| Cocteau Twins discography | |
|---|---|
 Cocteau Twins in 1986, from L-R: Simon Raymonde, Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie | |
| Studio albums | 9 |
| EPs | 11 |
| Live albums | 1 |
| Compilation albums | 8 |
| Singles | 19 |
| Music videos | 22 |
The discography of Cocteau Twins, a Scottish gothic rock and dream pop band, includes nine studio albums, seven compilation albums, eleven extended play's and nineteen singles. Their debut album Garlands was released via the 4AD record label, reached number four on the UK Independent Albums Charts and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). [1] Two extended play releases preceded the release of their second album – Lullabies (1982) and Peppermint Pig (1983), both of which charted within the UK Independent Albums Charts.
Contents
- Albums
- Studio albums
- Collaborative albums
- Compilation albums
- Extended plays
- Singles
- Other certified songs
- Music videos
- References
Their second album, Head over Heels (1983) marked their debut appearance on the official UK Albums Chart, debuting at number fifty one. [2] Moderate commercial success pursued with the release of the EPs Sunburst and Snowblind (1983) and The Spangle Maker (1984), the latter of which spawned the commercially successful single "Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops" which reached number twenty-nine on the UK Singles Charts and number one on the UK Independent Singles Charts. [3] Their third album, Treasure was released at the end of 1984 and became the bands first top thirty album in the United Kingdom, debuting at number twenty-nine on the UK Albums Charts. It was subsequently certified Silver by the BPI. [4]
In April 1986, they released the first of two albums which would be released that year; Victorialand , which debuted at number ten in the United Kingdom, their first top ten appearance on the albums charts there. [5] In November, they collaborated with American composer Harold Budd on the album The Moon and the Melodies , which was released under the bands own names – Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde, and not Cocteau Twins. Blue Bell Knoll , their fifth album, followed in 1988, spawning the critically acclaimed single "Carolyn's Fingers", noted for its "glossolalic vocals" by performed by Fraser. [6] The single reached number two on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay charts, supporting the album to give the band their first appearance on the US Billboard 200 albums charts with Blue Bell Knoll where it debuted at 109. [7]
At the end of August 1990, they released "Iceblink Luck" as the lead single from their forthcoming sixth album, Heaven or Las Vegas (1990). The single achieved commercial success and critical acclaim, reaching the top forty in the United Kingdom and in Ireland, as well as number four on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay charts. [8] [9] The single also performed favourably on the European Hot 100 Singles, marking the beginning of a considerable period of commercial success for the band. The release of Heaven or Las Vegas would become their most commercially successful album in the United Kingdom to date, reaching the top ten and being certified Silver by the BPI. In the United States, it reached ninety-nine on the Billboard 200, further spearheaded by the second single "the title track", which reached number nine on the US Alternative Airplay charts. [10] The song "Cherry-Coloured Funk" from the album, despite not being released as a single, was later certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [11]
By the release of their seventh album, Four-Calendar Café (1993), Cocteau Twins had left their record label 4AD and signed with Fontana. The album became their highest charting in the United States, debuting at number seventy-eight on the Billboard 200. [12] The supporting singles from the album – "Evangeline" and "Bluebeard" both reached the UK Top 40, with the latter giving the band their debut appearance on their native singles charts in Scotland, reaching number seventy-seven. [13] Their eighth and final album, Milk & Kisses , was released in 1996, supported by the singles "Tishbite" and "Violaine". Cocteau Twins disbanded in 1997, citing "irreconcilable differences". Since, a number of compilation albums have been released, notably Stars and Topsoil (2000), which was certified Silver in the United Kingdom. [14]