Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? is the second studio album by thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 19, 1986, through Capitol Records. The project was originally handled by Combat Records, resulting in the original mix of the album being co-produced by Randy Burns. Capitol Records then bought the rights to the album and hired another producer named Paul Lani to mix it himself. The recording of the album was difficult for the band, because of the ongoing drug issues the members had at the time. Drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland were fired shortly after the album’s promotional tour for drug abuse, making Peace Sells Samuelson’s last Megadeth album. Poland reappeared as a session musician on Megadeth’s 2004 album The System Has Failed. The title track, noted for its politically conscious lyrics, was released as the album’s second single, but the band’s first music video. The album’s cover art, featuring the band’s mascot Vic Rattlehead in front of a desolated United Nations Headquarters, was created by Ed Repka.
Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? is often regarded as a thrash metal classic and as an album that gave prominence to extreme metal. It has been featured in several publications’ best album lists, including Robert Dimery’s 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and Martin Popoff’s Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time. The album has been reissued several times over the years. In 2004, the album was remixed and remastered by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine, with extensive liner notes detailing the album’s background. In 2011, the three different versions were reissued as part of the album’s 25th anniversary celebration. All of them with the exception of the 2004 mixes feature new remastering.
Tracklist:
Side A:
1.- Wake Up Dead
2.- The Conjuring
3.- Peace Sells
4.- Devils Island
Side B:
1.- Good Mourning / Black Friday
2.- Bad Omen
3.- I Ain’t Superstitious
4.- My Last Words
Megadeth:
Dave Mustaine: lead and rhythm guitars, lead vocals
David Ellefson: bass, backing vocals
Chris Poland: lead and rhythm guitars
Gar Samuelson: drums
Production:
Dave Mustaine: production
Randy Burns: production, engineering
Casey McMackin: engineering
Paul Lani: mixing
Stan Katayama: mixing
Additional personnel:
Casey McMackin: backing vocals on Good Mourning/Black Friday and My Last Words
Artwork:
Edward J. Repka: cover illustration and album design
Dave Mustaine, Andy Somers: cover concept
