance promo
File:JP Showbiz CD.jpg|JP CD
File:KR_Showbiz_CD_(Warner).JPG|KR CD (Warner)
File:Sho_CD_(Mushroom_Release).jpg|UK CD (Mushroom)
File:Sho_CD_(EastWest_Release).JPG|UK CD (EastWest)
File:Sho_EP_Promo.jpg|UK EP CD promo
File:Sho_US_CD.JPG|US CD
File:Sho_US_12''_Vinyl.jpg|US 12" vinyl
File:Sho_US_Promo.jpg|US CD promo
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Showbiz (discography)|Showbiz discography]]
*[[Showbiz (discography)|Showbiz discography]]
*[[Sunburn-Overdue demo (compilation)|Sunburn/Overdue demo]]
*[[Sunburn/Overdue (demo)|Sunburn/Overdue demo]]
*[[:Category:Showbiz-era media|Showbiz-era media]]
 
==References==
<references/>


{{Backto|Discography}}
{{Backto | Discography}}
{{Template:Backtomu|url=discography/albums/7/showbiz/}}
{{Template:Backtomu |discography/albums/7/showbiz/}}

Latest revision as of 22:30, 25 August 2022

Cover art
Cover art back
Showbiz CD
Muse album
Name Showbiz
Tracks
  • 12 »
  • 13 (JP)
  • 5 (promo EP)
  • 6 (Exclusive Advanced Promo, Sampler CD-R)
  • 2 (US sampler CD)
  • 4 (US sampler CD-Rs)
Total length
  • 49:36 »
  • 22:54 (promo EP)
Recorded 1999
Writer/composer Matthew Bellamy
Producer John Leckie, Paul Reeve
Art work Tanya Andrew, Matthew Bellamy
Publisher
Format(s) CD, double 12" vinyl, 12" vinyl, cassette, minidisc, CD-R (promo only)
Catalogue №
  • MUSH59CD (CD), MUSH59LP (vinyl), MUSH59MC (cassette), MUSH59MD (mini disc) »
  • 5050466888624 (reissue)
  • 9 4738-2 (US, Gold Stamped Promo)
  • NV 3211-1 (FR CD)
  • 481.2001.20 (BX CD)
  • 481.2001.23 (BX 2CD Limited Festival Edition)
  • AVCM-65057 (JP CD)
  • WPCR-12336 (JP re-release CD)
  • 547 979-4 (Motor releases)
  • 547 979-9 (UA CD)
  • WB47382 (vinyl re-issue)
  • CPT-2430 (KR cassette)
  • MUSE 2 (promo EP)
  • MUSE 4 (promo)
  • NV3217-1 (FR promo)
  • DADR1NMS3 (sampler)
Release date
  • 4th October 1999 (World)[1] »
  • 7th September 1999 (FR)[2]
  • 28th September 1999 (US)[1]
  • 6th November 2006 (re-issue)
  • 15th December 2007 (JP re-issue)
  • 18th August 2009 (vinyl re-issue)
Chart position 29 (GB)
album chronology
Showbiz
→
Origin of Symmetry
Singles
Uno.pngCave CD1.pngMuscle Museum CD1.pngSunburn CD1.pngUnintended CD1.pngMuscle Museum RR CD1.png


Information

A lot of the songs that appear on Showbiz, were written on Matthew's nan's basement with damp down the walls, egg boxes up them and weird shiny black spiders, which inspired Muse around that time musically.[3]

Showbiz was Muse's debut album, having been recorded between 1998 and 1999. The songs themselves included some of the older songs in Muse's repertoir, dating as far back as 1996. All songs on the album had been witten by 1997. These were among the "fifty or so" that Muse had written before entering the studio.[4] The band picked those which they deemed least progressive to make up Showbiz.

John Leckie, who produced the album, started attending Muse's concerts in the latter half of 1998. Leckie was based at Sawmills recording studio, where owner Dennis Smith had given the band free recording time the previous year, from which the Muse EP resulted. He built up a relationship with the band during this time, coming to say that he'd want to work with the band if ever they could afford him. Leckie had not worked with any bands quite some time prior to doing so with Muse. The recording had finished by the 15th of May 1999.[1] Thirteen songs were recorded for album release, with Spiral Static being the one not to make it on the album. While attempted in sessions, the vocals were too difficult for Matt to get a sound to his liking, so it was abandoned, only to be finished in January of 2000 as a Japanese bonus track.

