The Sun Is Often Out

Last updated

The Sun Is Often Out
LongpigsSIOO.jpg
Studio album by
Released29 April 1996
Recorded19951996, Axis Studios, Sheffield
Genre Britpop, alternative rock
Length63:26 (including hidden track)
Label Mother
Producer Kevin Bacon, Jonathan Quarmby
Longpigs chronology
The Sun Is Often Out
(1996)
Mobile Home
(1999)
Singles from The Sun Is Often Out
  1. "She Said"
    Released: 1995 (1st release)
  2. "Jesus Christ"
    Released: 1995
  3. "Far"
    Released: 1996
  4. "On and On"
    Released: 1996
  5. "She Said"
    Released: 1996 (2nd release)
  6. "Lost Myself"
    Released: 1996

The Sun Is Often Out (stylized as THE SUN iS OfTEN oUT) is the debut album by Longpigs, released in 1996 on U2's record label, Mother Records. [1]

Contents

Five singles were released from the album, initially to little success. The first two - "She Said" and "Jesus Christ" - both failed to crack the UK Top 40, both stalling at No. 67. The third single - "Far" fared a little better, scraping into the Top 40, reaching No. 37 and received significant radio airplay, particularly on the national pop and rock radio station, BBC Radio 1. It was, however, the next single, "On and On” which would be the band's breakthrough single; reaching No. 16 in the UK. With this momentum the album was released in April and shortly after "She Said" was re-released, also making it to No. 16 in the UK singles chart. The final single from the album "Lost Myself", narrowly missed out on giving the band a third successive Top 20 single, stalling at No. 22.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Phoenix Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Select 3/5 [5]

The Sun Is Often Out was declared one of 1996's 50 best albums by Q and Melody Maker and retains a favourable 4 star rating on the AllMusic website, by both critics and fans.

Track listing

All songs written by Crispin Hunt except where noted.

  1. "Lost Myself" – 5:04
  2. "She Said" – 4:24
  3. "Far" – 3:46
  4. "On and On" – 4:10
  5. "Happy Again" – 4:17
  6. "All Hype" (Hunt, Dee Boyle) – 3:23
  7. "Sally Dances" – 3:44
  8. "Jesus Christ" – 4:00
  9. "Dozen Wicked Words" – 5:00
  10. "Elvis" – 4:22
  11. "Over Our Bodies" – 21:15

Personnel

Longpigs

Additional personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wonder Stuff</span> British alternative rock band

The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band. Originally based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, England, the band's first lineup released four albums and nearly 20 singles and EPs, enjoying considerable chart and live success in the UK. The band have continued to tour and record since 2000.

Longpigs were an English indie rock band who rose to fame on the fringe of Britpop in the 1990s, comprising Crispin Hunt (vocals), Richard Hawley (guitar), Simon Stafford and former Cabaret Voltaire member Dee Boyle (drums) who was replaced by Andy Cook for their second album. Hailing from Sheffield, the group had success with singles such as "She Said", "On and On", and their well-received debut album The Sun Is Often Out (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Marley</span> American musician (born 1972)

Stephen Robert Nesta Marley is a Jamaican-American musician. The son of Bob Marley, Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, three times as a solo artist, twice as a producer of younger brother Damian Marley's Halfway Tree and Welcome to Jamrock albums, and a further three times as a member of his older brother Ziggy Marley's group Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesus Christ Pose</span> 1991 single by Soundgarden

"Jesus Christ Pose" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden, released in 1991 as the first single from the band's third studio album, Badmotorfinger (1991). The song was included on Soundgarden's 1997 greatest hits album, A-Sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Return of Pan</span> 1993 single by the Waterboys

"The Return of Pan" is a song by British band the Waterboys, released in May 1993 by Geffen Records as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Dream Harder (1993). It was written by Mike Scott, and produced by Scott and Bill Price. The song reached No. 24 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrolite</span> 1996 single by R.E.M.

"Electrolite" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released as their third single and closing track from their tenth studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). The song is a piano-based ballad to Los Angeles, Hollywood icons and the closing 20th century. Initially, Michael Stipe objected to including the song on the album, but was won over by Peter Buck and Mike Mills. It has since become one of his favorite R.E.M. songs as well as one of Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke's; Radiohead has covered the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Time Is Love?</span> 1988 single by the KLF

"What Time Is Love?" is a song released, in different mixes, as a series of singles by the British electronic music band the KLF. It featured prominently and repeatedly in their output from 1988 to 1992 and, under the moniker of 2K, in 1997. In its original form, the track was an instrumental electronic dance anthem; subsequent reworkings, with vocals and additional instrumentation, yielded the international hit singles "What Time Is Love? " (1990), and "America: What Time Is Love?" (1991), which respectively reached number five and number four on the UK Singles Chart, and introduced the KLF to a mainstream international audience.

