Should the World Fail to Fall Apart


Should the World Fail to Fall Apart is the debut album by the British solo artist Peter Murphy, formerly of the gothic rock band Bauhaus. The album contains Murphy's covers of Magazine's "The Light Pours Out of Me" and Pere Ubu's "Final Solution." It was released in 1986.

Production

Many guest musicians appear on the album, including Howard Hughes and John McGeoch.

Critical reception

Trouser Press wrote: "If Murphy could remove the melodrama from his delivery, a lot of the songs might have been quite nice. But even at low volume and languorous tempo, he can’t shake the old goth theatrics out of his voice." The Spin Alternative Record Guide called the album "the least perfunctory" of Murphy's solo releases.

Track listing

Original LP track listing

All tracks composed by Peter Murphy and Howard Hughes ; except where indicated
  1. "Canvas Beauty "
  2. "The Light Pours Out of Me"
  3. "Confessions"
  4. "Should the World Fail to Fall Apart"
  5. "Never Man"
  6. "God Sends"
  7. "Blue Heart"
  8. "The Answer Is Clear"
  9. "Final Solution"
  10. "Jemal"

Canadian LP track listing

The Canadian version of the LP, released on Vertigo/PolyGram, has a different cover as well an alternative track listing:
  1. "Should the World Fail to Fall Apart"
  2. "Never Man"
  3. "Tale of the Tongue"
  4. "God Sends"
  5. "Blue Heart"
  6. "The Answer Is Clear"
  7. "Confessions
  8. "Final Solution"
  9. "Jemal"
  10. "The Light Pours Out of Me"
In addition to reordering, the track "Canvas Beauty" was dropped in favor of "Tale of The Tongue", which had been released in the UK as a non-album single.

2011 deluxe edition bonus CD

In July 2011, Cherry Red Records released a 25th anniversary deluxe edition of the album with a bonus disc of 13 B-sides and remixes:
  1. "Canvas Beauty"
  2. "The Light Pours Out of Me"
  3. "Confessions"
  4. "Should the World Fail to Fall Apart"
  5. "Stay"
  6. "Tale of the Tongue"
  7. "Blue Heart"
  8. "The Answer Is Clear"
  9. "Final Solution"
  10. "Jemal"
  11. "Should the World Fail to Fall Apart"
  12. "Final Solution"
  13. "Final Solution"
  • Track 1 released on Beggars Banquet 12″ EP SOVE 2359, 1986
  • Track 2 released on a Various Artists sampler, 1985
  • Tracks 3, 4 and 10 released on Beggars Banquet 12″ BEG 179T, 1987
  • Track 5 exact origin unknown
  • Track 6 released on Beggars Banquet 12″ BEG 174T, 1986
  • Track 7 released on Beggars Banquet 12″ BEG 162T, 1986
  • Track 8 released on Beggars Banquet 7″ BEG 143, 1985
  • Tracks 9 and 12 released on Beggars Banquet 12″ BEG 143T, 1985
  • Track 11 is a previously unreleased alternate mix
  • Track 13 released on Beggars Banquet 12″ BEG 143TP, 1985

Personnel

;Technical
  • Gerry Kitchingham, John Fryer - engineer
  • Carlos 'Sosa' - cover painting