Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!

Infobox Album | Name = Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
Type = studio
Artist = Megadeth


Caption = Original album cover
Released = June 1985
Recorded = December 1984 - January 1985 at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, CA.
Length = 27:33 (Original)
43:43 (Remaster)
Label = Combat, Relativity, Loud
Producer = Dave Mustaine and Karat Faye
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Awsjb7i3jg72r (Original)]
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:qzxuakok0m3n (Deluxe)]
*"Winnipeg Sun" (Darryl Sterdan) (Favourable) [http://www.canoe.ca/JamAlbumsM/megadeath_killing-sun.html February 15, 2002]
*"PopMatters" (Favourable) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/megadeath-killing.shtml May 1, 2002]
Last album =
This album = "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!"
(1985)
Next album = "Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?"
(1986)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternative cover
Type = studio


Lower caption = 2002 remastered edition cover

"Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!" is the debut album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. It was originally released in 1985 on Combat Records. The album received positive reviews, even from mainstream music critics [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyZkVwRuBYQ YouTube - Megadeth documentary (Part 5 of 11) ] ] . The deluxe edition, completely remixed and remastered and featuring a new cover and several bonus tracks, was released by Loud Records in 2002.

The album's artwork, featuring a plastic skull with tinfoil, was not intended to be the original artwork. Mustaine wanted a picture of Megadeth mascot Vic Rattlehead on the cover, however the studio lost the artwork, so they improvised the low-budget replacement.

These Boots was on the original pressing of the album, but deleted from subsequent pressings due to legal issues with the song's writer, Lee Hazlewood. It was later added back onto the 2002 remaster, albeit with edit beeps everywhere a lyric change was made.

Track listing

All songs written by Dave Mustaine, except where noted.

Original track listing

# "Last Rites/Loved to Deth" – 4:40
# "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!" – 3:06
# "Skull Beneath the Skin" – 3:47
# "These Boots" (Lee Hazlewood) - 3:39
# "Rattlehead" – 3:43
# "Chosen Ones" – 2:55
# "Looking Down The Cross" – 5:05
# "Mechanix" – 4:22

2002 re-release track listing

# "Last Rites/Loved to Deth" – 4:40
# "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!" – 3:06
# "The Skull Beneath the Skin" – 3:47
# "Rattlehead" – 3:43
# "Chosen Ones" – 2:55
# "Looking Down The Cross" – 5:04
# "Mechanix" – 4:22
# "These Boots" (Hazlewood) – 4:42
# "Last Rites/Loved to Deth" (demo) – 4:18
# "Mechanix" (demo) – 4:01
# "The Skull Beneath the Skin" (demo) – 3:11

Personnel

* Dave Mustaine - guitar, lead vocals, piano
* Chris Poland - guitar
* David Ellefson - bass guitar, backing vocals
* Gar Samuelson - drums, timpani
* Karat Faye - producer, engineer

References