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

punctuation Punctuation (or sometimes interpunction) is the use of spacing, conventional signs (called punctuation marks), and certain typographical devices as aids to the understanding and correct reading of written text, whether read silently or aloud. An ...

variations possible) is a

cover album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

punk band

Die Toten Hosen Die Toten Hosen (literally "The Dead Trousers", figuratively "The Deadbeats") is a German punk rock band from Düsseldorf. History The current members of Die Toten Hosen are Campino (Andreas Frege), Kuddel (Andreas von Holst), Vom (Stephe ...

. The album includes covers of mostly British bands, which were big influences on the band. It is the first all-

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

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 the New York Dolls. He later played with ...

, 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 to ...

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

People A person (plural, : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of pr ...

'' 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 (born November 28, 1981) commonly known by his stage name Unk, is an American DJ, hype man, and rapper. Some of his work has featured on the 2K Sports ''NBA 2K9'' game. He is best known for the mid 2000s snap hit " Walk ...

all began." ''

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

'' 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 that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...

) # "Brickfield Nights" − 3:34 (

The Boys Boys are young male humans. Boys or The Boys may also refer to: Film and television Films * ''The Boys'' (1962 British film), a courtroom drama by Sidney J. Furie * ''The Boys'' (1962 Finnish film), a war drama by Mikko Niskanen * ''Boys'' ( ...

) # Step Two − 0:11 # "Just Thirteen" − 2:30 ( The Lurkers) # "

If the Kids Are United "If the Kids Are United" is a song by English punk rock band Sham 69. The single, backed by the B-side "Sunday Morning Nightmare", was a success and reached number 9 in the UK Singles Chart in July 1978. The song was also featured on their 1980 ...

" − 3:08 (

Sham 69 Sham 69 are an English punk rock band that formed in Hersham in Surrey in 1975. They were one of the most successful punk bands in the United Kingdom, achieving five top 20 singles, including "If the Kids Are United" and "Hurry Up Harry". The ...

) # "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 Books * ''999'' (anthology) or ''999: ...

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

Radio Stars Radio Stars were an English new wave group formed in early 1977. They released two albums and had one UK Top 40 single. Career Radio Stars were formed by Sparks exile Martin Gordon (bass, songwriter) and also included ex-John's Children voc ...

) # " Baby Baby" − 3:13 ( The Vibrators) # " Gary Gilmore's Eyes" − 2:15 (

The Adverts The Adverts were an English punk band who formed in 1976 and broke up in late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to enjoy chart success in the United Kingdom, UK; their 1977 single "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" reached No. 18 in the UK Single ...

) # "Born to Lose" − 3:21 ( The Heartbreakers) # How the Rockafellas Went to Hollywood − 0:18 # "Do You Remember" − 3:25 ( The Rockafellas) # "

Carnival in Rio (Punk Was) "Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)" is a song by Die Toten Hosen and Ronnie Biggs. It's the lead single and the fifteenth track from the cover album ''Learning English, Lesson One'', being also the only non-cover on the album. The song starts with a s ...

" − 3:08 (

Campino A campino () is a cattle herder in the Portuguese region of Ribatejo. Campinos work on horse-back, using a long pole (a ''pampilho'' or lance) to manage and direct the herd. Campinos are also known for their distinctive attire, which consists o ...

, von Holst/

Ronald Biggs Ronald Arthur Biggs (8 August 1929 – 18 December 2013) was an English criminal who helped plan and carry out the Great Train Robbery of 1963. He subsequently became notorious for his escape from prison in 1965, living as a fugitive for 36 y ...

) # Step Four − 0:18 # "Right to Work" − 3:03 ( Chelsea) # " Whole Wide World" − 3:19 ( Wreckless Eric) # "

Smash It Up "Smash It Up" is a song by English punk rock 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 studio ''Machine ...

" − 2:57 ( The Damned) # "Stranglehold" − 2:11 ( UK Subs) # 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) # Goodbye from Janet & John − 1:01

2007 remastered anniversary edition bonus tracks

"
No One Is Innocent No One Is Innocent stylized as o one is innocent'' is a French rock band originating from Paris featuring the French Armenian Kémar Gulbenkian as main vocalist. The band was established in 1994 charting with their 1994 hit "La peau". The band ...
" (
Steve Jones Steve or Steven Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Steve Jones (English presenter) (born 1945), English musician, disk jockey, television presenter, and voice-over artist *Steve Jones (musician) (born 1955), English rock and roll guita ...
/Biggs) – 3:03 (from "
Carnival in Rio (Punk Was) "Carnival in Rio (Punk Was)" is a song by Die Toten Hosen and Ronnie Biggs. It's the lead single and the fifteenth track from the cover album ''Learning English, Lesson One'', being also the only non-cover on the album. The song starts with a s ...
";
Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...
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 singer, musician and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, ...
) – 2:43 (from "
Warum werde ich nicht satt? "Warum werde ich nicht satt?" (roughly ''Why am I not satisfied?'') is a song by Die Toten Hosen. It's the fourth single and the third track from the album ''Unsterblich''. It's narrated by a wealthy man, who nevertheless isn't happy with what h ...
";
The Clash The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the wa ...
cover)
"Rockaway Beach" (Colvin, Cummings, Erdelyi, Hyman) – 1:59 (from "
Alles wird vorübergehen "Alles wird vorübergehen" ("Everything will go by") is a song by German band Die Toten Hosen. It is the third single and fifth track from the album ''Zurück zum Glück''. The song is about how every feeling and everything will fade away with t ...
";
Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...
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: "

" * 1991: " Baby Baby" * 1992: " Whole Wide World" * 1992: "

Personnel

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

*Andreas von Holst -

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

*Michael Breitkopf -

*Andreas Meurer -

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

*Wolfgang Rohde -

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

Charts

References

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