Second Edition

'Second Edition' is the 1980 double-LP release of Public Image Ltd's second album, originally issued in 1979 as 'Metal Box.' The original 'Metal Box' was a limited edition set of three 12-inch records housed in a metal film-canister package. 'Second Edition' was the standard commercial vinyl release for the wider market.

The album features the prominent, dub-inflected basslines of Jah Wobble. His heavy, hypnotic bass playing is the rhythmic foundation of the record, anchoring John Lydon's distinctive vocals. The mix of Wobble's bass and Keith Levene's metallic guitar work defined the band's early post-punk sound.

The album is a landmark of post-punk, heavily incorporating elements of dub reggae, avant-garde noise, and ambient music. It largely abandons traditional verse-chorus song structures in favor of dark, grooving soundscapes. The record is widely cited as a pioneering work that helped define the experimental direction of late 1970s alternative music.

The track 'Swan Lake' (sometimes titled 'Death Disco') is arguably the most famous single derived from these recording sessions. John Lydon wrote the song about the passing of his mother, blending disco rhythms with harsh guitar noise. It reached high positions on the UK independent charts upon its initial release.