Tommy (The Wedding Present album)

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Tommy
TWPTommy.jpg
Compilation album by The Wedding Present
Released 11 July 1988
Recorded 1985–1987, England
Genre Jangle pop, post-punk
Length37:46
Label Reception
Producer Carl Rosamond, The Wedding Present, Chris Allison
The Wedding Present chronology
George Best
(1987)		Tommy
(1988)		 Українські Виступи в Івана Піла
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]

Tommy is a compilation by The Wedding Present gathering their first four singles, their B-sides and selected tracks from two early radio sessions. It was released in July 1988 by their own record company, Reception Records. [2] [3] [4]

The Wedding Present British indie rock group

The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group originally formed in 1985 in Leeds, England, from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms. Throughout their career, they have been led by vocalist and guitarist David Gedge, the band's only constant member.

Contents

Overview

Tommy provides an overview of the band's output before its first album George Best . The production is relatively lo-fi but the songs are high-energy. All tracks of their first four singles are included except for "You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends", the double A-side with "This Boy Can Wait", as the radio version was deemed superior. Similarly, all tracks of their first John Peel session are included but for the radio version of "This Boy Can Wait", whose single version was considered better.

<i>George Best</i> (album) 1987 studio album by The Wedding Present

George Best is the debut album by The Wedding Present. It was released in October 1987 by their own record company, Reception Records.

John Peel English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft,, known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004.

By the time of their fourth single, "My Favourite Dress", the band had started working with Chris Allison, who went on to produce the band's George Best and Bizarro albums.

Chris Allison record producer

Christopher John "Chris" Allison is a British record producer and founder/head of Sonic360 Records.

<i>Bizarro</i> (album) album by The Wedding Present

Bizarro is the second studio album by The Wedding Present. It was released in October 1989 by their record label, RCA.

Two of the songs on Tommy made a reappearance on George Best: "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?", re-recorded under its new title of "It's What You Want That Matters", and "My Favourite Dress" with an added new coda.

In music, a coda[ˈkoːda] is a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence. It may be as simple as a few measures, or as complex as an entire section.

Track listing

All tracks written by David Gedge except for Felicity

Side A

  1. "Go Out and Get 'Em Boy!" – 4:09
  2. "(The Moment Before) Everything's Spoiled Again" – 3:19
  3. "Once More" – 3:14
  4. "At the Edge of the Sea" – 2:39
  5. "Living and Learning" – 2:53
  6. "This Boy Can Wait" – 4:01

Side B

  1. "You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends" – 3:01
  2. "Felicity" (Kirk) – 2:18
  3. "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?" – 3:46
  4. "Never Said" – 2:37
  5. "Every Mother's Son" – 1:36
  6. "My Favourite Dress" – 4:13

Notes

People involved

The band

David Gedge British musician

David Lewis Gedge is an English musician and songwriter.

Singing act of producing musical sounds with the voice

Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice and augments regular speech by the use of sustained tonality, rhythm, and a variety of vocal techniques. A person who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music that can be sung with or without accompaniment by musical instruments. Singing is often done in an ensemble of musicians, such as a choir of singers or a band of instrumentalists. Singers may perform as soloists or accompanied by anything from a single instrument up to a symphony orchestra or big band. Different singing styles include art music such as opera and Chinese opera, Indian music and religious music styles such as gospel, traditional music styles, world music, jazz, blues, gazal and popular music styles such as pop, rock, electronic dance music and filmi.

Guitar fretted string instrument

The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that usually has six strings. It is typically played with both hands by strumming or plucking the strings with either a guitar pick or the finger(s)/fingernails of one hand, while simultaneously fretting with the fingers of the other hand. The sound of the vibrating strings is projected either acoustically, by means of the hollow chamber of the guitar, or through an electrical amplifier and a speaker.

Additional musicians

Technical staff

Record producer individual who oversees and manages the recording of an artists music

A record producer or music producer oversees and manages the sound recording and production of a band or performer's music, which may range from recording one song to recording a lengthy concept album. A producer has many, varying roles during the recording process. They may gather musical ideas for the project, collaborate with the artists to select cover tunes or original songs by the artist/group, work with artists and help them to improve their songs, lyrics or arrangements.

Clive James Gregson is an English singer/songwriter, musician and record producer. He has toured in bands, provided backup for well-known musicians, and written songs that have been covered by Kim Carnes, Norma Waterson and Nanci Griffith. He is featured in Hugh Gregory's 2002 book 1,000 Great Guitarists.

Audio engineer engineer who operates recording, mixing, sound reproduction equipment

An audio engineer helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization and audio effects, mixing, reproduction, and reinforcement of sound. Audio engineers work on the "...technical aspect of recording—the placing of microphones, pre-amp knobs, the setting of levels. The physical recording of any project is done by an engineer ... the nuts and bolts." It's a creative hobby and profession where musical instruments and technology are used to produce sound for film, radio, television, music, and video games. Audio engineers also set up, sound check and do live sound mixing using a mixing console and a sound reinforcement system for music concerts, theatre, sports games and corporate events.

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References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Colin Larkin The Encyclopedia of Popular Music 0857125958 2011 -Page 3851 COMPILATIONS: Tommy (Reception 1988), The BBC Sessions (Strange Fruit 1988), Hit Parade 1 (RCA 1992) , Hit Parade 2 (RCA 1993), John Peel Sessions
  3. ↑ Peter Buckley The Rough Guide to Rock 1843531054 - 2003 "After an uneven compilation of singles and sessions, TOMMY (1988), there were further sessions for John Peel, which "
  4. ↑ The Trouser Press record guide Ira A. Robbins 0020363613 -- 1991 Page 726 "The archly titled Tommy summarizes the band's first two years, with singles ("This Boy Can Wait," "Once More," .."
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