Birth School Work Death

The Godfathers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000008G24
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,710 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Birth, School, Work, Death

2. If I Only Had Time

3. Tell Me Why

4. It's so Hard

5. When Am I Coming Down

6. Cause I Said So

7. The Strangest Boy

8. S.T.B.

9. Just Like You

10. Obsession

11. Love Is Dead

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1988 album from the British rockers. The Godfathers presented hard, crunching, socially-conscious Pop with a fierce R&B/Mod sensibility. Their three albums offered a powerful antidote to the puffed-up importance of the music scene. Birth, School, Work, Death was released in February 1988. A tie-in gig at London's Town And Country Club in Kentish Town on Valentine's Night 1988 marked The Godfathers step into the big time. The album made #80 on the UK albums chart, where it remained for two weeks. However, in the states, the title track was pushed heavily by college radio, and it became a Top 40 hit. "Birth, School, Work, Death has got to be a bit of a high point, 'cause that took off instantly all over the world and it's turned into a little franchise of its own really," Peter Coyne was to say later. This reissue contains five bonus tracks as well as extensive notes by Mojo's Daryl Easlea. Lemon. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An overlooked gem, March 15, 2004

By 

Mikey Kuhlmann (Iowa City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birth, School, Work, Death (Audio CD)

I sure am glad this CD is available, even though I had to pay a hefty import price. I have this on vinyl, purchased originally in 1988 when I still took a lot of risks with my music purchases. I always thought this group would catch on like wildfire, and they certainly were played a lot on the Hampton Roads alternative station WOFM 92.1 at that time. They should have gone on to great success. They snarl like the New York Dolls, swagger like the Stones, snap like the Kinks. Great rock and roll "alternative" band in the very best sense--they truly epitomize the best of the alternative music scene of that time. This and More Songs about Love and Hate are essential to anyone who's interested in the modern rock of the late 1980s. I think they're more tuneful than Husker Du, more melodic. Even if you don't like that scene and are more of a "classic rocker," you'll enjoy this. If I could give this more than five stars, I would.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Godfathers Commit a Crime, August 10, 2008

By 

Terabytes (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birth School Work Death (Audio CD)

I pride myself in finding great unknown Bands but rarely am I as suprised as I was when this Album/Band did not become popular. This Album is absolutely full of great radio-ready rock songs. There is nothing about this Album that was too inaccessible or for that matter much different than the popular rock of it's day and yet it all sparkles and seems fresh even today. I listened to this again yesterday after having not played it for years and again I sang and jammed along with every song. I hope the A&R folks at Sony in charge of this Album's promotion are currently in the food services industry but I know better. The are probably now the executives that continue to kill the recording industry by promoting whomever sounds like the last big hit. It you are a fan of melodic catchy hard rock get this CD. I guarantee you will be singing along after a couple of listens.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars lovely album, April 20, 2004

By 

pherm "pherm" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birth School Work Death (Audio CD)

this is 80s rock at its best.
nothing beats the throbbing beat of "when am i coming down"
or "birth, school, work, death"