Soldier is the fourth solo studio album by American rock musician Iggy Pop, released in 1979 through Arista Records. It followed his critically acclaimed albums Lust for Life (1977) and New Values (1979) and marked a period where Pop was working to establish his career outside the shadow of his former band, The Stooges.
Background and Recording
After two albums with RCA Records (The Idiot and Lust for Life) that saw Pop collaborating extensively with David Bowie, and one on Arista (New Values), Soldier was Iggy Pop's second release for Arista. The album was produced by James Williamson, former guitarist for The Stooges, who had previously worked with Pop on the band's influential album Raw Power (1973). The recording sessions took place in 1979.
The album featured a notable lineup of musicians, including Glen Matlock (formerly of the Sex Pistols) on bass, Ivan Kral (known for his work with Patti Smith) on guitar and keyboards, and Klaus Krüger on drums. David Bowie also contributed backing vocals to two tracks, "Play It Safe" and "I'm a Conservative", and co-wrote "Play It Safe".
Arista Records reportedly pushed Pop towards a more commercially accessible sound, aiming to capitalize on the new wave trend of the late 1970s. This often led to tension during the recording process and influenced the album's overall sound, which was perceived as more polished than some of Pop's earlier, rawer material.
Musical Style
Soldier generally features a more mainstream rock and new wave sound compared to Pop's earlier punk rock output. While still retaining his characteristic raw vocal delivery, the instrumentation is tighter and more produced, incorporating elements of new wave and power pop. Songs like "Ambition" and "Dog Food" maintain a driving rock energy, while tracks like "Play It Safe" show a more melodic and accessible side. The album contains diverse lyrical themes, ranging from personal reflections to social commentary.
Reception
Upon its release, Soldier received mixed critical reviews. Many critics and fans felt that the album lacked the visceral energy and experimental edge of Pop's previous work, attributing this to Arista's perceived interference and the pursuit of a more commercial sound. Some reviews criticized the production as being too clean or conventional for Pop's persona.
Despite the mixed reception, Soldier contains tracks that have since become appreciated by fans, and it remains an important entry in Pop's extensive discography, representing a specific phase of his career as he navigated major label expectations and evolving musical trends. The album spawned two singles: "Do Do That Voodoo" (released in the US) and "Ambition" (released in the UK).
Track Listing
All tracks are written by Iggy Pop, except where noted.
- "Ambition" (Pop, James Williamson)
- "Take Care of Me" (Pop, James Williamson)
- "Get Up and Get Out" (Pop, James Williamson)
- "Play It Safe" (Pop, David Bowie)
- "I'm a Conservative"
- "Dog Food"
- "Sixteen"
- "When You're Naked" (Pop, James Williamson)
- "Mr. Dynamite" (Pop, James Williamson)
- "Gladiators" (Pop, James Williamson)
Personnel
- Iggy Pop – vocals
- Glen Matlock – bass
- Ivan Kral – guitar, keyboards
- Klaus Krüger – drums
- James Williamson – guitar, producer
Additional personnel
- David Bowie – backing vocals on "Play It Safe" and "I'm a Conservative"
- Glen Gregory – backing vocals
- Geoff Dugmore – backing vocals
- Jackie Carter – backing vocals
- Andrew Ballard – backing vocals
- The Snowmen – backing vocals