United Colors of Blaggers ITA


United Colors of Blaggers ITA is the first full-length studio album by British punk band Blaggers ITA. It was released on January 18, 1993, by independent label Words of Warning and marked a stylistic shift for the band, blending punk rock with rap, ska, reggae, and electronic music.
The cover artwork was a parody of the controversial "United Colors of Benetton" fashion advertising campaign.

Background

Blaggers ITA, originally known as The Blaggers, were formed in London in 1988. The band was known for its militant anti-fascist stance and left-wing politics. The "ITA" suffix stands for "In The Area", reflecting their street-level activism and musical fusion.

Reception

The album was initially banned in Germany because of the photograph of the burning swastika on the front cover. The band issued a statement including: "Your government believes you cannot distinguish between anti-fascist and fascist propaganda."
A positive review in Melody Maker noted:
Whereas John Harris writing for the New Musical Express was more critical, saying "They back their politicised shouting with a hackneyed pot-pourri of punk-isms, shoddy reggae and cod-ska..." The following week the NME also described the album as a "refreshingly original combination of punk, ska, hip-hop, reggae, sampling and, most importantly in their scheme of things, radical anti-fascist politics."
Profane Existence reviewed the album as:
In 2009, the album was reissued by Mad Butcher Records in its "Mad Butcher Classics" series.

Track listing

All tracks written and performed by Blaggers ITA.
  1. "When the Gun Is Cocked" – 3:55
  2. "It's Up to You " – 2:04
  3. "Search and Destroy" – 2:41
  4. "Wild Side " – 3:18
  5. "That's Where It Ends" – 5:08
  6. "The Way We Operate " – 5:05
  7. "Here's Johnny " – 3:11
  8. "Before I Hang " – 2:42
  9. "The Way to Die" – 2:21
  10. "United States of Devastation" – 3:54
  11. "Young Blaggers" – 1:21 **
  12. "Pitbull Mentality" – 3:21 **
  13. "Ten Men Dead" – 3:13 **
  14. "Bastard Chillin'" – 3:25 **
  15. "Emergency" – 5:57 **

Personnel

  • Matty Blagg – vocals
  • Christy Robson – vocals
  • Paul "The Pig" – guitar
  • Serious Steve – guitar
  • Matt Vinyl – bass
  • Jason Jester – drums
  • Brendan Hodges – trumpet
  • Olaf – saxophone
  • Carlos Coutinho – sampler
  • Thomas Mensforth – guest vocals on "That's Where It Ends"
  • Harvey Birrell – engineer, producer
  • Paul Harding – producer
  • S.I.T. Inc. – design
  • Karl WOW – layout
  • Friends of Harry Roberts – typography