The Vibrators recorded sessions at for John Peel at BBC Radio 1 in October 1976, June 1977, and February 1978. They were one of the pioneering punk bands that played at London's Roxy Club. They headlined in January 1977, supported by The Drones, and in February they played twice at the venue. In March 1977 the band supported Iggy Pop on his British tour. Later that year they backed ex-Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter.
The band signed to Epic Records in early 1977. Their debut album, Pure Mania was co-produced with Robin Mayhew, the sound engineer for David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust live shows, and reached the Top 50 of the UK Albums Chart. The album is well regarded by some music critics and, 17 years after its release The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music named Pure Mania one of the 50 best punk albums of all time.
Their follow-up album, V2, narrowly missed the UK Top 30. The only single to be taken from that album, "Automatic Lover", was the only Vibrators’ single to reach the UK Top 40 where it reached #35. It earned the band a TV appearance on the prime-time TV show Top of the Pops. The Vibrators’ final single on Epic, "Judy Says (Knock You In The Head)", was released in June 1978. It reached #70 in the UK singles chart. Years later it was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.
A lack of further chart activity, and with only one UK Top 40 single to their credit, sees the Vibrators join the list of one-hit wonders; a list that includes other UK punk and new wave acts such as The Banned, John Cooper Clarke, The Flying Lizards, Jilted John, 999, the Radio Stars, and the Rich Kids.
During the 1980s, John Ellis recorded and toured frequently with Peter Hammill, and subsequently The Stranglers, eventually joining the latter full-time in the 1990s. Pat Collier went on to work closely with The Soft Boys, producing their seminal album, Underwater Moonlight, and Robyn Hitchcock, producing and mixing some of his solo albums (to which Knox also sometimes contributed). Despite numerous line-up changes, The Vibrators are still touring to this date as a three-piece, "Knox" and "Eddie" being the only original members.
Photograph
The Vibrators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can have it (oo-oo-oo)
But you gotta learn to reach up there
And grab it (oo-oo-oo)
'Cause everybody wants some love (oh baby)
Shoot it from the stars above (oh baby)
And though my heart would break
I can never get enough
If you need it (oo-oo-oo)
You should show it (oo-oo-oo)
'Cause at my place overnight
Suggest you grow it (oo-oo-oo)
'Cause everybody wants some hope (oh baby)
Something they can barely know (oh baby)
And though my heart would break
It's more than I could take
I can never let it go
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph of love
°°°
'Cause everybody wants a dream (oh baby)
Something they can barely see (oh baby)
And though my heart would break
It's more than I could take
I could never let it be
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph of love
If you blew it (oo-oo-oo)
Don't reject it (oo-oo-oo)
Just keep drawing up the plans and re-erect it
Just keep drawing up the plans and re-erect it
Just keep drawing up the plans and re-erect it
The Vibrators' song "Photograph" is a love song that encourages the listener to be proactive in seeking out love, hope, and dreams. The lyrics in the first verse, "If you want it, you can have it, but you gotta learn to reach up there and grab it," suggest that while love is desired by everyone, it requires effort and initiative to acquire it. The chorus repeats the sentiment that everyone wants love, but it can be elusive like a star in the sky. The lyrics also express the desire to hold onto that love, evidenced by the repeated refrain, "It's in the photograph of love."
The following verse encourages the listener to take a similar approach to hope and dreams. The lines "If you need it, you should show it" imply that one must actively pursue their aspirations and not be afraid to share them with others. The final verse offers some advice to those who may have lost love, hope, or dreams. Rather than giving up, the lyrics suggest that one should keep trying and rebuilding, embodied by the phrase "Just keep drawing up the plans and re-erect it."
Ultimately, "Photograph" is a song about the universal desire for love, hope, and dreams, and the importance of actively pursuing and holding onto them.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want it (oo-oo-oo)
If you desire something, you can surely attain it
You can have it (oo-oo-oo)
You are capable of possessing what you want
But you gotta learn to reach up there
And grab it (oo-oo-oo)
However, you must learn how to work hard and strive for it
'Cause everybody wants some love (oh baby)
Shoot it from the stars above (oh baby)
And though my heart would break
It's more than I can take
I can never get enough
Love is something everyone desires, and even though it may be painful, yearning for it is insatiable
If you need it (oo-oo-oo)
You should show it (oo-oo-oo)
'Cause at my place overnight
Suggest you grow it (oo-oo-oo)
If you require something, you need to ask for it and work on it overnight to acquire it
'Cause everybody wants some hope (oh baby)
Something they can barely know (oh baby)
And though my heart would break
It's more than I could take
I can never let it go
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph of love
Hope is something everyone desires, even if it is elusive and intangible. It is a never-ending pursuit of love, which can be glimpsed in a photograph
'Cause everybody wants a dream (oh baby)
Something they can barely see (oh baby)
And though my heart would break
It's more than I could take
I could never let it be
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph of love
Everyone wants to achieve their dream, which may only be a vague vision that can break their heart but they cannot let go. The photograph represents the ideal love they yearn for
If you blew it (oo-oo-oo)
Don't reject it (oo-oo-oo)
Just keep drawing up the plans and re-erect it
Just keep drawing up the plans and re-erect it
Just keep drawing up the plans and re-erect it
If you made a mistake, do not give up on it, instead plan anew and rebuild it
Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Walsh
The vibrators...the reason I'm still a punk after 43 years
Christopher Coyne
Pure Mania is probably one of the best punk LP’s of that period! At the centre of the very short lived explosion of punk The Vibrators were there and I saw them. Great live band!
Peter Scheid
I think Pure Mania was my first punk album and I agree with you about how great that album is.
I think "V2" is a bit better though.
VaporTrail
Underrated at the time, easily on of the best early punk rock albums. I saw them supported by the Sex Pistols & then 37 years later they played my venue where I served them dinner. Fabulous band.
willieluncheonette
These guys are legit card carrying members of punk class of 1977. This is their second Peel session and all the songs are from their debut album Pure Mania, released the same month as these Peels. They have pretty much left rock behind and are now a true punk band. On first listen these songs sound a little more stripped down than the album versions which have a slightly fuller sound. All in all, not a big difference, although I prefer this London Girls to the one on the LP. The Vibrators were one of the first British punk bands to have vinyl out in 1976 with the 7" We Vibrate/ Whips and Furs (11/76) They also recorded a whole Peel session in '76 which is also posted by the excellent Vibracobra23 channel. Pure Mania has certainly stood the test of time, proving beyond a doubt there could be a tremendous 1977 punk album in England that sounded nothing like the Clash or Sex Pistols.
willieluncheonette
ha ha another true story from the world of punk
John
i'll bet she really liked that album. sorry. couldn't resist.
13 Tooth
+willieluncheonette Linda Rondstat is not a member of that class.
C. S.
Good summary of a great band but one comment that you make, I'm not sure if I understand.. "They have pretty much left rock behind and are now a true punk band". I am wondering what you mean by that? After all almost all the punk rock of the mid to late seventies was 'rock' music. Do you mean that The Vibrators left 'pub rock' behind?
willie luncheonette
@C. S. Just happened to be checking in. Let me try to explain. The Vibrators played the 100 Club punk festival with lukewarm results. Older than most of the other bands and not quite fitting in, they played Beatles and Stones covers and even a version of Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls of Fire. (Goodness gracious!) Needless to say, the audience wasn't exactly jacked up by their performance. The songs on their first Peel session still show them enamored with catchy rock ditties, but on I'm Gonna Be Your Nazi Baby they start to punk out. I assume their songs at the 100 Club festival are just plain rock. You can call it pub rock if you want--to each his own.