Stateless is the debut studio album by English-American singer Lene Lovich. It was released in October 1978 by Stiff Records and produced by Lene Lovich and Les Chappell (credited as "The Stateless").
Contents
Release
The UK version of the album was released in 1978 and in the United States in 1979.
The album was available in two different releases. The more common release had most of the songs remixed from the original versions and included the single version of "Lucky Number". On this version, the tracks were slightly shortened. While the original vocals were often straightforward, this release featured new vocals accentuating Lovich's quirky singing style.
The album cover varied between countries.
Chart Performance
Stateless peaked at number 35 on the UK Albums Chart, while also managing to chart in Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
The album reached the Top 20 of the Australian albums chart in the week dated May 29, 1979. It peaked at number 13 the following week.
The album debuted at number 169 on the Billboard 200 chart in the week ending August 4, 1979. It peaked at number 137 in its fourth week on the chart. The album spent a total of ten weeks on the chart.
Reception
Upon its release, Stateless received positive reviews from music critics.
The Village Voice's Robert Christgau called Lovich "an original" and found that her "goofy energy doesn't distract her from her feelings or damage her sex appeal or conceal a mawkish underside."
Billboard magazine said that Lovich was an artist "whose time has come" and had successfully "fashioned a unique identity" that was "on the mark in spirit and execution". Lovich was described as "an Eastern European Patti Smith" and her music was compared to the work of The Cars and Talking Heads, as well as "Volga boat songs" and "rock'n'roll girl groups". Billboard highlighted the tracks "Lucky Number", "Home", "Telepathy", "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Tonight" as the best songs of the album.
Track listings
The album was re-issued in the United Kingdom following the success of "Lucky Number" with six tracks remixed by Roger Bechirian. The US version saw a further three tracks remixed.
Personnel
Lene Lovich – vocals, saxophone
Les Chappell – guitar, EMS synthesizer, percussion, vocals
Jeff Smith – synthesizer
Nick Plytas – Hammond organ, piano
Ron François – bass, percussion, vocals
Bobby Irwin – drums, percussion, vocals
Don Snow – piano on "Too Tender (To Touch)"
Technical
Aldo Bocca, Jeremy Green, Pete Fox, Roger Bechirian – engineer
Brian Griffin – photography
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.