Definition
Double Trouble is the fifth studio release by the British hard‑rock band Gillian, issued in 1981 as a double‑album comprising one disc of new studio recordings and a second disc of live performances.
Overview
Released on 30 October 1981 by Virgin Records, Double Trouble reached number 12 on the United Kingdom Albums Chart. The album showcases a shift toward a more radio‑friendly, US‑oriented production style, a direction that Ian Gillan later expressed uncertainty about in interviews. It marked the first Gillan record to feature guitarist Janick Gers, who replaced Bernie Tormé after the latter’s departure during the 1981 German tour. The live disc captures the band’s set at the Reading Festival on 29 August 1981, with additional material recorded at London’s Rainbow Theatre on 4 March 1981.
Etymology / Origin
The title Double Trouble references the album’s double‑LP format, pairing studio and live material. No further documented explanation for the choice of title has been identified; therefore, any additional meaning remains unconfirmed.
Characteristics
- Genre: Hard rock, heavy metal
- Length: 77 minutes, 06 seconds
- Personnel:
- Ian Gillan – lead vocals
- Janick Gers – guitars (studio tracks and most live tracks)
- Bernie Tormé – guitars (live tracks 5 and 9–11)
- John McCoy – bass
- Colin Towns – keyboards
- Mick Underwood – drums
- Production: Produced by Steve Smith for K.R. Productions Ltd.; live tracks engineered by the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, studio tracks mixed at Abbey Road Studios.
- Track composition: The studio disc contains eight original songs, including the singles “Nightmare” and “Restless.” The live disc features extended performances of earlier Gillan material and a cover of “Trouble” (Leiber & Stoller).
- Reissues: The album was issued on CD in 1989 with the original track list and re‑released in 2007 by Edsel/Demon Music Group with bonus studio and live tracks, such as “Spanish Guitar” and live renditions of “Smoke on the Water.”
Related Topics
- Gillan (band)
- Ian Gillan (Deep Purple vocalist)
- Janick Gers (later guitarist for Iron Maiden)
- Bernie Tormé
- 1981 Reading Festival
- Double‑album releases in rock music
- Virgin Records catalog of the early 1980s
- Heavy metal and hard‑rock genre developments in the early 1980s