Kite (Kirsty MacColl album)

Last updated

Kite
Kirstykite.jpg
Studio album by
Kirsty MacColl
ReleasedApril 1989 [1]
Recorded1988
Studio The Town House, London
Ealing Studios, London
RAK Studios, London
Genre
Length39:19 (LP)
49:14 (CD)
Label Virgin
Producer Steve Lillywhite
Kirsty MacColl chronology
Kirsty MacColl
(1985)		Kite
(1989)		 Electric Landlady
(1991)
Singles from Kite
  1. "Free World"
    Released: February 1989 [2]
  2. "Days"
    Released: June 1989 [3]
  3. "Innocence"
    Released: September 1989 [4]
  4. "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!"
    Released: March 1990 [5]

Kite is the breakthrough second album by Kirsty MacColl, released in 1989. Produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite, it was her first album for Virgin Records. The album included MacColl's hit cover of the Kinks' "Days", as well as two tracks written with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. On 6 October 1989, it was certified silver by the BPI. [6]

Contents

Background

In a 1991 interview with Melody Maker , MacColl commented, "With Kite, I felt I had to prove that I wasn't this bimbo girl-next-door I'd been portrayed as. That had been hanging around my neck like a fucking albatross for so long, and I wanted to make the point that, yes, I can write a fucking song, pal! I didn't feel that I had to prove myself this time." [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [8]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [9]
Hi-Fi News & Record Review A:1 [10]
New Musical Express 7/10 [11]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Sounds Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]

On its release, Dave Jennings of Melody Maker described the album as a "thoughtful, mature, yet sometimes exhilarating LP" and "cerebral but instantly likeable; never wild or abandoned, but always intriguing". Aside from some "tender moments", he considered most of Kite to show MacColl "on the attack", with her "carefully-layered, deadpan vocals" suiting the "anger" in her lyrics. [16] Simon Williams of New Musical Express considered it "an old-fashioned album" with "proper songs [and] resolutely orthodox instruments". He concluded, "Kite is charming rather than classy. Everything is pleasantly down-to-earth, sweet and sour stories from a woman's point of view which always avoid being emotionally extreme." [11] Peter Kane of Sounds noted it "boasts some fine tunes about life, love, and the whole damned thing" which is "done in a peculiarly colloquial, very English style" and with "not a hint of pretension". He described the album as "one to be proud of" and one which "deserves to be heard". [15]

In a retrospective review, AllMusic called Kite "the pinnacle of [MacColl's] achievement" and her "best-sustained work". They felt that MacColl's songwriting was "excellent", with some of her "sharpest and cleverest words and most memorable melodies." [8] Trouser Press wrote of the album: "This sturdy, provocative collection mixes full-bodied pop styles with some country, adding a film noir story sung in French, a pair of wonderful covers and pointed lyrical assaults on both Margaret Thatcher and shallow pop stars." [17] The Rolling Stone Album Guide described the album as having a "skillfull, introspective elegance". [14]

Re-issues

Kite was re-released in 2005 with ten bonus tracks, including B-sides and alternate mixes. [18] A 2012 expanded edition released by Salvo Records features a bonus disc with seventeen bonus tracks, also with B-sides and alternate mixes. [19] Both re-issues were remastered. Demon Records re-issued the original twelve-track album in 2018 on 180g vinyl. [20]

Track listing

Adapted from the album's liner notes. [19] [21]

All tracks are written by Kirsty MacColl; except where indicated.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Innocence"MacColl, Pete Glenister 4:09
2."Free World" 2:38
3."Mother's Ruin"MacColl, Glenister3:57
4."Days" Ray Davies 3:00
5."No Victims" 3:50
6."Fifteen Minutes" 3:12
7."Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" 3:47
8."Tread Lightly"MacColl, Glenister3:20
9."What Do Pretty Girls Do?"MacColl, Glenister2:37
10."Dancing in Limbo" 2:51
11."The End of a Perfect Day"MacColl, Johnny Marr 3:23
12."You and Me Baby"MacColl, Marr2:31
Total length:39:19
CD edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" Morrissey, Marr2:50
14."La Forêt de Mímosas" 3:36
15."Complainte Pour Ste Catherine" Anna McGarrigle, Philippe Tatartchef3:33
Total length:49:14
2005 edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)OriginLength
13."You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" ( She's Having a Baby soundtrack version)Morrissey, Marr She's Having a Baby soundtrack, 19883:40
14."Happy" B-side to "Days"2:33
15."Am I Right?" B-side to "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!"1:27
16."El Paso" Marty Robbins B-side to "Days"3:46
17."La Forêt de Mímosas" Kite CD; B-side to "Free World"3:33
18."Complainte Pour Ste Catherine"McGarrigle, TatartchefKite CD; B-side to "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!"3:33
19."Free World" (Radio Version) CD single promo2:38
20."Innocence" (Guilt Mix)MacColl, GlenisterB-side to "Innocence"5:56
21."No Victims" (Guitar Heroes Mix) B-side to "Innocence"4:25
22."The End of a Perfect Day" (Demo)MacColl, MarrB-side to "Free World"3:10

2012 edition bonus CD

The first disc contains the twelve tracks from the original album.

Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)OriginLength
1."Closer to God?" B-side to "Free World"3:55
2."The End of a Perfect Day" (Original demo version)MacColl, MarrB-side to "Free World"3:12
3."You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby"Morrissey, MarrKite CD2:49
4."La Forêt de Mímosas" Kite CD; B-side to "Free World"3:36
5."Happy" B-side to "Days"2:34
6."El Paso"RobbinsB-side to "Days"3:48
7."Still Life"MacColl, Philip Rambow B-side to "Days"2:59
8."Please Help Me, I'm Falling" Don Robertson, Hal BlairB-side to "Days"2:47
9."Innocence" (Single remix)MacColl, GlenisterSingle4:02
10."Clubland" B-side to "Innocence"4:05
11."Don't Run Away from Me Now"MacColl, RambowB-side to "Innocence"2:58
12."Innocence" (Guilt Mix)MacColl, GlenisterB-side to "Innocence"5:55
13."No Victims" (Guitar Heroes Mix) B-side to "Innocence"4:23
14."Other People's Hearts"MacColl, Gavin PoveyB-side to "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!"3:37
15."Complainte Pour Ste Catherine"McGarrigle, TatartchefKite CD; B-side to "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!"3:32
16."Am I Right?" B-side to "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!"1:26
17."You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (She's Having a Baby soundtrack version)Morrissey, MarrShe's Having a Baby soundtrack3:47

Personnel

Recording information

[21]

Charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [24] 110
Swedish Albums Chart [25] 48
UK Albums Chart [26] 34

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairytale of New York</span> 1987 single by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl

"Fairytale of New York" is a song written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan and recorded by their London-based band the Pogues, featuring singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl on vocals. The song is an Irish folk-style ballad and was written as a duet, with the Pogues' singer MacGowan taking the role of the male character and MacColl playing the female character. It was originally released as a single on 23 November 1987 and later featured on the Pogues' 1988 album If I Should Fall from Grace with God.

<i>Shine</i> (Frida album) 1984 studio album by Frida

Shine is the fourth studio album by Swedish singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and her second international solo album as Frida. It was first released in September 1984 and has since been re-released several times, mainly in the digitally remastered form in 2005 with bonus tracks. Shine, alongside the accompanying promotional videos and clips, is included in Frida – 4xCD 1xDVD. This album has never been officially released in the United States, but was issued in Canada by WEA. This is Lyngstad's last solo English language studio album to date.

<i>Tropical Brainstorm</i> 2000 studio album by Kirsty MacColl

Tropical Brainstorm is the fifth and final studio album by Kirsty MacColl, released in 2000. It was inspired by her trips to Cuba, and many tracks include Spanish or Portuguese lyrics. The album was released with three extra tracks in the US.

<i>Galore</i> (Kirsty MacColl album) 1995 compilation album by Kirsty MacColl

Galore is a compilation album released by Kirsty MacColl in 1995. It features material previously released on the studio albums Desperate Character (1981), Kite (1989), Electric Landlady (1991) and Titanic Days (1993), among other tracks by MacColl, totalling eighteen songs. Some of the tracks differ from their original releases; a couple of songs, such as "Innocence", are alternate takes, while "Miss Otis Regrets" is a different edit that omits the second half, "Just One of Those Things", performed by the Pogues. On release the album peaked at No. 6, MacColl's highest ever charting album.

<i>Electric Landlady</i> 1991 studio album by Kirsty MacColl

Electric Landlady is Kirsty MacColl's third studio album. Released in 1991, it was her second Virgin Records release and second collaboration with producer/husband Steve Lillywhite. The title was given when MacColl found it to be the name that was accidentally written on some early pressings of Jimi Hendrix's album Electric Ladyland.

<i>Titanic Days</i> Album by Kirsty MacColl

Titanic Days is the fourth studio album by Kirsty MacColl, released in 1993. Containing eleven tracks, Titanic Days was sometimes hard to get in years after its release, but it was remastered and re-released in 2005 by ZTT with a second CD of non-album tracks and some live recordings, including a version of "Miss Otis Regrets". In 2012, another remastered re-issue of the album was released by Salvo/ZTT, which again featured a second disc of bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Affair</span> 1991 single by Kirsty MacColl

"My Affair" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1991 as the second single from her third studio album Electric Landlady. It was written by MacColl and Mark E. Nevin, and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "My Affair" reached No. 56 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single.

<i>Hallelujah</i> (EP) 1989 EP by Happy Mondays

Hallelujah is a 7-track EP by Madchester band Happy Mondays, released in the US and Australia in 1989 and featuring a number of remixes by Paul Oakenfold. "Hallelujah " was created by Steve Lillywhite and features Kirsty MacColl. Oakenfold remixed "Hallelujah" with Andrew Weatherall and "Rave On" with Terry Farley. The club mix of "Hallelujah" was ranked at number 11 in NME's list of "The 50 Best Remixes Ever".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Days (The Kinks song)</span> 1968 single by The Kinks

"Days" is a song by the Kinks, written by lead singer Ray Davies, released as a single in 1968. It also appeared on an early version of the album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. It now appears as a bonus track of the remastered CD. On the original Pye 7N 17573 label, the name of the song is "Day's" due to a grammatical error.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!</span> 1990 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1990 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. The song reached No. 82 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Sarah Tuft.

