The first single to be lifted from PiL’s 1987 album, ‘Happy’, ‘Seattle’ was a a lively, punchy track that sadly failed to provide much of a hit to match the momentum that the previous year’s ‘Album’ and ‘Rise’ releases had. Bolstered with a resurgent John McGeogh on guitar, its a highly polished production, courtesy of Gary Langan, and his high-tech, meticulous touches are one thing, though how well it fitted with earlier PiL sounds is a point of debate.
At the time, I bought this on 7″ and cassette single – its only in later years I managed to track it down on CD format and as far I am aware, this is the only release that includes the 7″ edit of the A side in digital form. Its only about 20 seconds or so shorter and even at its full duration it is a catchy track that gets to the chorus in double-quick time and doesn’t linger long enough to outstay its welcome by any means.
The additional tracks are the re-recorded ‘The Suit’ – its 1987 high-tech re-fit a massive change from the Jah Wobble bass-throb of the 1979 ‘Metal Box’ original – while ‘Selfish Rubbish’ passes muster as a lively, number that would have been worth a place on the accompanying album rather than just the B side.