Gay Dad were an English rock band that formed in London in 1994 and broke up in 2002. The line-up of the band has included Cliff Jones (guitarist/vocalist), Nick "Baz" Crowe (drummer), James Riseboro (keyboardist), Nigel Hoyle (bassist) and Charley Stone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Born Slippy Nuxx</span> 1996 single by Underworld

"Born Slippy .NUXX" is a song by the British electronic music group Underworld. It was first released as the B-side to another track, "Born Slippy," in May 1995. It was written and produced by Rick Smith, Karl Hyde and Darren Emerson. The fragmented lyrics describe the perspective of an alcoholic.

<i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i> (album) 1970 rock opera album

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970 album musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, on which the 1971 rock opera of the same name was based. Initially unable to get backing for a stage production, the composers released it as an album, the success of which led to stage productions. The album musical is a musical dramatisation of the last week of the life of Jesus Christ, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Crucifixion. It was originally banned by the BBC on grounds of being "sacrilegious". By 1983, the album had sold over seven million copies worldwide.

Kevin John Bacon is an English musician and record producer best known for his work with Jonathan Quarmby under the moniker Bacon & Quarmby, as well as his tenure as bassist for the band the Comsat Angels. After leaving the Comsat Angels, Kevin Bacon produced for many other artists, notably Finley Quaye, Longpigs and Ziggy Marley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makin' Happy</span> 1991 single by Crystal Waters

"Makin' Happy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Crystal Waters, released in 1991 by Mercury and A&M as the second single from her debut studio album, Surprise (1991). It was the follow-up to Waters' hugely successful song "Gypsy Woman" and achieved moderate success in European countries. Waters co-wrote it with Neal Conway and Mark Harris, and it was produced by house music production team The Basement Boys. In the US, the song spent one week at number-one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and it also reached the top of the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. In the UK, the single peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ</i> 1988 studio album by Christian Death

Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ is the sixth album by American deathrock band Christian Death. It was released on 18 October 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dum Dum Girls</span> American rock band

Dum Dum Girls was an American rock band, formed in 2008. It began as the bedroom recording project of singer and songwriter Dee Dee. She is currently based in Los Angeles. The name is a double homage to the Vaselines' album Dum Dum and the Iggy Pop song "Dum Dum Boys".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generations of Love</span> 1990 single by Jesus Loves You featuring MC Kinky

"Generations of Love" is a song by British band Jesus Loves You, founded by singer Boy George, and was released as the second single from their only album, The Martyr Mantras (1990). The song also features raggamuffin toaster MC Kinky and received favorable reviews from most music critics; both Melody Maker and NME named it Single of the Week. It made the UK Singles Chart in two versions; the "Land of Oz Mix" which peaked at number 80 in 1990 and the "La La Gone Gaga Mix" which peaked at number 35 in 1991. The 1990 version also peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, while the 1991 version peaked within the top 20 in the Netherlands and the top 30 in Austria and Belgium. Its music video was directed by Baillie Walsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Changingman</span> 1995 single by Paul Weller

"The Changingman" is a song by British singer-songwriter Paul Weller, released in April 1995 by Go! Discs as the lead single from his third solo album, Stanley Road (1995). The song charted at number seven on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Venus</span> 1995 single by P.M. Dawn

"Downtown Venus" is the first single released from American hip hop-R&B act P.M. Dawn's third studio album, Jesus Wept (1995). The second track on the album, the song was written by the duo's lead vocalist, Prince Be and produced by P.M. Dawn. It is built around a sample of "Hush" by Deep Purple, so writer Joe South was given a writing credit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feel the Sunshine</span> 1995 single by Alex Reece

"Feel the Sunshine" is a song by British drum and bass producer Alex Reece featuring vocals by singer Deborah Anderson, who also co-wrote the lyrics. It received critical acclaim and was included on Reece's debut album, So Far, which was released in September 1996. The song was released in December 1995 as a single by Blunted and Island Records, peaking at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart. A re-release in May 1996 containing remixes charted higher, peaking at number 26. On the UK Dance Singles Chart, "Feel the Sunshine" was more successful, peaking at number two (1995) and four (1996). It is now widely regarded as one of the most classic drum and bass songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Building the City of Light</span> 1995 single by Mike Scott

"Building the City of Light" is a song from Scottish singer-songwriter Mike Scott, which was released as the second and final single from his first solo album Bring 'Em All In. It was written by Mike Scott, and produced by Scott and Niko Bolas. The song reached No. 60 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Make It Move</span> 1965 single by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

"You Make It Move" is a song by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, released as a single in November 1965. It was the group's first charting single, peaking at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

References

  1. Luffman, Mark (11 May 1996). "Albums — The Sun Is Often Out by the Longpigs". Melody Maker. Vol. 73, no. 19. p. 51.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: The Sun Is Often Out - Longpigs". AllMusic . Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  3. Sweeting, Adam. "Review: Longpigs - The Sun Is Often Out (Mother Records)". Friday Review (April 26, 1996): 12.
  4. Perry, Jonathan (27 October 1997). "Boston Phoenix CD Reviews". The Phoenix . Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  5. Upton, Sam (May 1996). "New Albums". Select . Retrieved 11 January 2017.