On this day July 6, 1984, Public Image Ltd released their fourth studio album This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get, marking a shift toward a more structured, accessible sound while still carrying their post punk roots. With John Lydon as the driving force, the album featured reworked tracks originally intended for an earlier abandoned release and introduced a more refined mix of angular guitars, experimental production, and confrontational lyrics.
The single Bad Life gave the album a jolt of energy, while tracks like This Is Not a Love Song reflected Lydon's ability to balance irony with sharp hooks. The album helped establish the band’s presence beyond the UK underground scene and marked their continuing evolution through the decade.
The album peaked at number 56 on the US Billboard 200.
You can revisit the release in our This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get album thread.
80s insight: This album showed how post punk bands like Public Image Ltd could shift direction without abandoning their edge.
The single Bad Life gave the album a jolt of energy, while tracks like This Is Not a Love Song reflected Lydon's ability to balance irony with sharp hooks. The album helped establish the band’s presence beyond the UK underground scene and marked their continuing evolution through the decade.
The album peaked at number 56 on the US Billboard 200.
You can revisit the release in our This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get album thread.
80s insight: This album showed how post punk bands like Public Image Ltd could shift direction without abandoning their edge.
