The Correct Use of Soap

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The Correct Use of Soap is Magazine’s third studio album, released in 1980 by Virgin Records. It includes some of the band’s best-known songs, such as the singles “A Song from Under the Floorboards” and “Sweetheart Contract,” plus their cover of Sly and the Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).”

An Alternative Use of Soap, a Canadian version of the album, was released in 1980 by Polygram Records.

This was the last Magazine album with original guitarist John McGeoch, who left after the release to join Siouxsie and the Banshees. He was replaced by Robin Simon for the world tour promoting the album.

Some songs on the album bring back the faster, punkier riffs from the band’s early style, after the more polished sound of their prior album. Two tracks reference Fyodor Dostoyevsky: “Philadelphia” nods to Crime and Punishment’s Raskolnikov, and “A Song from Under the Floorboards” is linked to Notes from Underground.

The album sleeve was designed by Malcolm Garrett. It reached number 28 on the UK Albums Chart.

Singles from the album were “A Song from Under the Floorboards,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “Sweetheart Contract.” “Thank You” reached number 42 on the US Billboard Dance/Club Play chart, and “Sweetheart Contract” reached number 54 on the UK Singles Chart.

Reception at the time was mixed. Record Mirror gave it 4 out of 5, while Smash Hits criticized it for sounding busy but lacking strong songs. NME placed the album at number 14 on its Albums of the Year list.

Legacy: “A Song from Under the Floorboards” was included in Rhino’s 2004 box set Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the ’80s Underground and has been covered by artists such as Morrissey, My Friend the Chocolate Cake, and Simple Minds. In 2009, Magazine performed the album in full at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

All lyrics are by Howard Devoto, and all music is by Magazine (Barry Adamson, Howard Devoto, John Doyle, Dave Formula and John McGeoch), unless noted. Credits are taken from the album liner notes.