9 is the seventh studio album by Public Image Ltd, but their ninth full-length release including the live albums Paris au Printemps and Live in Tokyo. It was released in May 1989 on the Virgin Records label (see 1989 in music). Background The band that recorded 9 consisted of John Lydon, bassist Allan Dias, guitarist John McGeoch and drummer Bruce Smith. Former guitarist Lu Edmonds left the band by the time the album was recorded due to problems with tinnitus. However, Edmonds received a writing co-credit on all tracks, although he does not play on the album. Ted Chau, who replaced Edmonds in the band, does not perform on 9. The album was produced by Stephen Hague, Eric "ET" Thorngren, and the band. Bill Laswell, who had produced Album three years earlier, had originally been lined up to produce 9. However, tension between Laswell and Lydon after the recording of that album, coupled with Laswell's desire to once again use his own cast of session musicians on 9 and his dissatisfaction with Public Image's new line-up, led to the agreement being cancelled. The first album track to be released was "Warrior", which showed up on the soundtrack album to the movie Slaves of New York, released on 20 March 1989. The track "Sand Castles in the Snow" was originally titled "Spit", and was so listed in various Virgin pre-release information. Track listing All tracks composed by Dias, Edmonds, Lydon, McGeoch and Smith except "Disappointed" (Dias, Edmonds, Lydon, McGeoch, Smith and Hague) Personnel Public Image Ltd. John Lydon - vocals John McGeoch - guitar Allan Dias - bass Bruce Smith - drums, percussion, programming Track-by-track commentary by the band "Happy": John Lydon (1989): “'Happy?' was much more militant in its approach, kind of pissed off at the world. That was the attitude. But this one is much more happy, much more open. I think it sums up the sense of optimism that really has to be there for these very serious times we live in [...] There is a theme running through [the songs] [...] It's not to take life so seriously, actually, and not to expect too much from anyone, which will at least give them a chance. And that is optimism [...] The songs really were written much, much more for live than record. They were completely and totally rehearsed before they went anywhere near the studio. So the