The Rattler

"The Rattler"
Single by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie
Released	6 October 1986
Recorded	Hart Street Studios, Edinburgh, Scotland
Genre	Alternative rock, new wave
Length	3:51
Label	The Precious Organisation
Songwriter(s)	Derek Kelly, Martin Metcalfe
Producer(s)	Wilf Smarties
Goodbye Mr Mackenzie singles chronology
"Death of a Salesman" (1984) "The Rattler" (1986) "Face to Face" (1987)

"The Rattler"
Single by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie
from the album Good Deeds and Dirty Rags
Released	February 1989
Genre	Alternative rock, new wave
Length	3:51
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Derek Kelly, Martin Metcalfe
Producer(s)	Goodbye Mr Mackenzie Add. production and mix by Mack Engineered by Jack The Cat
Goodbye Mr Mackenzie singles chronology
"Open Your Arms" (1988) "The Rattler" (1989) "Goodwill City" / "I'm Sick of You" (1989)

"The Rattler" is a 1986 song by Scottish alternative rock group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie and has become their most enduring track, often referred to as a "lost classic" of the Scottish music scene. The song was often described as "Springsteen-esque", even though the song had not been inspired or written in that way.^[1]

"The Rattler" was originally released independently, but was withdrawn from radio airplay over its lyrical content. Despite this the track reached #8 on the indie charts.^[2] Three years later, "The Rattler" was re-recorded and released on a major label as the third single released upfront of the band's debut album Good Deeds and Dirty Rags.^[3] "The Rattler" became the band's only Top 40 hit.^[4]