The Program (album)

Last updated

The Program
The Program (album).jpg
Studio album by
Released25 March 1998 (Japan)
30 September 1998 (UK) [1]
Recorded1997
StudioRevolution, Manchester
Genre Britpop
Length41:54
Label London
Producer Johnny Marr
Marion chronology
This World and Body
(1996)
The Program
(1998)
Alive In Manchester
(2012)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
NME 5/10 link
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link at the Wayback Machine (archived 2017-02-01)
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link

The Program is the second album by Marion, released in 1998 on London Records, and produced by former guitarist of The Smiths, Johnny Marr. The album did not chart in the UK.

Contents

An expanded two CD set was released by Demon Music Group on 16 September 2016. [2]

Background and recording

To promote This World and Body, Marion embarked on a 18-month long tour around the world. After its conclusion, they found it difficult to finish songs for their next album due to suffering from fatigue and the absence of time to work on them. Their manager Joe Moss, who had worked with the Smiths, told them that former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was a fan of theirs after seeing them at a festival in Europe. After expressing an interesting in working with the band, Moss recommended that Marr visit them at their rehearsal space in Manchester to hear the new material they were working on. He was initially only going to provide his opinion; after one afternoon, the band and Marr had worked on all the songs they had up to that point. [3] The Program was recorded at Revolution Studios in Manchester in early 1997 with Johnny Marr as producer and James Spencer as engineer. The majority of the recordings were mixed at RAK Studios in London by Tim Palmer, save for "Miyako Hideaway" and "Sparkle" which were mixed by Marr and Spencer. [4]

Harding recalled that it was the first album that Marr had sung on, providing "T. Rex cat-style" backing vocals to "The Program", alongside several guitar riffs throughout it. [3] Marr had given Harding a copy of Low (1977) by David Bowie; he was enthusiastic about it to the extent that he "forced [Marr] to pepper the record with classic Eno-esque Moog sounds". Harding felt this gave the band an air of "maturity and richness" that was absent from their debut. He mentioned that there was interference from their record label, who would contact them each week and ask them to write something similar to whichever track became a hit on that given week. One such instance, Harding recalled, was being asked to make something similar to "You're Gorgeous" (1996) by Babybird. On another occasion, he was asked to come up with a new chorus section for a song "with no real reason behind the request"; he relented on the chorus portion to "The Powder Room Plan". [5]

Release

When the album was finished, London Records had lost all interest in promoting the band, resulting in them buying the album back from them. They planned to sell it to one of the several interested labels in the United States. Though London agreed to this situation, they ended up releasing The Program in Japan without any kind of promotion or press, aware that they would recoup the cost solely from that country alone. Harding said it "confused and angered us", forcing their fans to pay quadruple the amount to import it, roughly £40. [6] It was eventually released by London Records in the UK in September 1998. [4]

Track listing

All songs by Jaime Harding, Tony Grantham and Phil Cunningham, except "Miyako Hideaway" by those three and Johnny Marr. All lyrics by Harding. [4]

  1. "The Smile" – 4:14
  2. "Miyako Hideaway" (full length mix) – 4:55
  3. "Sparkle" – 4:12
  4. "Is That So?" – 4:33
  5. "What Are We Waiting For?" – 6:30
  6. "Strangers" – 3:47
  7. "The Powder Room Plan" – 3:47
  8. "The Program" – 5:35
  9. "All of These Days" – 3:23
  10. "Comeback" – 6:05

Personnel

Personnel per deluxe edition booklet. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smiths</span> English rock band

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982 and composed of singer Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce. Morrissey and Marr formed the band's songwriting partnership. The Smiths are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerge from 1980s British independent music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Marr</span> English musician (born 1963)

John Martin Marr is an English musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has since performed with numerous other bands and embarked on a solo career.

<i>The Queen Is Dead</i> 1986 studio album by the Smiths

The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by the English rock band the Smiths. It was released on 16 June 1986 in the UK by Rough Trade Records, and on 23 June 1986 in the US by Sire Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magazine (band)</span> English post-punk rock band

Magazine were an English rock band formed in 1977 in Manchester in England by singer Howard Devoto and guitarist John McGeoch. After leaving the punk group Buzzcocks in early 1977, Devoto decided to create a more progressive and less "traditional" rock band. The original lineup of Magazine was composed of Devoto, McGeoch, Barry Adamson on bass, Bob Dickinson on keyboards and Martin Jackson on drums.

<i>The Smiths</i> (album) 1984 studio album by the Smiths

The Smiths is the debut studio album by English rock band the Smiths, released on 20 February 1984 by Rough Trade Records. After the original production by Troy Tate was felt to be inadequate, John Porter re-recorded the album in London, Manchester and Stockport during breaks in the band's UK tour during September 1983.

