View source for Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[The Adverts]]
| cover      = Adverts - Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts album cover.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 17 February 1978
| recorded   = Late 1977
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Abbey Road Studios]], London
| genre      = [[Punk rock]]
| length     = 31:03
| label      = Bright
| producer   = [[John Leckie]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Cast of Thousands (Adverts album)|Cast of Thousands]]
| next_year  = 1979
| misc       = {{Singles
| name        = Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts
| type        = studio
| single1     = One Chord Wonders"/"Quick Step
| single1date = 29 April 1977
| single2     = Safety in Numbers"/"We Who Wait
| single2date = 28 October 1977
| single3     = No Time to Be 21"/"New Day Dawning
| single3date = 20 January 1978
}}
}}
'''''Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts''''' is the debut studio album by English [[punk rock]] band [[the Adverts]]. It was released on 17 February 1978 by record label Bright.
== Background ==
''Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts'' was recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios]]. The album title was coined by Jane Suck.
== Release ==
The album was preceded by the single "No Time to Be 21", which reached No. 34 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. ''Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts'' reached No. 38 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="charts">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16410/adverts/ |title=Adverts |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |accessdate=25 October 2020}}</ref>
== Critical reception ==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/crossing-the-red-sea-with-the-adverts-mw0000223470 |title=''Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts'' – The Adverts |last=Thompson |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Thompson (author) |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=22 April 2013}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Dave Thompson (author)|Alternative Rock]]''
| rev2score = 10/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/davethompson.htm |title=Rocklist.net...Steve Parker...Dave Thompson Lists... |website=www.rocklistmusic.co.uk |accessdate=4 June 2019}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=The Adverts |last=Robbins |first=Ira |title=The New Rolling Stone Record Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Marsh |editor1-first=Dave |editor1-link=Dave Marsh |editor2-last=Swenson |editor2-first=John |publisher=[[Random House]]/Rolling Stone Press |edition=2nd |year=1983 |isbn=0-394-72107-1 |page=5}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev4score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Adverts |last=Bernstein |first=Jonathan |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |page=9}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev5score = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Punk Debuts |last=Watts |first=Peter |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |issue=261 |date=February 2019 |page=45}}</ref>
}}
In a retrospective review for [[AllMusic]], [[Dave Thompson (author)|Dave Thompson]] called the album "a devastating debut" and "one of the finest albums not only of the punk era but of the 1970s as a whole".<ref name="AllMusic"/> ''[[Trouser Press]]'' said that "in its own way", the album "is the equal of [[Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols|the first Sex Pistols]] or ''[[The Clash (album)|The Clash]]''; a hasty statement that captures an exciting time".<ref name="Trouser Press">{{cite web |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=adverts |title=Adverts |last1=Young |first1=Jon |last2=Robbins |first2=Ira |website=[[Trouser Press]] |accessdate=22 April 2013}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
In March 2003, ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' magazine ranked ''Crossing the Red Sea'' No. 17 in its list of the 50 greatest punk albums.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top 50 Punk Albums |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |issue=112 |date=March 2003}}</ref> The album featured in ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s list "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/17/1000tohearbeforeyoudie |title=1000 albums to hear before you die – Artists beginning with A |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=17 November 2007 |accessdate=25 October 2020}}</ref>
== Track listing ==
=== Original release ===
{{track listing
| headline = Side A
| all_writing = [[T. V. Smith]]
| title1 = One Chord Wonders
| title2 = Bored Teenagers
| title3 = New Church
| title4 = On the Roof
| title5 = Newboys
| title6 = Bombsite Boy
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Side B
| title1 = No Time to Be 21
| title2 = Safety in Numbers
| title3 = Drowning Men
| title4 = On Wheels
| title5 = Great British Mistake
}}
=== 2002 re-issue ===
{{track listing
| total_length = 36:51
| title1 = One Chord Wonders
| length1 = 2:49
| title2 = Bored Teenagers
| length2 = 1:45
| title3 = New Church
| length3 = 2:26
| title4 = On the Roof
| length4 = 3:01
| title5 = Newboys
| length5 = 3:13
| title6 = [[Gary Gilmore's Eyes]]
| length6 = 2:16
| title7 = Bombsite Boy
| length7 = 3:27
| title8 = No Time to Be 21
| length8 = 2:36
| title9 = Safety in Numbers
| length9 = 3:15
| title10 = New Day Dawns
| length10 = 2:40
| title11 = Drowning Men
| length11 = 2:18
| title12 = On Wheels
| length12 = 3:17
| title13 = Great British Mistake
| length13 = 3:48
}}
== Personnel ==
; The Adverts
* [[T. V. Smith]] – vocals
* [[Gaye Advert]] – bass guitar, vocals
* Howard Pickup – guitar, vocals
* Laurie Driver – drums
; Technical
* [[John Leckie]] – [[record producer|production]]
* [[Nicholas De Ville]] – design
* Martin Durrant – cover photography
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* {{Discogs master|24968}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:The Adverts albums]]
[[Category:1978 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by John Leckie]]
[[Category:Fire Records (UK) albums]]