{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Bikini Red | type = studio | artist = the Screaming Blue Messiahs | cover = File:Screaming_Blue_Messiahs_-_Bikini_Red_album_cover.jpg | alt = | released = 1987 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Rock | length = 34:50 | label = Elektra | producer = Vic Maile | prev_title = Gun Shy | prev_year = 1986 | next_title = Totally Religious | next_year = 1989 }}
'''''Bikini Red''''' is the third release by the Screaming Blue Messiahs and the follow-up to ''Gun-Shy''. The album, which was notable for being one of the last recordings by renowned producer Vic Maile, well known for his work with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton. ''Bikini Red'' was also one of two albums by The Screaming Blue Messiahs (along with ''Gun-Shy'') that brought them to the attention of David Bowie and that led to him promoting the band:<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PJEACAAAQBAJ&dq=david+bowie+screaming+blue+messiahs&pg=PT185 Google Books: Bowie on Bowie: Screaming Blue Messiahs]</ref> "Well! The band this week – I've only just discovered them, so they're my pet project – is The Screaming Blue Messiahs. They're the best band I've heard out of England in a long time" (''Musician'' magazine, August 1987){{citation needed|date=October 2016}} and "There’s an English band I like very much. Nobody seems to have heard of them. They’re called The Screaming Blue Messiahs and I’m pushing them like mad." (''Words And Music'' magazine, January 1988){{citation needed|date=October 2016}}, and when asked by Rolling Stone magazine in 1987 who is favorite band were, Bowie replied, "The Screaming Blue Messiahs. I love them. I think they're terrific."<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/david-bowie-the-rolling-stone-interview-19870423 Rolling Stone magazine: David Bowie: Stardust Memories interview]</ref>
==Reviews== {{Music ratings |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name=AM/> | rev2 = ''New Musical Express'' | rev2score = 6/10<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Screaming Blue Messiahs: ''Bikini Red'' |last=Mann |first=Paul |date=21 November 1987 |magazine=New Musical Express|page=37}}</ref> }} AllMusic's John Duggan wrote: "The Messiahs' follow-up to ''Gun-Shy'' was this devastating hunk of noise, which didn't pull any punches when it came to raw emotion and intensity. Side One, especially, is a rave-up from the gut-bustin' raunch of 'Sweet Water Pools' to the closer 'Big Brother Muscle.' As always, Carter's obsessions are a little hard to understand, but the images and lyric fragments fly at you like shards of broken glass; you'll remember when they hit you. 'I Wanna Be a Flintstone' kicks off Side Two, and it remains as funky and funny as it was the first time you hear it. Great production work by Vic Maile."<ref name=AM>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bikini-red-mw0000651386 |title=Screaming Blue Messiahs: Bikini Red: Overview |last=Dougan |first=John |website=AllMusic |access-date=16 June 2019}}</ref>
==Singles== "Bikini Red" and "I Can Speak American" were both released as singles in 1987. January 1988 saw the release of "I Wanna Be A Flintstone" (a reworked song from an album by an earlier band of Carter's, Motor Boys Motor) as a single. The record became an instant hit, peaking at number 28 in the UK charts.<ref>[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24658/screaming-blue-messiahs/ Official Charts: Screaming Blue Messiahs: Singles]</ref> The song's success saw the band appearing on the BBC's ''Top of the Pops'' and Saturday morning kids' show ''No. 73''. Two videos were made for the song, both making use of cartoon clips from the ''Flintstones'' TV series. The single appeared in multiple formats, including picture discs and extended 12" remix versions.
==Track listing== {{track listing | headline = Side one | extra_column = Lead vocals | title1 = Sweet Water Pools<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/bikini-red-mw0000651386 AllMusic: Screaming Blue Messiahs: Bikini Red: Track listing]</ref> | extra1 = Bill Carter | length1 = 3:32 | title2 = Bikini Red | extra2 = Bill Carter | length2 = 3:47 | title3 = Too Much Love | extra3 = Bill Carter | length3 = 3:07 | title4 = I Can Speak American | extra4 = Bill Carter | length4 = 2:57 | title5 = Big Brother Muscle | extra5 = Bill Carter | length5 = 2:59 }} {{track listing | headline = Side two | extra_column = Lead vocals | title1 = I Wanna Be a Flintstone | extra1 = Bill Carter | length1 = 2:31 | title2 = Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge | extra2 = Bill Carter | length2 = 4:01 | title3 = Lie Detector | extra3 = Bill Carter | length3 = 3:59 | title4 = 55-The Law | extra4 = Bill Carter | length4 = 2:10 | title5 = All Shook Down | extra5 = Bill Carter | length5 = 2:16 | title6 = Waltz | extra6 = Bill Carter | length6 = 3:31 }}
==Personnel==
'''The band''' *Bill Carter - Lead vocals and lead guitar<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/bikini-red-mw0000651386/credits AllMusic: Screaming Blue Messiahs: Bikini Red: Credits]</ref> *Chris Thompson - Bass guitar and backing vocal *Kenny Harris - Drums
'''Studio''' *Engineer – Harold Burgon *Engineer – Ian Caple *Producer – Vic Maile *Written by Bill Carter, except "Bikini Red", "Big Brother Muscle", "I Wanna Be a Flintstone", "Lie Detector", "55 - The Law" and "All Shook Down" by Bill Carter/Tony Moon
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:1987 albums Category:The Screaming Blue Messiahs albums Category:Elektra Records albums Category:Albums produced by Vic Maile