''Learning English, Lesson One'' or ''Learning English, Lesson 1'' (other

punctuation Punctuation marks are marks indicating how a piece of writing, written text should be read (silently or aloud) and, consequently, understood. The oldest known examples of punctuation marks were found in the Mesha Stele from the 9th century BC, c ...

variations possible) is a

cover album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

band

Die Toten Hosen Die Toten Hosen are a German punk rock band from Düsseldorf. The name is taken from the German slang idiom ''tote Hose'' (literally "dead trousers"), which means "nothing happening"; "boring". The band has had an important success through th ...

. The album includes covers of mostly

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

bands, which were big influences on the band. It is the first all- English album for Die Toten Hosen; the first English language studio album was released three years later. It made the band better known outside of

-speaking countries. The album features many guest stars, including

Johnny Thunders John Anthony Genzale (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of New York Dolls. He later formed the He ...

, who died after recording "Born to Lose" for ''Learning English''. According to band members, he already wasn't looking very good when he came to record his part. The album has a central parody theme of an independent language-learning tape, where "Janet and John" are the teachers. Janet and John are heard in short humorous introductions.

Critical reception

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who, Dave Schulps, and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...

'' wrote that "the excellently performed and impressively reverent ''Learning English'' is less a tribute than a precise re-creation." ''

People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

'' called the album "more than just a quirky collector’s item ... tis the perfect way to look back—or discover—where

unk Anthony Leonard Platt (November 28, 1981 – January 24, 2025), better known by his stage name Unk, was an American rapper, DJ, and hype man. He is best known for his 2006 snap music, snap hit "Walk It Out (Unk song), Walk It Out". Life and ca ...

all began." ''

Washington City Paper The ''Washington City Paper'' is a U.S. alternative weekly newspaper serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area since 1981. The ''City Paper'' is distributed on Thursdays; its average circulation in 2006 was 85,588. The paper's editorial ...

'' deemed it "a sappy, charming album of class-of-'77 covers."

Track listing

# Learning English • Step One − 0:31 # " Blitzkrieg Bop" − 1:50 (

Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often recognized as one of th ...

) # "Brickfield Nights" − 3:34 ( The Boys) # Step Two − 0:11 # "Just Thirteen" − 2:30 ( The Lurkers) # " If the Kids Are United" − 3:08 (

Sham 69 Sham 69 are an English punk rock band that formed in Hersham in Surrey in 1975. They changed their musical direction after seeing the Sex Pistols play live in early 1976. They were one of the most successful punk bands in the United Kingdom, ac ...

) # "Nasty Nasty" − 2:06 (

999 999 or triple nine most often refers to: * 999 (emergency telephone number), a telephone number for the emergency services in several countries * 999 (number), an integer * AD 999, a year * 999 BC, a year Media Books * 999 (anthology), ''99 ...

) # Step Three − 0:17 # "Dirty Pictures" − 2:15 (

Radio Stars Radio Stars are an English punk rock band formed in early 1977. They released two albums and had one UK Singles Chart, UK Top 40 single. Career Radio Stars were formed by Sparks (band), Sparks exile Martin Gordon (bass, songwriter) and also i ...

) # " Baby Baby" − 3:13 (

The Vibrators The Vibrators were a British punk rock band whose greatest success was in 1977–1978 with the albums ''Pure Mania'' and ''V2 (album), V2''. Their first Epic Records single "Baby Baby (The Vibrators song), Baby Baby" is considered a punk cla ...

) # "

Gary Gilmore's Eyes "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" is a single by the punk rock band the Adverts. The song reached No. 18 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1977 and earned the band an appearance on ''Top of the Pops''. It was originally intended to be included on the ...

" − 2:15 (

The Adverts The Adverts were an English punk rock band formed in 1976 that existed until late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to achieve mainstream success in the UK; their 1977 Single (music), single "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" reached No. 18 on the ...

) # "Born to Lose" − 3:21 (

The Heartbreakers The Heartbreakers (sometimes referred to as "Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers) were an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1975. The band spearheaded the first wave of punk rock. History Johnny Thunders (vocals/guitar) and Jer ...

) # How the Rockafellas Went to Hollywood − 0:18 # "Do You Remember" − 3:25 ( The Rockafellas) # " Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)" − 3:08 (

Campino ''Campino'' may refer to: * Campino (profession), a Portuguese cattle herder * Campino (candy), a brand of hard candy * Campino (singer) (born 1962), the stage name of German singer Andreas Frege * Campino (Burgos), a locality in Alfoz de Bric ...

, von Holst/ Ronald Biggs) # Step Four − 0:18 # "Right to Work" − 3:03 ( Chelsea) # " Whole Wide World" − 3:19 (

Wreckless Eric Eric Goulden (born 18 May 1954), known as Wreckless Eric, is an English rock music, rock and New wave music, new wave singer-songwriter, best known for his 1977 single "Whole Wide World (song), Whole Wide World" on Stiff Records. More than two d ...

) # "

Smash It Up "Smash It Up" is a song by English punk rock band The Damned (band), the Damned, released as a single on 12 October 1979 by Chiswick Records. It is considered the band's unofficial anthem. The single was the second release from the band's third ...

" − 2:57 ( The Damned) # "Stranglehold" − 2:11 (

UK Subs U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. One of the first hardcore pu ...

) # Step Five − 0:22 # "Love and a Molotov Cocktail" − 2:30 ( The Flys) # " Do Anything You Wanna Do" − 4:27 (

Eddie and the Hot Rods Eddie and the Hot Rods are a pub rock band from Essex founded in 1975. They are best known for their 1977 UK top ten hit " Do Anything You Wanna Do", released under the shortened name Rods. The group broke up in 1985, but reformed in 1996. Sin ...

) # Goodbye from Janet & John − 1:01

2007 remastered anniversary edition bonus tracks

" No One Is Innocent" ( Steve Jones/Biggs) – 3:03 (from " Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)";
Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became culturally influential in popular music. The band initiated the punk movement in the United Ki ...
cover)
" Should I Stay or Should I Go?" ( Mick Jones/
Joe Strummer John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British musician. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, formed in 1976. The Clash' ...
) – 2:43 (from " Warum werde ich nicht satt?";
The Clash The Clash were an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1976. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they are considered one of the most influential acts in the original wave of British punk rock, with their music fusing elements ...
cover)
" Rockaway Beach" (Colvin, Cummings, Erdelyi, Hyman) – 1:59 (from " Alles wird vorübergehen";
Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often recognized as one of th ...
cover)
"Eddie & Sheena" (Rogers) – 4:24 ( Wayne County & the Electric Chairs cover; recorded for Jürgen Krause's birthday, who is a good friend of the band)
"Richmond" (Billingsley, Allen, Griffiths) – 2:39 (from the US version of ''Learning English Lesson 1''; Pin Point cover)
"In Still of the Night" (Frege, Plain) – 4:11 (''Learning English Lesson 1'' demo)
"Anything but Love" (Frege, Dangerfield) – 3:58 (''Learning English Lesson 1'' demo)
"I Met Her at the Jet Grill" (Meurer/Frege, Plain) – 1:56 (''Learning English Lesson 1'' demo)

Singles

* 1991: " Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)" * 1991: " Baby Baby" * 1992: " Whole Wide World" * 1992: " If the Kids Are United

Personnel

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

*Andreas von Holst -

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

*Michael Breitkopf -

*Andreas Meurer -

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

*Wolfgang Rohde -

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1991 compilation albums Die Toten Hosen compilation albums