The Graveyard and the Ballroom is the debut album by A Certain Ratio, an influential post-punk band known for incorporating funk, dance, and jazz elements into their music. The album was first released in December 1979 on cassette by Factory Records. It was divided into two sides: the "Graveyard" side featured various live sessions recorded in October of that year, while the "Ballroom" side consisted of studio tracks produced at Revolution Studios in Stockport.
A Certain Ratio consists of members Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Donald Johnson, Tony Quigley, and Bernard Sumner, among others over the years. Unique to this album is their experimental mixture of post-punk with funk influences. The band has earned distinctiveness through their innovative approach to punk, elements of dance music, and a captivating live performance energy which is evident in the live sessions of this album.
The studio half of the album proves particularly important as it was one of the first times producer Martin Hannett worked with the band, a collaboration that would significantly shape the sound of A Certain Ratio's subsequent releases. The album paints an effective portrait of A Certain Ratio in their earliest form, demonstrating the raw energy of their live performances and the potential for their capacious studio experimentation.
Despite its initial limited release format, the album ultimately gained widespread attention and re-releases as it was one of the foundational releases of both the Factory Records label and the band itself. It helped cement A Certain Ratio's place in the range of post-punk bands breaking new ground at that time.
Overall, The Graveyard and The Ballroom is a raw yet danceable album, a boundary-pushing post-punk album with a lasting influence on the genre. Notable songs from the album include "All Night Party," "Oceans," "The Choir," and "The Fox".