<i>Desperate Character</i> 1981 studio album by Kirsty MacColl

Desperate Character is the first solo album of British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released in 1981. The album was re-released in March 1985 as Kirsty MacColl, with three tracks replaced with other songs. The album has been remastered and received a CD release for the first time on 8 October 2012 on the Union Square Music label and features the original twelve track listing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirsty MacColl</span> English singer and songwriter (1959–2000)

Kirsty Anna MacColl was a British singer and songwriter, daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl. She recorded several pop hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" and cover versions of Billy Bragg's "A New England" and the Kinks's "Days." Her first single, "They Don't Know", had chart success a few years later when covered by Tracey Ullman. MacColl also sang on a number of recordings produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite, most notably "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues. Her death in 2000 led to the Justice for Kirsty campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walking Down Madison</span> 1991 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Walking Down Madison" is a 1991 song by Kirsty MacColl featuring Aniff Cousins. It charted at No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart and impacted a number of Billboard charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free World (song)</span> 1989 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Free World" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1989 as the lead single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Free World" reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innocence (Kirsty MacColl song)</span> 1989 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Innocence" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1989 as the third single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and Pete Glenister, and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Innocence" reached No. 80 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. The song's music video was filmed in the back garden of MacColl's home in Ealing. It was directed by Sarah Tuft and features a cameo appearance from Edward Tudor-Pole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Stop Killing You</span> 1993 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Can't Stop Killing You" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1993 as the second single from her fourth studio album Titanic Days. It was written by MacColl and Johnny Marr, and produced by Victor Van Vugt and Baboon Farm. The song reached No. 20 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and remained on the chart for seven weeks.

<i>From Croydon to Cuba: An Anthology</i> 2005 box set by Kirsty MacColl

From Croydon to Cuba: An Anthology is a three disc box set by the British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released by Virgin in 2005. It reached No. 98 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In These Shoes?</span> 2000 single by Kirsty MacColl

"In These Shoes?" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 2000 as the second single from her fifth studio album Tropical Brainstorm. It was written by MacColl and Pete Glenister, and produced by MacColl, Glenister and Dave Ruffy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">He's on the Beach</span> 1985 single by Kirsty MacColl

"He's on the Beach" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1985 as a non-album single by Stiff Records. It was written by MacColl and Gavin Povey, and produced by Steve Lillywhite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Ever Wanted (Kirsty MacColl song)</span> 1991 single by Kirsty MacColl

"All I Ever Wanted" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1991 as the third and final single from her third studio album Electric Landlady. It was written by MacColl and Marshall Crenshaw, and produced by Steve Lillywhite.

References

  1. 1 2 "Kite (1989 CD)". kirstymaccoll.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Free World". kirstymaccoll.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Days". kirstymaccoll.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Innocence". kirstymaccoll.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!". kirstymaccoll.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. ↑ [ dead link ]
  7. ↑ Jennings, Dave (22 June 1991). "Kirsty MacColl – The Last Waltz". Melody Maker . p. 46.
  8. 1 2 "Kite - Kirsty MacColl | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "Kite". Ew.com. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Clark, Pete (August 1989). "Review: Kirsty MacColl — Kite" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). Vol. 34, no. 8. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. pp. 107–108. ISSN   0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021– via World Radio History.
  11. 1 2 Williams, Simon (13 May 1989). "Long Play". New Musical Express . p. 31.
  12. ↑ Giles, David (13 May 1989). "Review: Kirsty MacColl — Kite" (PDF). Record Mirror . London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 31. ISSN   0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022– via World Radio History.
  13. ↑ "Kirsty MacColl: Kirsty MacColl: Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008.
  14. 1 2 Anthony DeCurtis; James Henke; Holly George-Warren, eds. (1992). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. p. 441. ISBN   0679737294.
  15. 1 2 Kane, Peter (13 May 1989). "Albums: Still looking for a new England. Review: Kirsty MacColl — Kite (Virgin)" (PDF). Sounds . Peterborough: United Newspapers. p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022– via World Radio History.
  16. ↑ Jennings, Dave (13 May 1989). "Albums". Melody Maker . p. 37.
  17. ↑ Ira Robbins; Michael Zwirn. "Kirsty MacColl". Trouser Press . Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "Kite (2005 CD)". kirstymaccoll.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Kite (2012 CD)". kirstymaccoll.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  20. ↑ "Kite (Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Clear, 180g)". Discogs . Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  21. 1 2 3 Kite (CD reissue liner notes). Kirsty MacColl. Salvo. 2012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ↑ "Kite - Kirsty MacColl | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  23. 1 2 3 "Kite (2005)". Discogs. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "Kirsty MacColl ARIA chart history, received from ARIA on 17 March 2020". Imgur.com. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  25. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Kirsty MacColl - Kite". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  26. ↑ "KIRSTY MACCOLL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.