Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned

Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned
Studio album by The Prodigy
Released	11 August 2004 (Japan) 23 August 2004 (UK) 15 September 2004 (US)
Recorded	September 1998 – April 2004
Genre	Techno Industrial Big Beat Alternative rock Electronica
Length	57:57
Label	XL Recordings Maverick, Warner Bros. (US) Sony Music (Japan)
Producer	Liam Howlett
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Drowned in Sound (8/10) link The Guardian 20 August 2004 Kludge (6/10) link Mojo September 2004, p.92 MusicReview (7.7/10) link NME (6/10) 14 August 2004 The Observer 18 July 2004 Pitchfork (3.9/10) 26 August 2004 PlayLouder 18 August 2004 PopMatters (neutral) 14 December 2004 Q September 2004, p.110 Rolling Stone 20 September 2004
The Prodigy chronology
The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One (1999) Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004) Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005 (2005)
Singles from Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned
"Girls" Released: 30 August 2004 "Hotride" Released: 1 November 2004 "Spitfire" Released: 4 April 2005

Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned is an album by the electronic act The Prodigy. It was released in the UK on 23 August 2004 by XL Recordings, and in the US on 15 September 2004 by Mute Records/Maverick Records. It is the first The Prodigy studio album after 1997's The Fat of the Land. Its title is a play on words of the title to the Walter Mosely novel Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned.

Content

Of the three The Prodigy members, only Liam Howlett is present on the album musically. Contributors included actress Juliette Lewis, Oasis frontmen Liam and Noel Gallagher, Kool Keith and The Magnificent Ping Pong Bitches. "This album is about reminding people what The Prodigy was always about — the beats and the music", Howlett wrote to an internet zine after finishing the album.^[1] He also notes that his intention was to use vocals mostly as an extension of the sound rather than the main focal point, as was the case in The Fat of the Land.

A limited edition of 5000 was released, sporting a black, inverted cover variant and no other extras. In Japan and the US the album contained a reworked version of Girls, entitled "More Girls" which features Maxim on vocals.

Release

The album peaked at Number 1 on the UK album charts, although for one week only, and performed decently in Australia reaching Number 6 on the Aria Album Chart. With three singles the album yielded no big hits in any country. It was promoted by a promotional double A-sided 12" "Girls/Memphis Bells", released in very limited quantities in UK on 21 June 2004. On 28 June 2004, the track "Memphis Bells" was exclusively available online as a digital download via alwaysoutnumbered.com. Available in a limited edition, each of the 5,000 downloads had a unique variation of the track, accompanied with a unique variation of the artwork.

On 30 August 2004 "Girls" was released, entering the charts at #19. "Hotride" – released 1 November 2004 in the UK – was not eligible to enter the UK charts as the CD was released in EP format with 3 additional 'b-sides' and so did not conform to chart regulations. Finally, "Spitfire" was released on 4 April 2005 as the album's third single.

Track listing

All songs written by Liam Howlett unless indicated otherwise.

1. "Spitfire" – 5:07
   • vocals: Juliette Lewis
   • "stab creation": Matt Robertson
2. "Girls" – 4:06
   • vocal contribution: The Magnificent Ping Pong Bitches
   • Samples from "Style of the Street" (by Broken Glass) written by J. Martinez/F. Cooke
   • Samples from "You're the One for Me" (by D Train) written by Hubert Barlay Eaves III/James Williams
3. "Memphis Bells" (Howlett/Neal Maclellan) – 4:28
   • vocal contribution: Princess Superstar
4. "Get Up Get Off" – 4:19
   • vocals written by Twista, Shahin Badar and Juliette Lewis
   • Co-produced by Dave Pemberton - Strongroom
5. "Hotride" – 4:35
   • vocals written by Juliette Lewis
   • guitar played by Scott Donaldson
   • backing vocal Hanna Robinson
   • bass guitar Liam Howlett
   • interpolates elements from "Up Up and Away" written and composed by Jim Webb
6. "Wake Up Call" – 4:55
   • vocals written by Kool Keith
   • additional vocals by Louise Boone and Hanna Robinson
   • flute by Jim Hunt
7. "Action Radar" – 5:32
   • vocals written by Paul 'Dirtcandy' Jackson
   • additional vocals by Louise Boone
   • guitar by Mike Horner and Liam Howlett
8. "Medusa's Path" (Howlett/Maclellan) – 6:08
   • samples from "ELAHAYE Naz" composed by Rooholah Khaleghi and performed by Gholamhossein Banan
   • samples from "Plastic Dreams (Hohner Retro Mix)" (by Jaydee) written by Robin Albers
9. "Phoenix" – 4:38
   • beats and bass and "analogue shit" by Liam Howlett
   • additional vocal by Louise Boone
   • guitar by Matt Robertson
   • samples elements from "Love Buzz" (by Shocking Blue) written by Robert Van Leeuwen
10. "You'll Be Under My Wheels" (Howlett/Maclellan) – 3:56
    • vocals by Kool Keith
    • guitar by Jim Davies and Liam Howlett
11. "The Way It Is" – 5:45
    • additional vocal by Louise Boone and Neil Maclellan
    • recreation work by Matt Robertson and Rinse
    • based upon "Thriller" written by Rod Temperton
12. "Shoot Down" (Howlett/Maclellan) – 4:28
    • vocals written and performed by Liam Gallagher
    • bass played by Noel Gallagher and Liam Howlett
    • guitars played by Mike Horner and Liam Howlett
    • additional production by Jan 'Stan' Kybert
    • samples from "My World Fell Down" (by Saggitarius) written by John Carter/Geoff Stephens - this sample was earlier used in unreleased live track "Trigger"
13. "More Girls" (Japanese edition bonus track) – 4:26

Producers

• Liam Howlett - producer, programming, keyboards on all tracks
• Neil Maclellan - engineer, additional programming
• Damian Taylor - Pro Tools engineer
• Pre-production - Mews Recording Studios
• Mixing - by Neil Maclellan and Liam Howlett at Whitfield Street Studios
• Mastering - by Moet Mastered and Emily Lazar at The Lodge, New York City

References

External links

• Description of tracks by Liam Howlett
• Opinions about Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned - BBC Dance Review