Vermin in Ermine

Vermin in Ermine is the début solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released in October 1984 and reached number 36 on the UK Albums Chart.^[1] Vermin in Ermine includes the singles "The Boy Who Came Back", "You Have" and "Tenderness is a Weakness".

Vermin in Ermine
Cover photography by Peter Ashworth
Studio album by Marc Almond and The Willing Sinners
Released	October 1984 (1984-10)
Recorded	1984
Studio	Hartmann Digital Studios, Bavaria
Genre	Art pop
Length	47:28 (LP) 75:18 (CD and Cassette)
Label	Some Bizzare, Phonogram, Vertigo
Producer	Mike Hedges
Marc Almond and The Willing Sinners chronology
Torment and Toreros (with Marc and the Mambas) (1983) Vermin in Ermine (1984) Stories of Johnny (1985)
Singles from Vermin in Ermine
"The Boy Who Came Back" b/w "Joey Demento" Released: June 1984 "You Have" b/w "Split Lip (Single Version)" Released: September 1984 "Tenderness is a Weakness" b/w "Love For Sale" Released: November 1984

Almond with his new assembled band The Willing Sinners - an evolution from his previous outfit Marc and the Mambas - featuring Annie Hogan, Billy McGee, Martin McCarrick, Richard Riley and Steven Humphreys, accompanied by studio musicians recorded the songs for album at Hartmann Digital Studios, Bavaria. The artwork was designed by Huw Feather from a concept by Almond with photography by Peter Ashworth.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Smash Hits	[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[4]

Track listing

LP

All tracks are written by Marc Almond.

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Shining Sinners"	6:38
2.	"Hell Was a City"	4:02
3.	"You Have"	5:38
4.	"Crime Sublime"	3:12
5.	"Gutter Hearts"	4:25

Side two

No.	Title	Length
6.	"Ugly Head"	7:56
7.	"The Boy Who Came Back"	4:53
8.	"Solo Adultos"	5:37
9.	"Tenderness is a Weakness"	5:07

CD and Cassette

All tracks are written by Marc Almond.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Shining Sinners"	6:38
2.	"Hell Was a City"	4:02
3.	"You Have"	5:38
4.	"Split Lip"	17:13
5.	"Crime Sublime"	3:12
6.	"Gutter Hearts"	4:25
7.	"Ugly Head"	7:56
8.	"The Boy Who Came Back"	4:53
9.	"Solo Adultos"	5:37
10.	"Joey Demento"	5:48
11.	"Pink Shack Blues"	4:49
12.	"Tenderness is a Weakness"	5:07

Personnel

• Marc Almond – vocals, all arrangements, design concept

The Willing Sinners

• Annie Hogan – piano, vibes
• Billy McGee – bass (bowed and plucked)
• Martin McCarrick – cello, keyboards
• Richard Riley – guitar
• Steven Humphreys – drums

with:

• Gary Barnacle – saxophone
• Enrico Tomasso – trumpet, flugelhorn; trumpet arrangement on "Hell Was a City"
• Gini Ball – violin
• Zeke Manyika – drums on "Pink Shack Blues" and "Ugly Head"
• Martin Ditcham – percussion, tympani on "Tenderness is a Weakness"
• Spiros – bouzouki on "Shining Sinners"
• Nancy Peppers – backing vocals on "The Boy Who Came Back" and "Pink Shack Blues"

Technical

• Mike Hedges – producer
• Tom Thiel – engineer
• Flood – engineer on "Shining Sinners" and "Crime Sublime"
• Billy McGee, Gini Ball, Martin Ditcham – string arrangements
• Peter Ashworth – cover photography
• Huw Feather – design
• Rizz – glamour wear