F-Beat Records was a record label set up by Andrew Lauder and Jake Riviera in 1979. Its first release, "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" by Elvis Costello & the Attractions, reached number 4 in the UK charts, the highest singles chart position the label attained. The first album released on the label was Costello's Get Happy!!, which peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Cunningham (rock musician)</span> English guitarist

Philip Cunningham is an English guitarist who is a member of the bands Marion, New Order, Bad Lieutenant, ShadowParty and, more recently in 2020, Sea Fever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dope (band)</span> American metal band

Dope is an American nu metal band from New York City, formed in 1997. The band has released seven full-length studio albums with their most recent studio album, Blood Money Part Zer0, being released in February 2023. The lineup currently consists of founding member and lead singer Edsel Dope, guitarist Virus, bassist Acey Slade and drummer Daniel Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panic (The Smiths song)</span> 1986 single by the Smiths

"Panic" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, released in 1986 and written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. The first recording to feature new member Craig Gannon, "Panic" bemoans the state of contemporary pop music, which "says nothing to me about my life", and exhorts listeners to "burn down the disco" and "hang the DJ" in retaliation. The song was released by Rough Trade as a single and reached No. 7 on the Irish Singles Chart and No. 11 in the UK Chart. Morrissey considered the song's appearance on daytime British radio a "tiny revolution" in its own way, as it aired amongst the very music it criticised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haven (band)</span>

Haven were an English indie rock band, formed in Cornwall in 1996. The band consisted of singer Gary Briggs, guitarist Nathan Wason, bassist Iwan Gronow and drummer Tom Lewis. Originally called Blew, their new name was taken from a local Haven Holidays resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marion (band)</span> English rock band

Marion are an English Britpop band, formed in 1993 in Macclesfield, Cheshire. The band's classic lineup featured frontman Jaime Harding, guitarist Phil Cunningham, guitarist Tony Grantham, bassist Julian Phillips and drummer Murad Mousa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Charming Man</span> 1983 single by The Smiths

"This Charming Man" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Morrissey. Released as the group's second single in October 1983 on the independent record label Rough Trade, it is defined by Marr's jangle pop guitar riff and Morrissey's characteristically morose lyrics, which revolve around the recurrent Smiths themes of sexual ambiguity and lust. A different version, from the John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1, was included on the compilation album Hatful of Hollow in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hand in Glove</span> 1983 single by The Smiths

"Hand in Glove" is the debut single by English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. It was released in May 1983 on independent record label Rough Trade. It peaked at No. 3 on the UK Indie Chart but did not make the top 75 of the UK Singles Chart, settling outside at No. 124.

<i>Group Therapy</i> (Dope album) 2003 studio album by Dope

Group Therapy is the third studio album by American nu metal band Dope. The enhanced portion of the album contains a music video for each song. Group Therapy shows the band expanding on the more alternative metal style music the band had started on their previous album, Life, and most of the industrial style music has been toned down. The album contains some of the band's most heavy and aggressive songs while certain songs such as "Sing", "Another Day Goes By" and "Easier" show a softer, more melodic sound. In the second half of 2004 the album had already sold about 37,749 in United States. "Now is the Time" was used in an episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter, while "Today is the Day" was the theme for WWE's No Mercy event in October 2003

<i>Do It Yourself</i> (Ian Dury & the Blockheads album) 1979 studio album by Ian Dury & the Blockheads

Do It Yourself is a 1979 album by Ian Dury & the Blockheads. It was the first album to be credited to Ian Dury & the Blockheads rather than Ian Dury alone, although Dury had used the full band name for the "What a Waste" 7" single of 1978. The album was released in the wake of the chart-topping hit single "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick", and reached number two in the charts, behind ABBA's Voulez-Vous. Do It Yourself sold around 200,000 copies, and was Dury's second Platinum album.

<i>This World and Body</i> 1996 studio album by Marion

This World and Body is the debut album by Marion released in 1996 on London Records. It reached number 10 in the UK Albums Chart. The album contained the singles "Sleep", "Toys for Boys", "Let's All Go Together" and "Time". The vinyl LP also contained a bonus one-sided 7" vinyl of a re-recording of the bands debut single, "Violent Men".

"Miyako Hideaway" is the first single released by Marion from their second album The Program, reaching number 45 in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Soon Is Now?</span> 1985 song by the Smiths

"How Soon Is Now?" is a song by English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. Originally a B-side of the 1984 single "William, It Was Really Nothing", "How Soon Is Now?" was subsequently featured on the compilation album Hatful of Hollow and on US, Canadian, Australian, and Warner UK editions of Meat Is Murder. Belatedly released as a single in the UK in 1985, it reached No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart. When re-released in 1992, it reached No. 16.

<i>Revelations</i> (Gene album) 1999 studio album by Gene

Revelations is the third studio album by English rock band Gene. It was released on 1 March 1999 through Polydor Records. When they released their second studio album Drawn to the Deep End in 1997, it was a commercial success, but did not meet the label's expectations. Polydor was hesitant about letting them record another; sessions were mainly held at Rockfield Studios in Rockfield, Wales with producer Hugh Jones. The band produced one song at Maison Rogue in London. Revelations was compared to the band's debut studio album Olympian (1995), though lacked the Smiths influence found there. A few of the songs criticize British politicians, such as Tony Blair.

<i>Fever Dreams Pts 1–4</i> 2022 studio album by Johnny Marr

Fever Dreams Pts 1–4, is the fourth studio album by English musician and guitarist Johnny Marr. Its first two parts were released as EPs in late 2021, with the album being released in full on 25 February 2022 through New Voodoo, under license to BMG. The third part was later issued separately on vinyl. The album is Marr's first double album and peaked at number 4, the highest chart position for his solo albums.

References

Citations

  1. "The Program - Marion - Release Info - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. "The Program - Demon Music Group". www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk.
  3. 1 2 Harding 2016, p. 3
  4. 1 2 3 4 The Program (booklet). Marion. Edsel Records. 2016. p. 8. EDSK 7110.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. Harding 2016, p. 4
  6. Harding 2016, p. 5

Sources