| "Suicide Alley" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Manic Street Preachers | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | June 1988 | |||
| Genre | Punk rock | |||
| Length | 2:28 | |||
| Label | Self-released | |||
| Songwriter(s) | James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore, and Nicky Wire | |||
| Producer(s) | Manic Street Preachers | |||
| Manic Street Preachers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Suicide Alley" is the debut single by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was self-financed and released in 1988, while they were still an unsigned act.
The sleeve is highly reminiscent of the Clash's eponymous debut album, [1] and was photographed and designed by future guitarist-lyricist Richey Edwards. Around a third of the copies were released in a plain sleeve, and a handful featured handmade covers with glued-on newspaper cuttings, which were assembled by Edwards.
Musically, the influence of the Clash, the Skids and other late-70s punk rock bands is evident – the title track bears a strong resemblance to the Clash's 1978 single "Tommy Gun". [2]
B-side "Tennessee" was later re-recorded and featured on the band's debut album Generation Terrorists . The title was included on all formats of the later single "Little Baby Nothing", partly to curb the demand for the original single which was changing hands for hundreds of pounds. [3]
"Suicide Alley" was self-released in 1988. Only 300 copies were originally pressed. Around 200 came in a picture sleeve. [3] The single has the catalogue number SBS 002. The 'SBS' stands for Sound Bank Studio, the studio in Blackwood where the single was recorded. The numbering 002 was meant to add some credibility by implying SBS was an established record label, but there had never been a release with the catalogue number SBS 001. [4]
Capitalising on the fact the single has never been reissued in its original format, unauthorized bootleg copies of the single started to circulate around 2001. They were produced in the original black 7" vinyl, and also in red vinyl. Aside from the fact the original was never released in red vinyl, the bootleg can be easily distinguished from the original even by a non-expert. The vinyl and its label are reproduced quite well, but the sleeve can clearly be identified as a counterfeit. Most tellingly, the words 'Manic Street Preachers' are underlined on the front, and noticeably inferior pixellated text is in evidence at the rear. This bootleg did not do too much to dent the value of an original copy however, which still commands a high price. [1]
A reproduction 7" single, complete with original B-side "Tennessee (I Get Low)", is available as part of the Super Deluxe Edition of National Treasures – The Complete Singles . "Suicide Alley" does not appear on the main compilation, however, despite the "complete" title.
The band performed the song live for the first time in 22 years at their BBC Radio 2 concert of 27 January 2011.
Both "Suicide Alley" and "Tennessee (I Get Low)" appear on the 1989 punk compilation LP Underground Rockers Volume 2. The band had sent several copies of the single to record label owner and former bassist with The Business, Mark Brennan who agreed to include both sides on the compilation, which was released by Link Records. All the royalties went to charity. [4] The album was re-released in 1992 on CD, in a limited edition run of 750 copies.
Several months later, the single was picked up on and praised in music magazine NME , with journalist Steven Wells selecting it as their 'Single of the Week'. Although this endorsement did not provide them with any immediate commercial success, it pre-empted the buzz that would eventually surround the band. [1]
All tracks are written by Manic Street Preachers (James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore, and Nicky Wire).
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Suicide Alley" | 2:30 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tennessee (I Get Low)" | 3:25 |
Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Welsh rock band formed in Blackwood, Caerphilly, in 1986. The band consists of cousins James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore, plus Nicky Wire. They form a key part of the 1990s Welsh Cool Cymru cultural movement.
Generation Terrorists is the debut studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 10 February 1992 through record label Columbia.
Lipstick Traces (A Secret History of Manic Street Preachers) is a compilation album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, and consists of various B-sides, rarities and cover versions. It was released on 14 July 2003 by record label Sony, and reached number 11 on the UK Album Chart.
Everything Must Go is the fourth studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 20 May 1996, through Epic Records, and was the first record released by the band following the disappearance of lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards.
Forever Delayed is a greatest hits album and DVD by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released in 2002 by record label Epic. The album included three singles which had never appeared on earlier albums, as well as two new songs, the single "There by the Grace of God" and "Door to the River".
James Dean Bradfield is a Welsh singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. He is known for being the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers.
"A Design for Life" is a single by Welsh band Manic Street Preachers from their fourth studio album, Everything Must Go (1996). Released on 15 April 1996, the song peaked and debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart.
"She Is Suffering" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in October 1994 by record label Epic as the third and final single from the band's third studio album, The Holy Bible. It was their last single to feature Richey Edwards before his disappearance on 1 February 1995. The single reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart on 15 October 1994.
"Revol" is a song by the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in August 1994 by the Epic record label as the second single from their third studio album, The Holy Bible, which was released later in the month. The song reached number 22 in the UK Singles Chart on 13 August 1994.
"La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)" is a song by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in July 1993 by record label Columbia as the second single from their second studio album Gold Against the Soul. It reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.
"You Love Us" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was initially released as a single on 7 May 1991 by record label Heavenly. The song was re-recorded and released on 20 January 1992 by record label Columbia as the third single from their debut studio album Generation Terrorists.
"Love's Sweet Exile" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 28 October 1991 by record label Columbia as the second single from their debut album, Generation Terrorists (1992). The B-side, "Repeat (UK)", appears on the same album.
"Little Baby Nothing" is a song recorded by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers for their debut studio album, Generation Terrorists (1992). It was released on 9 November 1992 by Columbia Records as the sixth and final single from the album. The song features guest vocals by American actress and singer Traci Lords.
New Art Riot E.P. is an EP by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. Released on 25 June 1990 by the Damaged Goods record label, it was the band's first release to feature the four-piece line-up of James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore.
"Faster" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in 1994 by record label Epic as the first single from the band's third studio album, The Holy Bible.
"Roses in the Hospital" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in September 1993 by record label Epic as the third single from their second album, Gold Against the Soul.
"Motown Junk" is a non-album single and the second single by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 21 January 1991.
"Underdogs" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in 2007 by record label Columbia as the first single taken from their eighth studio album, Send Away the Tigers.
The Holy Bible is the third studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 29 August 1994 by record label Epic. While the album was being written and recorded, lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards was struggling with severe depression, alcohol abuse, self-harm and anorexia nervosa, and its contents are considered by many sources to reflect his mental state. The songs focus on themes relating to politics and human suffering. The Holy Bible was the band's last album released before Edwards' disappearance on 1 February 1995.
National Treasures – The Complete Singles is a compilation album by the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released on 31 October 2011. It is the band's third compilation album, after Forever Delayed: Manic Street Preachers, The Greatest Hits (2002), and the B-sides/rarities collection Lipstick Traces (2003). The compilation features one new recording, a cover of The The's "This Is the Day", which was issued as a single on 18 September 2011. The compilation reached number 10 on the UK Album Chart in November 2011.
