Anfield Rap

"Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)"

Released

2 May 1988

Paul Gainford, Derek B, Derek B and Mary Byker

Liverpool F.C. singles chronology

"Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)"
(1988)

"Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)" was a song released by members of Liverpool F.C. before the 1988 FA Cup Final against Wimbledon F.C. The song reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was co-written by Paul Gainford, Liverpool midfielder Craig Johnston, rapper Derek B^[2] and Mary Byker from Gaye Bykers on Acid.^[3] The song was met with mixed reviews - the tune has become a cult classic among Liverpool fans but critics often cite it as one of the worst sports songs of all time.^[4]^[5] Liverpool would go on to lose the final 0-1 to Wimbledon in one of the biggest shocks in the entire history of the competition.^[6]^[7]

Style

The song is a parody of a number of hip hop tracks, notably the intro from LL Cool J's "Rock the Bells" and Eric B. & Rakim's "I Know You Got Soul" (which sampled the opening drum roll from Funkadelic's "You'll Like It Too"). The song also featured the guitar riff (and the Ahhhhh-ahhhhh-ahhhhh element) from "Twist And Shout" by The Beatles who hailed from Liverpool.

The track featured John Aldridge and Steve McMahon, who (along with Gary Ablett) were the only native Liverpudlians in the regular line up at the time, making fun of the accents of the other players. The other players featured were John Barnes, Bruce Grobbelaar, Craig Johnston, Kevin MacDonald, Gary Gillespie, Steve Nicol, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Ray Houghton, Jim Beglin, Nigel Spackman and Jan Molby, along with manager Kenny Dalglish. One verse of the song was performed by then-ITV football commentator Brian Moore. There were also archived voice clips from the club's former manager Bill Shankly.

^ Bieger, Hannes (July 2016). "Motor Museum, Liverpool". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
^ "Anfield Rap co-writer Derek B dead at 44 - Football Banter". MirrorFootball.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
^ "Interview with Graham Crabb from Pop Will Eat Itself". Phoenix FM. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
^ Mark Savage (24 July 2012). "Why are sport songs so hard to get right?". BBC. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ "Anfield Rap still top of the league; MY CITY. - Free Online Library".
^ Beasant, Dave (15 May 2010). "14 May 1988: The first FA Cup final penalty save". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
^ "English FA Cup Finalists 1980 – 1989". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 24 June 2011.

History

Home stadium

Training ground

Players

Rivalries

Tragedies

Controversies

Supporters

Media

Books	43 Years with the Same Bird Red or Dead
Films	Fifteen Minutes That Shook the World (2009) Will (2011) One Night in Istanbul (2014)
Chants	"The Fields of Anfield Road" "You'll Never Walk Alone"
Singles	"We Can Do It" (1977) "Liverpool (We're Never Gonna...)"/"Liverpool Anthem" (1983) "Sitting on Top of the World" (1986) "Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)" (1988) "Pass & Move (It's the Liverpool Groove)" (1996)

v t e Hit singles recorded by Liverpool Football Club
"We Can Do It" (1977) "Liverpool (We're Never Gonna...)"/"Liverpool Anthem" (1983) "Sitting on Top of the World" (1986) "Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)" (1988) "Pass & Move (It's the Liverpool Groove)" (1996)
See also: All UK hit singles by footballers

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This page was last edited on 25 January 2024, at 21:24