''Vermin in Ermine'' is the début solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter

Marc Almond Peter Mark Sinclair "Marc" Almond, (born 9 July 1957) is an English singer. Almond first began performing and recording in the synthpop/ new wave duo Soft Cell where he became known for his distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. He ...

. It was released in October 1984 and reached number 36 on the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...

. ''Vermin in Ermine'' includes the singles "The Boy Who Came Back", "You Have" and "Tenderness is a Weakness". Almond with his new assembled band The Willing Sinners - an evolution from his previous outfit Marc and the Mambas - featuring

Annie Hogan Annie Hogan (sometimes spelled as Anni Hogan) also known as Ann Margaret Hogan is a British musician, record producer, composer and club DJ, born in 1961. Originally known for her association with British musician Marc Almond, Hogan has since c ...

, Billy McGee,

Martin McCarrick Martin McCarrick (born 29 July 1962) is an English cellist, keyboardist, guitarist and composer. Aside from being a live and recording artist, he is also a teacher and visiting lecturer in music. Career His first recording in the pop/rock ar ...

, Richard Riley and Steven Humphreys, accompanied by studio musicians recorded the songs for album at Hartmann Digital Studios, Bavaria. The artwork was designed by Huw Feather from a concept by Almond with photography by Peter Ashworth.

Track listing

LP

CD and Cassette

Personnel

* Marc Almond – vocals, all arrangements, design concept ; The Willing Sinners *

– piano, vibes * Billy McGee – bass (bowed and plucked) *

– cello, keyboards * Richard Riley – guitar * Steven Humphreys – drums with: *

Gary Barnacle Gary Barnacle (born 1959 in Dover, England) is an English saxophonist, flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer, and producer. Barnacle is primarily noted for his session work and live work, including various Prince's Trust concerts at Wem ...

– saxophone * Enrico Tomasso – trumpet, flugelhorn; trumpet arrangement on "Hell Was a City" * Gini Ball – violin *

Zeke Manyika Zeke Manyika (born 23 February 1955 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland) is a drummer, vocalist and songwriter. Career Manyika was born in Zimbabwe, but has lived in Britain for most of his life. From 1982 to 1984 he was a member of the pop gro ...

– drums on "Pink Shack Blues" and "Ugly Head" *

Martin Ditcham Martin Ditcham is an English drummer, percussionist and songwriter. Ditcham is a prolific session musician, working with artists such as Henry Cow, Status Quo, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Roger Daltrey, Sade, Mary Black, Nik Kershaw, Chris ...

– percussion, tympani on "Tenderness is a Weakness" * Spiros – bouzouki on "Shining Sinners" * Nancy Peppers – backing vocals on "The Boy Who Came Back" and "Pink Shack Blues" ;Technical *

Mike Hedges Mike Hedges (born 1953) is a British audio producer/engineer best known for his work with The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Manic Street Preachers. During his career, Hedges has worked with an eclectic roster of artists ranging from roc ...

– producer * Tom Thiel – engineer *

Flood A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrol ...

– engineer on "Shining Sinners" and "Crime Sublime" * Billy McGee, Gini Ball, Martin Ditcham – string arrangements * Peter Ashworth – cover photography * Huw Feather – design * Rizz – glamour wear

References

{{Authority control 1984 debut albums Marc Almond albums Albums produced by Mike Hedges Vertigo Records albums Some Bizzare Records albums