Del Amitri | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 6 May 1985 | |||
Studio | Park Lane Studio, Glasgow (Mixed at The Garden, London) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 33:15 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Producer | Hugh Jones | |||
Del Amitri chronology | ||||
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Singles from Del Amitri | ||||
Del Amitri (stylised as del Amitri) is the eponymous debut album by the Scottish rock band Del Amitri, released in May 1985 by Chrysalis Records.
Two singles were released, "Sticks and Stones, Girl" (with B-side "The King Is Poor" and "The Difference Is" as an additional track on the 12-inch) and a rerecorded version of "Hammering Heart" (with B-side "Lines Running North" along with a live version of "Brown Eyed Girl" on the 12-inch). [5] Neither single charted. A CD reissue in 2003 included the four bonus tracks.
Del Amitri had released their debut single "Sense Sickness" in 1983 on the Glasgow indie label NoStrings Records. They recorded their first Peel session in March 1984, [7] which led to a deal with Chrysalis Records later in the year. After an unsuccessful session at Britannia Row Studios in London with former frontman of Television, Tom Verlaine, producing, the band recorded their first album with producer Hugh Jones at Park Lane Studio in Glasgow. [8]
Before the release of the album's first single, Melody Maker magazine heard a cassette tape of work in progress [8] and put the band on the cover of their February 1985 issue, dubbing them "the hottest new twang of '85". [9] No single was released at the time to capitalise on this, and the album failed to chart when released in May 1985. [10] In the Del Amitri biography on AllMusic, James Christopher Monger wrote that the album was released "amidst a tidal wave of hype, but their signature blend of new wave and country folk isolated audiences and critics alike, resulting in their inevitable departure from the Chrysalis family." [2]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [11] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [12] |
The Great Rock Discography | 6/10 [13] |
Retrospectively reviewing the album for AllMusic, Stephen Schnee called it a "quirky and often brilliant debut." He felt that the lyrics were "intelligent and witty, laced with sarcasm and venom," and the music contained "jaunty rhythms and quirky melodies." He also felt that calling Del Amitri "the bastard sons of XTC and Elvis Costello would not have been too far off the mark." [11]
All songs written by Justin Currie, Iain Harvie, Bryan Tolland and Paul Tyagi, except where noted.
Del Amitri are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1980. Between 1985 and 2002, the band released six studio albums. Their 1995 single "Roll to Me" reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Five Del Amitri albums have reached the Top 10 in the UK. Globally, Del Amitri have sold six million albums.
Justin Robert Currie is a Scottish singer and songwriter best known as a founding member of the band Del Amitri.
"Vienna" is a song by British new wave band Ultravox from their 1981 fourth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's third single on 9 January 1981 by Chrysalis Records and features Midge Ure singing the lead vocal.
Iain Wallace Harvie is the guitarist with the Scottish rock band Del Amitri. Along with lead singer and bassist Justin Currie, Harvie is one of only two members to be present throughout Del Amitri's history since its 1982 inception. He is also the co-writer, with Currie, of many of the group's songs.
Some Other Sucker's Parade is the fifth studio album by Del Amitri, released on 24 June 1997 by A&M Records. It reached number 6 in the UK Albums Chart.
Twisted is the fourth studio album by Del Amitri, released on 28 February 1995. It reached number three in the UK Albums Chart and was listed by Q Magazine as one of the top 10 best albums of 1995.
Can You Do Me Good? is the sixth studio album by Del Amitri, released on 8 April 2002 by Mercury / A&M.
Change Everything is the third studio album by Del Amitri, released on 1 June 1992 in the UK and 9 June 1992 in the USA. It reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart – the band's biggest hit LP – and was nominated by Q Magazine as one of the top 50 albums of 1992. It included the single "Always the Last to Know", which reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart and entered the top 40 of the US Hot 100.
Waking Hours is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Del Amitri, released in July 1989 by A&M Records. It reached number 6 in the UK Albums Chart and featured one of the band's most famous songs, "Nothing Ever Happens", which reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart. The album's opening track, "Kiss This Thing Goodbye", entered the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 when released as a single for the second time.
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The Big Dish are a Scottish pop band formed in Airdrie, Scotland in 1983. The band initially comprised Steven Lindsay (vocals/guitar), David Brownlie (drums), Stuart Hall (saxophone), Mark Ryce (guitar), and John Harper (keyboards). The band was subsequently augmented on stage by Paul Albertis (bass) and John Hendry (drums). As well as releasing three studio albums, the band performed live as support to Lloyd Cole and Big Country and Del Amitri.
Hatful of Rain is the first compilation album by Scottish alternative rock band Del Amitri, released in September 1998 by A&M Records. It consists of all the band's British singles released between 1989 and 1998, including the non-album singles "Spit in the Rain" and "Don't Come Home Too Soon", and a new track "Cry to Be Found".
U-Vox is the eighth studio album by British new wave band Ultravox, released on 9 October 1986 by Chrysalis Records. It was the band's fifth album during the Midge Ure era, and the final one featuring the band's 1979 lineup, with the exception of Warren Cann, for nearly 26 years. The Ure-era lineup would eventually reform in 2008. It was also the last Ultravox album to reach the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number nine.
Ashley "Ash" Soan is a British drummer. His influences include Stewart Copeland, Steve Ferrone, Jim Keltner, James Gadson, Phil Rudd, Art Blakey, Steve Gadd.
Silent Running are a Northern Irish rock band, who emerged from the Belfast punk scene and were originally called The Setz, before changing musical direction in 1982. The original band members were Richard Collett, Peter Gamble, Tony Scott (guitars) and Ian Gault (drums). Prior to signing to EMI, the band recruited George Beavis on keyboards. The current line up has Gary Kirby on drums and Paul Rocks on keyboards.
Kevin Francis McDermott is a Scottish musician, singer/songwriter.
"Nothing Ever Happens" is a song by the Scottish rock band Del Amitri.
The Collection is a greatest hits album by British band Ultravox, released on 2 November 1984 by Chrysalis Records. It includes all fourteen of the band's hit singles on Chrysalis from 1980 to 1984, including "Love's Great Adventure", released ahead of the album as a stand-alone single.
Lousy with Love is a compilation album by Scottish alternative rock band Del Amitri, released in September 1998. It is a collection of B-sides released between 1989 and 1998, featuring tracks not included on Del Amitri's studio albums. It was released in parallel with the best of album Hatful of Rain.
Fatal Mistakes is the seventh studio album by the Scottish band Del Amitri, released on 28 May 2021. It is the band's first studio album since 2002's Can You Do Me Good. It debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart in the first week following its release.