Sign of the Times (Rubettes album)

1976 studio album by The Rubettes

Sign of the Times

Studio album by

The Rubettes

Released| June 1976
Genre| Pop rock, rock & roll, Country rock
Length| 35:29
42:02 (with bonus tracks)
Label| State Records/Polydor Records
Producer| The Rubettes, Alan Blakley
The Rubettes chronology
| Rubettes
(1975)  | Sign of the Times
(1976)  | Baby I Know
(1977)

|
|

Sign of the Times is the fourth studio album by the English band The Rubettes. It was released on the State Records label in June 1976.[1] The album represented a significant change in direction for the band, as it was the first not produced by Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington – instead the Rubettes took on production responsibilities themselves, with Alan Blakley (formerly of the Tremeloes) as co-producer. The band made the decision due to the disappointing sales of their previous two Bickerton/Waddington singles and the desire to forge new musical directions.[2][3]

The Rubettes were a four-piece band by the time Sign of the Times was recorded, as keyboardist Bill Hurd departed earlier in 1976. Tony Thorpe took over keyboard duties in the studio.[3]

The album contained two singles, both released in advance – the only UK single release "You're The Reason Why" and the non-UK A-side "Julia".[3]

In 1992, Dice Records (France) released the Rubettes' third and fourth albums (Rubettes and Sign of the Times) as a double CD set.[4] In 2012, Cherry Red Records issued the album on CD.[2] In 2015, Caroline Records released the album Sign of the Times, with two bonus tracks, as part of a box CD set of the Rubettes' first five studio albums.[5]

## Track listing

[edit]

Side 1

1. "Sign Of The Times" (Mick Clarke, John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:39
2. "Dancing In The Rain" (Mike Gower) – 2:56
3. "You're The Only Girl On My Island" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 4:23
4. "The Way You Live" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:07
5. "Not Now My Dear" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:42

Side 2

1. "You're The Reason Why" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 2:34
2. "I Think I'm In Love" (Mick Clarke, John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:06
3. "I Really Got To Know" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 2:53
4. "Julia" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 2:53
5. "Highwayman's Lament" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 6:16[6]

### 2015 CD bonus tracks

[edit]

Alan and John*:

11\. "Take Good Care of My Baby" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 3:23
12\. "The Price Of Living" (John Richardson, Alan Williams) – 3:10[5]
*Produced by Alan Blakley[7]

NB: All track times taken from 2015 CD

## Singles

[edit]

1\. "You're The Reason Why" b/w "Julia" – May 1976 – UK No. 28[1][8]
2\. "Julia" was also released as a non-UK single, b/w either "Dancing In The Rain" or "You're The Reason Why" – in March 1976 (France/Belgium) and May 1976 (several other non-UK markets)[1][9][10][11][12]

### Bonus tracks single

[edit]

Bonus tracks 11 & 12 were also released together on the following single:
* "Take Good Care Of My Baby" b/w "The Price Of Living" (as Alan and John) – January 1976 (German release)[7]

## Personnel

[edit]

* Mick Clarke – Bass guitar and vocals
* John Richardson – Drums, percussion and vocals
* Tony Thorpe – Guitar, vocals and keyboards
* Alan Williams – Guitar and vocals[2]

## Publishers (including bonus tracks)

[edit]

* All tracks Warner Bros Music/Arlovol Music/Penny Farthing Music except:

Track 2 – Halcyon Music
Tracks 3 & 6 – Arlovol Music/Penny Farthing Music/Bucks Music
Track 11 – Screen Gems-EMI Music
Track 12 – Halcyon/Belwin Music[13]

## Production and credits

[edit]

* Produced by The Rubettes with Alan Blakley
* Recorded at – DJM Studios
* Mastered at – Turan Audio
* Mastered By – Tim Turan
* Engineer – Mark Wallis
* Tape Op & Beverage – John Cooper
* Catering – Sarge
* Sleeve Concept – The Rubettes
* Designed By – TARGA
* Illustrations & Typo – Martin Rowley
* Design (CD Reissue – Skyrocket) – Tim Smith
* Liner Notes (CD Reissue) – Phil Hendriks[2][6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Rubettes -Discography". Rubettes.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
2. ^ a b c d "Rubettes – Sign Of The Times". discogs.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
3. ^ a b c Liner notes from CD box set Rubettes – The Albums 1974–77
4. ^ "Original Albums – 3 & 4". discogs.com. 1992. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
5. ^ a b "The Rubettes – The Albums 1974–77 – (CD, Box Set) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
6. ^ a b Original album sleeve notes
7. ^ a b "Take Good Care Of My Baby – single". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
8. ^ "Rubettes UK Chart History". Official Charts.
9. ^ "Polydor/State Releases". 45cat.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
10. ^ "Swiss Chart History – Julia". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
11. ^ "Rubettes – Chart History". Tsort. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
12. ^ "Irish Charts – Rubettes". irishcharts.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
13. ^ Sleeve notes 2015 Boxed CD Set Rubettes Albums – 1974–77

* v
* t
* e

The Rubettes

* John Richardson
* Alan Williams
* Mick Clarke
* Bill Hurd

* Steve Etherington
* Ken Butler
* Martin Clapson
* Dave Harding
* Chris Staines
* Pete Arnesen
* Tony Thorpe
* Bob Benham
* Alex Bines
* Steve Kinch
* Trevor Holliday

Albums|

* Wear It's 'At
* We Can Do It
* Rubettes
* Sign of the Times
* Baby I Know
* Sometime In Oldchurch
* Still Unwinding
* Shangri'la
* Riding on a Rainbow

Singles|

* "Sugar Baby Love"
* "Tonight"
* "Juke Box Jive"
* "I Can Do It"

Related articles|

* Discography

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template