Other songs such as Pink Ego Box (then known as Instant Messenger) were considered but ultimately left for b-side release as the band didn't think they were good enough for album inclusion. Others, such as Do We Need This and Nature_1 (then known as Natural Disaster), were known to be saved for the second album although neither would make the final cut, with Do We Need This ending up as a Muscle Museum b-side due to Matt's change in opinion of the song.

Matthew described the album as: "It's all about power and hitting people with large walls of sound." and that "Some of the songs on Showbiz have changed shape over the course of the five years we've been playing them," Bellamy suggests. "You could translate songs differently, in a loud and heavy way, or a mellow and quiet way, and still make it sound good. On songs like 'Falling Down' and 'Unintended,' the words came first. But usually the music is first, then the melody. Then it's getting the lyrics to fit around the music."[5]

Chris said about the album that: "It's not all about relationships with people. It's sometimes about growing up with all this technology and everything around us. I think you could learn to do things the wrong way. The problem becomes communicating with people," Wolstenholme explains. "Then again, on the other hand, the Internet and e-mail have made that easier. It's a smaller world. Our songs could seem negative from the outside, but it's uplifting for me. It's about sharing experiences."[5]

Release

The booklet which comes with the album does not have lyrics on it, but instead, a line from each song is cited in bold letters. A limited "Festival Edition" was released in the Benelux region featuring a bonus disc with the same content as the Japanese Random 1-8 EP, although without the three hidden "Sunburn" remixes after "Do We Need This (live)".

The UK and US promo CDs are held between two pieces of perspex, one engraved with the Muse logo, bolted down the middle. The aforementioned CD originally came with a special perspex spanner. Two other promo CDs, one with alternative artwork, another with a gold promo stamp, were made in the US. A variety of promotional CD-Rs were used to promote the album in the UK, US and Japan. The exclusive advanced promo CD was an European promo used for promoting Showbiz, and contains six faded song samples from the album.

The album has gone to sell over 300,000 in the UK making it Platinum, and has sold over 700,000 copies worldwide. Whilst the first release was on the Mushroom and Taste Media labels in the UK, the album was reissued on CD in 2006 in the UK on East West Records. Showbiz was reissued on double 12" vinyl under Warner in Europe and North America on the 18th of August, 2009 to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the debut album.

Pre-release

A large number of different promo CDs were distributed across the world to promote Showbiz. The UK promo came screwed between two embossed perspex plates. Some copies came with a perspex spanner to undo the bolt on the screw. Muse had a box of spare spanners on their tour bus so that anyone with a promo but no spanner could retrieve one for from the band after gigs.

10th Anniversary Contest

On the 4th of October, 2009 the muse.mu website announced that 3 lucky fans could win signed copies of Showbiz if they could guess what "rocker" tried to sign Muse sometime after Maverick did.

The winners were later revealed to be Luke McCarthy-Reed, Helen Fordyce and Dom Green. The answer was Serj Tankian.

Track list

CD, promos, cassettes

  1. Sunburn
  2. Muscle Museum
  3. Fillip
  4. Falling Down
  5. Cave
  6. Showbiz
  7. Unintended
  8. Uno
  9. Sober
  10. Escape
  11. Overdue
  12. Hate This & I'll Love You

BX Limited Festival Edition bonus CD

  1. Host
  2. Coma
  3. Pink Ego Box
  4. Forced In
  5. Agitated
  6. Yes Please
  7. Fillip (live)
  8. Do We Need This (live)

Vinyl

A

  1. Sunburn
  2. Muscle Museum
  3. Fillip

B

  1. Falling Down
  2. Cave
  3. Showbiz

C

  1. Unintended
  2. Uno
  3. Sober

D

  1. Escape
  2. Overdue
  3. Hate This & I'll Love You

JP CD

  1. Sunburn
  2. Muscle Museum
  3. Fillip
  4. Falling Down
  5. Cave
  6. Showbiz
  7. Unintended
  8. Uno
  9. Sober
  10. Spiral Static
  11. Escape
  12. Overdue
  13. Hate This & I'll Love You

JP Promotion Sample

  1. Muscle Museum (Radio Edit)
  2. Sunburn
  3. Muscle Museum
  4. Fillip
  5. Falling Down
  6. Cave
  7. Showbiz
  8. Unintended
  9. Uno
  10. Sober
  11. Escape
  12. Overdue
  13. Hate This & I'll Love You

