Anfield Rap

{{Infobox song | name = Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect) | cover = Anfield Rap cover.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Liverpool F.C.]] | album = | released = 3 May 1988<ref>{{cite magazine|date=30 April 1988|title=News - RELEASES|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/88/Record-Mirror-1988-04-30-OCR.pdf|magazine=[[Record Mirror]]|page=6|accessdate=30 April 2025}}</ref> | recorded = | studio = [[Motor Museum]]<ref name="SOSJul2016">{{cite web|last=Bieger|first=Hannes|title=Motor Museum, Liverpool|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/music-business/motor-museum-liverpool|website=Sound On Sound|publisher=SOS Publications Group|date=July 2016|access-date=25 January 2024}}</ref> | venue = | genre = | length = | label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]] | writer = Paul Gainford, [[Craig Johnston]], [[Derek B]], and [[Mary Byker]] | lyricist = | producer = | prev_title = [[Sitting on Top of the World (Liverpool F.C. song)|Sitting on Top of the World]] | prev_year = 1986 | next_title = [[Pass & Move (It's the Liverpool Groove)]] | next_year = 1996 }} '''"Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)"''' was a song released by members of [[Liverpool F.C.]] before the [[1988 FA Cup Final]] against [[Wimbledon F.C.]] The song reached number 3 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]. The song was co-written by Paul Gainford, Liverpool midfielder [[Craig Johnston]], rapper [[Derek B]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/football-banter/Anfield-Rap-co-writer-Derek-B-dead-at-44-article223623.html |title=Anfield Rap co-writer Derek B dead at 44 - Football Banter |publisher=MirrorFootball.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-01-09}}</ref> and [[Mary Byker]] from [[Gaye Bykers on Acid]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixfm.com/2014/05/08/interview-with-graham-crabb-from-pop-will-eat-itself/|title=Interview with Graham Crabb from Pop Will Eat Itself |publisher=[[Phoenix FM]] |date= 8 May 2014|accessdate=2014-05-08}}</ref> The song was met with mixed reviews; the tune has become a cult classic among Liverpool fans, but critics often cite it as one of the worst sports songs of all time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why are sport songs so hard to get right?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18861947|publisher=BBC|accessdate=6 August 2012|author=Mark Savage|date=24 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Anfield+Rap+still+top+of+the+league%3B+MY+CITY-a0597421038|title = Anfield Rap still top of the league; MY CITY. - Free Online Library}}</ref> Liverpool would go on to lose the final in one of the biggest upsets in the [[History of the FA Cup|history of the competition]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Beasant |first=Dave |date=15 May 2010 |title=14 May 1988: The first FA Cup final penalty save |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/may/15/dave-beasant-wimbledon-liverpool |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=24 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/FA_Cup_Finals/1980-1989.html |title=English FA Cup Finalists 1980 – 1989 |work=Historical Football Kits |access-date=24 June 2011}}</ref>

==Style== The song is a parody of a number of hip hop tracks, notably the intro from [[LL Cool J]]'s "[[Rock the Bells (song)|Rock the Bells]]" and [[Eric B. & Rakim]]'s "[[I Know You Got Soul (Eric B. & Rakim song)|I Know You Got Soul]]" (which sampled the opening drum roll from [[Funkadelic]]'s "You'll Like It Too"). The song also featured the guitar riff (and the Ahhhhh-ahhhhh-ahhhhh element) from "[[Twist And Shout]]" by [[The Beatles]] who hailed from Liverpool.

==Participants== The track featured [[John Aldridge]] and [[Steve McMahon]], who (along with [[Gary Ablett (English footballer)|Gary Ablett]]) were the only native [[Liverpudlian]]s in the regular line up at the time, making fun of the accents of the other players. The other players featured were [[John Barnes (footballer)|John Barnes]], [[Bruce Grobbelaar]], [[Ian Rush]], [[Craig Johnston]], [[Kevin MacDonald (footballer)|Kevin MacDonald]], [[Gary Gillespie]], [[Steve Nicol]], [[Ronnie Whelan]], [[Alan Hansen]], [[Ray Houghton]], [[Jim Beglin]], [[Nigel Spackman]], [[Colin Bridge]] and [[Jan Molby]], along with manager [[Kenny Dalglish]]. One verse of the song was performed by then-[[ITV Network|ITV]] football commentator [[Brian Moore (commentator)|Brian Moore]]. There were also archived voice clips from the club's former manager [[Bill Shankly]].

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{youTube|Kcy3gwwxat4}} *[http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/25-years-since-the-reds-rapped Official Liverpool Site Article]

[[Category:1988 singles]] [[Category:Liverpool F.C. songs]] [[Category:Association football songs and chants]] [[Category:1988 songs]]