"The Cutter" is a single released by the band Echo & the Bunnymen in 1983. It is the second single released from their 1983 album, '' Porcupine''.

Release

The single was released on the Korova

label A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed ...

in the United Kingdom on 14 January 1983 as both a 7" and 12" single. The 7" was available as a

limited edition The terms special edition, limited edition, and variants such as deluxe edition, or collector's edition, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints, r ...

which was packaged with a

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containing tracks from their August 1979 John Peel session which featured the drum machine that was rumoured to be called "Echo". The extra track on the b-side of the 12" release, "Zimbo", is a live recording from the first

WOMAD WOMAD ( ; World of Music, Arts and Dance) is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance. History WOMAD was founded in 1980 by English rock musician Peter Gabriel, w ...

festival in July 1982 and features the

Royal Drummers of Burundi The Royal Drummers of Burundi, commonly known in recordings as The Drummers of Burundi, is a percussion ensemble originally from Burundi. Their performances are a part of ceremonies such as births, funerals, and coronations of '' mwami'' (Kings). ...

. 12" single available with limited edition free poster The song was ranked at number 14 among the "Tracks of the Year" for 1983 by ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

''. In a retrospective review of "The Cutter",

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

journalist Tom Maginnis wrote: "Echo and The Bunnymen successfully wed the Eastern influenced psychedelic sounds made famous by

the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...

. The Eastern strings re-enter at strategic points, filling in space between verses and Ian McCulloch's esoteric pleas to 'spare us the cutter!'. The track never loses steam, cruising through each section with power and grace." The song was

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by the Dutch musician Solex on the 2001 compilation album ''Matador 2001: Draw Me a Riot'', which came free with the April 2001 edition of ''

The Wire ''The Wire'' is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. ''The Wire'' premiered on June 2 ...

'' magazine. A version of the song, performed by Lagartija Nick, is included on the 2005 Spanish tribute album ''Play the Game: Un Tributo a Echo & The Bunnymen''.

Formats and track listing

All tracks written by Ian McCulloch,

Will Sergeant William Alfred Sergeant (born 12 April 1958) is an English guitarist, best known for being a member of Echo & the Bunnymen. Born in Walton Hospital, he grew up in the village of Melling and attended nearby Deyes Lane Secondary Modern. He is th ...

Les Pattinson Leslie Thomas Pattinson (born 18 April 1958 in Ormskirk, Lancashire) is an English musician, best known for his work as the bassist and co-writer of the Liverpool-based band Echo & the Bunnymen,Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discog ...

and

Pete de Freitas Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas (2 August 1961 – 14 June 1989) was an English musician and producer. He was the drummer in Echo & the Bunnymen, and performed on their first five albums. De Freitas was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Toba ...

except where noted. ;UK 7" single (KOW 26) #"The Cutter" – 3.53 #"Way Out and Up We Go" – 3.57 ;UK 12" single (KOW 26T) #"The Cutter" – 3.53 #"Way Out and Up We Go" – 3.59 #"Zimbo" (live with the

) – 4.52 ;UK cassette (KOW 26C)

Limited edition The terms special edition, limited edition, and variants such as deluxe edition, or collector's edition, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints, r ...

free with the UK 7" single (KOW 26). #"The Cutter" #"Villiers Terrace" #"Ashes to Ashes" ("Stars Are Stars") #"Monkeys" #"Read It in Books" (McCulloch, Julian Cope) ;Belgium 7" single (24.9919-7) #"The Cutter" – 3.52 #"Way Out and Up We Go" – 4.01

Chart positions

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cutter, The 1983 singles Echo & the Bunnymen songs Songs written by Ian McCulloch (singer) Songs written by Will Sergeant Songs written by Les Pattinson Songs written by Pete de Freitas Song recordings produced by Ian Broudie 1982 songs Korova (record label) singles