Scared to Dance

Scared to Dance is the debut studio album by Scottish punk rock band Skids. It was released on 23 February 1979 by record label Virgin.

Scared to Dance
Studio album by Skids
Released	23 February 1979
Recorded	1978
Studio	Air Studios, London
Genre	Punk rock
Length	37:50
Label	Virgin
Producer	David Batchelor
Skids chronology
Wide Open (1978) Scared to Dance (1979) Days in Europa (1979)
Singles from Scared to Dance
"The Saints Are Coming" Released: October 1978 "Into the Valley" Released: 16 February 1979

Writing

Anti-war themes are a recurring motif in the album. There are also a great deal of references in singer Richard Jobson's lyrics to the band's home region in Scotland.

Music and production

Scared to Dance was produced by David Batchelor and engineered by Mick Glossop.

Scared to Dance was the first album to feature Stuart Adamson's 'bagpipe guitar', which would be the trademark of his later band Big Country.

Release

The album was preceded by the single "Into the Valley", released on 16 February 1979, which reached No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart.^[1] Scared to Dance was released on 23 February, reaching No. 19 on the UK Albums Chart.^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Smash Hits	9/10[3]

Scared to Dance has been well received by critics. Ira Robbins of Trouser Press called the album "excellent [...] Using loud guitar and semi-martial drumming for its basis, Jobson's hearty singing sounds like an 18th century general leading his merry troops down from the hills into glorious battle."^[4]

Legacy

The song "The Saints Are Coming" was later covered by Green Day and U2 and released as a charity single, reaching #1 in several countries.

"Into the Valley" became popular as adopted and sung by fans of Dunfermline Athletic F.C., the band's local football team, as well as Charlton Athletic F.C. in England whose ground is known as The Valley.

Scared To Dance is also the name of the club night, film screening and live music promoters founded in 2009.^[5]

Track listing

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Into the Valley"	3:17
2.	"Scared to Dance"	3:19
3.	"Of One Skin"	2:29
4.	"Dossier (Of Fallibility)"	3:31
5.	"Melancholy Soldiers"	3:02
6.	"Hope and Glory"	3:17

All lyrics are written by Richard Jobson; all music is composed by Stuart Adamson.

Side B

No.	Title	Length
7.	"The Saints Are Coming"	2:41
8.	"Six Times"	2:10
9.	"Calling the Tune"	4:03
10.	"Integral Plot"	2:39
11.	"Charles" (1979 re-recording, composed Adamson)	2:43
12.	"Scale"	4:43

2005 reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Charles" (original 1978 Charles EP version)	2:35
14.	"Sweet Suburbia" (non-album single A-side, 1978)	2:25
15.	"Open Sound" ("Sweet Suburbia" single B-side, 1978)	1:53
16.	"TV Stars" ("Into the Valley" single B-side, 1979, recorded live at the Marquee, London, 1 November 1978)	1:44
17.	"Night and Day" (Wide Open EP B-side, 1978)	2:38
18.	"Contusion" (Wide Open EP B-side, 1978)	2:43
19.	"Reasons" (Charles EP, 1978)	2:08
20.	"Test Tube Babies" (Charles EP, 1978)	2:04

Personnel

Skids

• Richard Jobson – vocals, guitar
• Stuart Adamson – guitar
• William Simpson – bass guitar
• Thomas Kellichan – drums

Additional personnel

• David Batchelor – piano, production
• Chris Jenkins – guitar

Technical personnel

• Mick Glossop – engineering
• Steve Prestage – engineering assistance
• Russell Mills – sleeve artwork
• Dennis Morris – sleeve photography

Charts

1979 chart performance for Scared to Dance

Chart (1979)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[6]	19

2022 chart performance for Scared to Dance

Chart (2022)	Peak position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[7]	1