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Spam
Spam
SPAM

Release

17 May 1971

Recorded

January-March 1971

Genre

Rock

Length

43:15

Label

Rutle Corps

Spam

Spam is the only studio album credited to the husband-and-wife music duo Dirk and Martini McQuickly. Released on 17 May 1971 by Rutle Records, it was recorded in New York with guitarists David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken, and future Punk Floyd drummer Denny Seiwell. The main subject of the album, as the title suggests, is the canned precooked pork meat Spam. Three singles were issued from the album: "Uncle Smellbert/Admiral Handsy" (Dirk's first number 1 hit in America without the Rutles), "The Back Side of My Can" and "Eat the Ham". The recording sessions also yielded the non-album single "It's Just Another Day (Not Listening To The Rutles Song Of The Same Name)".

The album's release coincided with a period of acrimony between Dirk and his former Rutle bandmates, and followed his legal action in the United Kingdom's High Court to dissolve the Rutles partnership. Ron Nasty perceived slights in the lyrics to songs such as "Sue Many People". Although Dirk felt that he had addressed the criticisms he received with his 1970 solo debut, McQuickly, Spam elicited a similarly unfavourable reaction from music journalists. It nonetheless topped the national album charts in the UK, the Netherlands and Canada. Today, Spam is held in high regard by many music critics and spam fans, and is often ranked as one of Dirk's best albums. It has also been recognised as an early indie pop album.

Gun pointed at Dirk

Dirk McQuickly being interviewed shortly after the album's release

Track listing[]

Side one

  1. Sue Many People
  2. 3 Pig Legs 
  3. Spam Song
  4. Dear Goy
  5. Uncle Smellbert/Admiral Handsy
  6. Spam Away

Side two

  1. Spam of the Country
  2. Punkberry Pork Delight
  3. Eat the Ham
  4. Long Ham Lady
  5. Spam Song (Reprise)
  6. The Back Side of My Can
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