Orgasm Addict

"Orgasm Addict"
Single by Buzzcocks
B-side"Whatever Happened To...?"
Released4 November 1977 (1977-11-04)
RecordedSeptember 1977 at T.W. Studios, Fulham, England
GenrePunk rock[1]
Length2:02
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Pete Shelley, Howard Devoto
Producer(s)Martin Rushent
Buzzcocks singles chronology
"Orgasm Addict"
(1977) 		"What Do I Get?"
(1978)

"Orgasm Addict" is a song by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was the A-side of the Buzzcocks' first single, with "What Ever Happened To?" as the B-side, which was released on 4 November 1977 by record label United Artists.

Cover image

The sleeve was devised by graphic designer Malcolm Garrett and showed a collage, created by Linder Sterling, depicting a woman whose head is a clothes iron.[2]

Release

"Orgasm Addict" was released as the Buzzcocks' debut single on 4 November 1977.[3]

The 7" French vinyl release contains different takes of the same two tracks.

This was the only Buzzcocks single featuring bassist Garth Smith, who joined in early 1977 to replace Steve Diggle, who switched to guitar. Shortly after its release, he was expelled from the band.[4]

The song later appeared on the album Singles Going Steady and also on CD reissues of Another Music in a Different Kitchen.

Reception

The song was controversial due to its sexual content and was banned by the BBC.[5]

Buzzcocks singer Pete Shelley later said that the song "is embarrassing. It's the only one I listen to and... shudder".[6]

Track listing

  1. "Orgasm Addict" (Howard Devoto, Pete Shelley) (1:58)
  2. "Whatever Happened To?" (Pete Shelley, Dial – alias of ex-manager Richard Boon) (2:07)

References

  1. ^ Travers, Paul (21 November 2019). "12 rock and metal songs that feature people having sex". Kerrang!. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  2. ^ Lowey, Ian; Prince, Suzy (2014). The Graphic Art of the Underground: A Countercultural History. London; New York: Bloomsbury. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-47257-355-1.
  3. ^ "45cat – Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict / Whatever Happened To? – United Artists – UK – UP 36316". 45cat. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Buzzcocks Discography". Buzzcocks.com. Archived from the original (TXT) on 5 September 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  5. ^ Swenson, Kyle (7 December 2018). "When punk rock raged, Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks stuck with love songs and changed music history". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ Dimery, Robert (2010). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. United Kingdom: Cassell Illustrated. p. 384. ISBN 978-1-84403-736-0.