Blue Is the Colour is the fifth studio album from English band the Beautiful South, released in October 1996 through Go! Discs and in America through Ark 21 Records. The album was released following the two singles "Pretenders to the Throne" and "Dream a Little Dream", which never featured on any album until the release of the second greatest hits Solid Bronze in 2001.
"How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" is a single by British pop rock group the Beautiful South from their sixth album, Quench (1998). It was written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray. The lyrics, which take the form of a conversation between two reconciling lovers, are noted for a reference to the TARDIS from Doctor Who. According to the book Last Orders at the Liars Bar: the Official Story of the Beautiful South, "How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" was originally to be called "She Bangs the Buns" due to its chord structure reminiscent of Manchester's the Stone Roses. The song reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's 12th and final top-20 hit.
"Perfect 10" is a song by English pop rock band the Beautiful South, released on 21 September 1998 as the first single from their sixth studio album, Quench (1998). It debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart, selling 89,000 copies during its first week of release, and is the band's last UK top-10 single to date. It received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry in 2021 for sales and streams exceeding 600,000 units.
"Shower Your Love" is a song by English psychedelic rock band Kula Shaker. It first appeared on their second album, Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts, in March 1999 and was released as a single two months later. It reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Baby I Don't Care" is a song by English pop rock band Transvision Vamp and the first single taken from their second album, Velveteen (1989). It was released in 1989 and remains their highest-charting single, peaking at number three in both the United Kingdom and Australia. It was ranked at number 25 on the Australian end-of-year chart for 1989. The song was later featured as the title track on the band's 2002 compilation album, Baby I Don't Care.
"Rotterdam (Or Anywhere)" is a song by English pop rock music group the Beautiful South, taken from their fifth studio album, Blue Is the Colour (1996). It was written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray, produced by Jon Kelly and features Jacqui Abbott on lead vocals. Released in September 1996 by Go! Discs, the song reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and stayed in the UK top 40 for nine weeks.
"You've Got It Bad" is a song by English rock band Ocean Colour Scene. The song was released as the second single from their second album, Moseley Shoals (1996), on 25 March 1996 and reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The single was also released as a demo alternative on a second CD with additional B-sides. In the United States, the song was serviced to alternative radio in August 1996.
"Ready or Not" and "Everytime" are two songs by British-Norwegian boy band A1, both taken from their first album, Here We Come (1999), and released as a double A-side single on 8 November 1999. The single peaked at No. 3 in the United Kingdom while "Everytime" by itself reached the same position in Norway.
"A Little Bit More" is a song written and performed by American musician Bobby Gosh, released on his 1973 album Sitting in the Quiet. American rock band Dr. Hook recorded the first hit version which was released as a single in 1976. It charted at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at number nine on the Cash Box Top 100. It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in July 1976 for five consecutive weeks, being held from the top spot by Elton John and Kiki Dee's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". It was Dr. Hook's joint second-best UK chart placing, matching "Sylvia's Mother" and surpassed only by "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman".
"This Year's Love" is a song by British singer-songwriter David Gray from his fourth studio album, White Ladder (1998). Originally released as the album's first single on 29 March 1999, it was re-issued on 5 March 2001. The single peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart and number 27 on the Irish Singles Chart.
"Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" is a song by English singer Gabrielle. It was written by Gabrielle and Jonathan Shorten for her greatest hits compilation Dreams Can Come True, Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (2001), spanning her first three albums. Produced by Shorten, the song served as the album's lead single and peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her tenth top-ten hit in the United Kingdom. Outside the UK, it reached the top 20 in Denmark, New Zealand, and Portugal.
"Forget About the World" is a song by English singer-songwriter Gabrielle. It was written by Gabrielle along with Ben Barson, Andy Dean, and Ben Wolff for her self-titled second album (1996). "Forget About the World" did not perform as well as its predecessor "Give Me a Little More Time", peaking at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the lowest-charting single from Gabrielle.
"If You Really Cared" is the third single from English singer-songwriter Gabrielle's second album, Gabrielle (1996). It was written by Gabrielle, Ben Barson of the Boilerhouse Boys, Ben Wolff and Andrew Dean. "If You Really Cared" was released in September 1996 by Go Beat and Universal, and returned Gabrielle to the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 15.
"Little Black Book" is the fourth and final single from American singer Belinda Carlisle's fourth studio album, Live Your Life Be Free (1991). Released on August 17, 1992, it was Carlisle's first single containing a co-writing credit from her. American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow performs the background vocals under the name "Cherryl Crowe". One of the single's B-side, "The Air You Breathe", was originally performed by Stéphanie in 1991 under the title "You Don't Die from Love".
"Always Breaking My Heart" is the second single from American singer Belinda Carlisle's sixth studio album, A Woman and a Man (1996). The song was written by Per Gessle from Swedish band Roxette, and a demo of the song recorded by Gessle was later released as a B-side of his single "Do You Wanna Be My Baby?", as well as the 2009 reissue of Crash! Boom! Bang! (1994). Released on September 9, 1996, "Always Breaking My Heart" peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart and number 50 in Australia. It remains Carlisle's final UK top-10 hit.
"Don't Let Go" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter David Sneddon, released as a single on 21 April 2003. Written by Sneddon and Scott MacAlister, the song reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 36 in Ireland. It was the second single and follow up to Sneddon's debut number-one hit, "Stop Living the Lie".
"Flava" is a song by English-Australian singer-songwriter Peter Andre, released by Melodian and Mushroom as the fifth single from Andre's second studio album, Natural (1996). The song includes a rap by American rapper Cee and spent one week at number one on the UK Singles Chart in September 1996, becoming Andre's first number-one single in the UK. "Flava" also reached top 10 in Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the Wallonia region of Belgium.
"Alone with You" is the third and final single from Scottish band Texas' second album, Mothers Heaven (1991). It returned the band to the UK Singles Chart top 40 for the first time since 1989, reaching number 32. The song also reached number 28 in France, where it was released in late 1991.
Beautiful Inside is a song by English singer Louise, released on 30 October 2000. The single was taken from her third solo album, Elbow Beach (2000), and contains a sample from the Wu-Tang Clan. The song charted at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
"All That Matters" is a song by British singer Louise, released in March 1998 by EMI and 1st Avenue as the third and final single from the singer's second album, Woman in Me (1997). The single peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. It was remixed for the clubs by Hex Hector and DJ Tonka.
