Sign of the Times (Rubettes album)

Sign of the Times
Studio album by
The Rubettes
ReleasedJune 1976
GenrePop rock, rock & roll, Country rock
Length35:29
42:02 (with bonus tracks)
LabelState Records/Polydor Records
ProducerThe Rubettes, Alan Blakley
The Rubettes chronology
Rubettes
(1975) 		Sign of the Times
(1976) 		Baby I Know
(1977)

Sign of the Times is the fourth studio album by the English band The Rubettes. It was released on the State Records label in June 1976.[1] The album represented a significant change in direction for the band, as it was the first not produced by Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington – instead the Rubettes took on production responsibilities themselves, with Alan Blakley (formerly of the Tremeloes) as co-producer. The band made the decision due to the disappointing sales of their previous two Bickerton/Waddington singles and the desire to forge new musical directions.[2][3]

The Rubettes were a four-piece band by the time Sign of the Times was recorded, as keyboardist Bill Hurd departed earlier in 1976. Tony Thorpe took over keyboard duties in the studio.[3]

The album contained two singles, both released in advance – the only UK single release "You're The Reason Why" and the non-UK A-side "Julia".[3]

In 1992, Dice Records (France) released the Rubettes' third and fourth albums (Rubettes and Sign of the Times) as a double CD set.[4] In 2012, Cherry Red Records issued the album on CD.[2] In 2015, Caroline Records released the album Sign of the Times, with two bonus tracks, as part of a box CD set of the Rubettes' first five studio albums.[5]

  1. ^ "Rubettes -Discography". Rubettes.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Rubettes – Sign Of The Times". discogs.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Liner notes from CD box set Rubettes – The Albums 1974–77
  4. ^ "Original Albums – 3 & 4". discogs.com. 1992. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  5. ^ "The Rubettes – The Albums 1974–77 – (CD, Box Set) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2017.