Promo EP

  1. Cave
  2. Muscle Museum
  3. Unintended
  4. Showbiz
  5. Falling Down

US Sampler CD

  1. Muscle Museum
  2. Uno

Exclusive Advanced Promo

All tracks are faded samples

  1. Sunburn
  2. Muscle Museum
  3. Fillip
  4. Showbiz
  5. Unintended
  6. Uno

UK sampler CD-R

  1. Muscle Museum
  2. Sunburn
  3. Unintended
  4. Fillip
  5. Sober
  6. Falling Down

US 4 track promo CD-R

  1. Muscle Museum
  2. Sober
  3. Cave
  4. Unintended

Other US 4 track promo CD-R

  1. Muscle Museum
  2. Uno
  3. Cave
  4. Unintended

Personnel

Muse:

  • Matthew Bellamy - vocals; lead and rhytm guitars; piano; hammond organ (tracks 4, 7 and 10); mellotron (tracks 2 and7); Wurlitzer piano (tracks 3 and 12); synthesizer (track 5); guitar synthesizer (track 9); harmonium on (track 10); string arrangements (track 6); production and mixing (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9); artwork

  • Chris Wolstenholme - bass; backing vocals; double bass on (tracks 4 and 7); production and mixing (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9)

  • Dominic Howard - drums; percussion (tracks 6, 8 and 12)'; synthesizer (track 2); production and mixing (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9)


    • Additional Personnel:

  • John Leckie - production and mixing (tracks 1, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12)

  • Paul Reeve - production and mixing (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9); backing vocals (tracks 7, 8, 11 and 12)

  • Tanya Andrew - artwork

  • Craig Gentle - design

  • Ralf Strathmann - photography

  • Frederic Gresse - photography

    • First album recording gallery

    • ShowibizMakingOf 01.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 02.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 03.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 04.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 05.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 06.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 07.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 08.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 09.jpg
    • ShowibizMakingOf 10.jpg

    Showbiz Gallery

    • Mini-disc cover art

    • Mini-disc interior and disc

    • Mini-disc disc back

    • Mini-disc back cover

    • Vinyl cover art

    • Vinyl back cover

    • Vinyl interior

    • Vinyl discs

    • Vinyl sleeves

    • Vinyls sleeves back

    • BX Limited Festival Edition cover

    • BX Limited Festival Edition interior and disc 1

    • BX Limited Festival Edition interior and disc 2

    • BX Limited Festival Edition back cover

    • UA cover art

    • UA back cover

    • JP limited edition cover art

    • UK promo cover art

    • US promo cover art

    • Gold stamped promo cover art

    • DE promo cover Art

    • DE promo back cover and CD

    • Two track sampler cover art

    • Two track sampler back cover

    • Two track sampler CD

    • Exclusive advanced promo cover art

    • CD-R cover

    • CD-R disc

    • UK sampler CD-R

    • Sampler promo CD-R

    • Another sampler promo CD-R

    • French promo

    • French promo CD

    • French promo CD

    • French promo CD

    • French promo CD

    • US Promo cover art

    • US Promo back cover and CD

    • US CD-R promo

    • US CD-R promo back cover

    • JP promotion sampler (yellow)

    • JP promotion sampler (orange) cover

    • JP promotion sampler (orange) interior and disc

    • Cassette cover art

    • UK cassette back cover art

    • Cassette A side

    • Cassette B side

    • TR cassette cover art

    • TR cassette back cover art

    • KR cassette cover art

    • KR cassette back cover art

    • RU cassette cover art

    • RU cassette back cover art

    • ID cassette cover art

    • ID cassette back cover

    • ID cassette side 1

    • ID cassette side 2

    • TH cassette cover art

    • TH cassette back cover

    • JP promo cassette

    • Another JP promo cassette front cover

    • Another JP promo cassette

    • UA promo cassette cover

    • UA promo cassette back cover

    • Muse EPK promo VHS

    • EPK promo VHS

    • Vinyl test-pressing

    Spread Gallery

    • AU CD (Mushroom)

    • DE CD (dark inlay)

    • DE advance promo

    • JP CD

    • KR CD (Warner)

    • UK CD (Mushroom)

    • UK CD (EastWest)

    • UK EP CD promo

    • US CD

    • US 12" vinyl

    • US CD promo

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ a b c d e Recording completed (1999-05-15). MicroCuts. Retrieved 2006-11-21 from microcuts.net.
    2. ↑ a b Showbiz released in France (1999-09-07). MicroCuts. Retrieved 2006-11-22 from microcuts.net.
    3. ↑ Gavin Haynes. (2015-05-20). Game of Drones: Album seven finds Muse at their ridiculous best.... NME. Retrieved 2015-05-20 from nme.com.
    4. ↑ Muse: The Making of Origin of Symmetry (2007-10-07). Xfm. Retrieved from www.muselive.com. [verify]
    5. ↑ a b John Fortunato. (1999). CD now - interview (1999). Retrieved 2015-26-08 from [1].


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