Orgasm Addict

"Orgasm Addict'" is a song by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was the A-side of the Buzzcocks' first single, with "Whatever Happened To...?" as the B-side, which was released on 4 November 1977 by record label United Artists.

"Orgasm Addict"
Single by Buzzcocks
B-side"Whatever Happened To...?"
Released4 November 1977 (1977-11-04)
RecordedSeptember 1977 at T.W. Studios, Fulham, England
GenrePunk rock
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Pete Shelley, Howard Devoto
Producer(s)Martin Rushent
Buzzcocks singles chronology
"Orgasm Addict"
(1977)		 "What Do I Get?"
(1978)

Artwork

The sleeve was devised by graphic designer Malcolm Garrett and featured a collage, created by artist Linder Sterling, depicting a woman whose head is a clothes iron.[1] Regarding the concept, Sterling explained: "Well, the iron came from an Argos catalogue and the female torso came from a photographic magazine called Photo. I never cleared the copyright but no one noticed, so it was alright." Sterling later added "It was made in a Salford bedroom; I had a sheet of glass, a scalpel and piles of women's mags." The image was originally in colour but Garrett thought it would be best to change it to a blue monotone, for the record company specified the sleeve could be printed in only two colours.

Release

"Orgasm Addict" was released as the Buzzcocks' debut single on 4 November 1977.[2]

The 7" French vinyl release contains different takes of the same two tracks.

This was the only Buzzcocks single featuring bassist Garth Smith, who joined in early 1977 to replace Steve Diggle, who switched to guitar. Shortly after its release, he was expelled from the band.[3]

The song later appeared on the album Singles Going Steady and also on CD reissues of Another Music in a Different Kitchen.

Reception

The song was controversial due to its sexual content and was banned by the BBC.[4]

Buzzcocks singer Pete Shelley later said that the song "is embarrassing. It's the only one I listen to and... shudder".[5]

Track listing
  1. "Orgasm Addict" (Howard Devoto, Pete Shelley) (1:58)
  2. "Whatever Happened To...?" (Pete Shelley, Dial – alias of ex-manager Richard Boon) (2:07)

References
  1. Lowey, Ian; Prince, Suzy (2014). The Graphic Art of the Underground: A Countercultural History. London; New York: Bloomsbury. p. 118. ISBN 9781472573551.
  2. "45cat – Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict / Whatever Happened To? – United Artists – UK – UP 36316". 45cat. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  3. "Buzzcocks Discography". Buzzcocks.com. Archived from the original (TXT) on 5 September 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  4. Swenson, Kyle (7 December 2018). "When punk rock raged, Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks stuck with love songs and changed music history". The Washington Post.
  5. Dimery, Robert (2010). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. United Kingdom: Cassell Illustrated. p. 384. ISBN 978-1-84403-736-0.
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