Wisdom, Laughter and Lines | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 23 October 2015 | |||
Recorded |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 50:48 | |||
Label | Virgin EMI | |||
Producer | John Owen Williams | |||
Paul Heaton chronology | ||||
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Jacqui Abbott chronology | ||||
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Singles from Wisdom,Laughter and Lines | ||||
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Wisdom,Laughter and Lines is the second album by Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott. It was released on 23 October 2015 by Virgin EMI and was produced by long-time collaborator John Owen Williams.
The album peaked at no. 4 in the UK Official Album Chart. [1] It was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry on 22 January 2016 for sales over 60,000 copies. [2]
Wisdom,Laughter and Lines was announced on 1 September 2015,coinciding with the release of its first single,'The Austerity of Love' and details regarding its supporting tour. [3]
In the run up to the release of the album,Gigs and Tours interviewed both Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott about the album and their working dynamic. Paul mentioned that,“Jacqui is one of the best singers I've worked with and is also part of my past. This new album came together easily because we work so well together. The album title ‘Wisdom,Laughter and Lines’derives from a line in one of the songs and it sort of sums up where I am in life.” [4]
In the same interview Jacqui talked about preparing to perform the new songs live,stating that “It’s just great to be singing again and I’m excited about playing these new songs live. We had such a good run together previously and it’s just a real pleasure to be working with him again and singing these fantastic songs.”
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Contemporary reviews for Wisdom,Laughter and Lines were generally positive. In a four-star review for AllMusic,Marcy Donelson stated,"Songwriter Heaton's comprehensive knowledge of and enthusiasm for pop music is on full display again,with songs that hit on Motown,reggae,honky tonk,post-punk,and Eastern European folk,among other styles." [5]
All tracks are written by Paul Heaton, except where noted [6]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "(Man Is) The Biggest Bitch of All" | Paul Heaton, Jonny Lexus | 3:41 |
2. | "The Austerity of Love" | 4:28 | |
3. | "I Don't See Them" | 3:34 | |
4. | "Heatongrad" | Heaton, Lexus | 3:50 |
5. | "Sundial in the Shade" | Heaton, Lexus | 6:34 |
6. | "Lonesome and Sad Millionaire" | 4:00 | |
7. | "The Queen of Soho" | Heaton, Lexus | 3:26 |
8. | "The Horse and Groom" | Heaton, Lexus | 3:42 |
9. | "When Love for Woman Stops" | Heaton, Lexus | 6:03 |
10. | "No One Wants to Stay" | Heaton, Lexus | 3:19 |
11. | "Wives 1, 2 & 3" | 3:23 | |
12. | "You, The Mountain and Me" | 4:47 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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13. | "State vs Jeeves" | Heaton, Lexus | 3:24 |
14. | "Real Love" | Heaton, Lexus | 3:54 |
15. | "Fair Share of Breathing" | Heaton, Lexus | 4:19 |
16. | "Capital Love" | 3:47 |
The Beautiful South were an English pop rock group formed in 1988 by Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway, two former members of the Hull group the Housemartins, both of whom performed lead and backing vocals. Other members throughout the band's existence were former Housemartins roadie Sean Welch (bass), Dave Stead (drums), and Dave Rotheray (guitar). The band's original material was written by Heaton and Rotheray.
Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was the frontman of the Housemartins, who had success with the singles "Happy Hour" and the UK number one "Caravan of Love" in 1986 before disbanding in 1988. He then formed The Beautiful South, whose debut single and album were released in 1989 to commercial success. They had a series of hits throughout the 1990s, including the number-one single "A Little Time". They disbanded in 2007. He subsequently pursued a solo career, which produced three albums, and in 2014 he released What Have We Become?, a collaboration with former Beautiful South vocalist Jacqui Abbott. As of 2022, he has recorded four more albums with her: Wisdom, Laughter and Lines in 2015, Crooked Calypso in 2017, Manchester Calling in 2020 and N.K-Pop in 2022.
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