Flash Light is Tom Verlaine's fifth solo album. After a three-year hiatus, during which Verlaine lived in both New York and Europe, he released the album with a large amount of promotion and touring in the UK.

Flash Light
Studio album by
Released1987
StudioSorcerer 2, New York City
GenrePost-punk
LabelFontana (UK), IRS (US)
ProducerFred Smith, Tom Verlaine; David Bascombe (only "The Scientist Writes a Letter")
Tom Verlaine chronology
Cover
(1984)
Flash Light
(1987)
The Wonder
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blender[2]
Robert ChristgauA−[3]
Record Mirror[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

It was recorded by Mario Salvati at Sorcerer 2, New York City except "The Scientist Writes a Letter", engineered by Mark Wallis. Mixed by Paul O'Duffy at Sarm West, London.

The cover artwork was by Susan Hiller, who also created the cover artwork for the accompanying 7-inch singles, 'Cry Mercy Judge' and 'A Town Called Walker'. Layout by John Rimmer at Pointblanc.

Track listing

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All songs written by Tom Verlaine

Side one

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  1. "Cry Mercy Judge"
  2. "Say a Prayer"
  3. "A Town Called Walker"
  4. "Song"
  5. "The Scientist Writes a Letter"

Side two

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  1. "Bomb"
  2. "4 A.M."
  3. "The Funniest Thing"
  4. "Annie's Telling Me"
  5. "One Time at Sundown"

Personnel

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Technical
  • Mark Wallis - engineer on "The Scientist Writes a Letter"
  • Paul O'Duffy - mixing
  • Mario Salvati - recording
  • Susan Hiller - cover artwork
  • John Rimmer - cover layout

Charts

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Album

Year Country Chart Peak position Citation
1987 UK UK Official Album Chart 99 [6]

Singles

Year Country Single Chart Peak position Citation
1987 UK "Cry Mercy Judge" UK Official Singles Chart 99 [6]

References

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  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ Young, Jon. "Tom Verlaine: Flash Light". Blender. Archived from the original on November 9, 2004. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Robert Christgau review
  4. ^ Strickland, Andy (February 28, 1987). "Tom Verlaine: Flash Light". Record Mirror. p. 12.
  5. ^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Tom Verlaine". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 848–49. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  6. ^ a b "UK Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 22, 2018.

http://www.thewonder.co.uk/flash.htm