For 25-plus years now, when in the mood for a little Housemartins, I have always gone for something from 'London 0 Hull 4.' It's one of my all-time favorites, and I highly recommend forking out a few extra bucks for the deluxe edition, even if you already have the regular album. The extras are worth it.
I can't put my finger on it, as the band proclaimed on 'The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death,' but the followup has always left me cold. After my iPod picked "Five Get Over Excited" the other day, I pulled the album off the shelf for the first time in more than a decade. Lo these many years, it is as if the 1987 album is brand new to me. The ballads are beautiful, the vocal arrangements are inspirational, and there is still plenty of jump to the tunes with jangle. I don't know whether to be happy about the find or sad because of all the lost time when the record was right there collecting dust.
No, the second and last album is not as good as the spectacular debut, but it took me until 2013 to realize there was more to the Housemartins than 'London 0 Hull 4.' What's your great album rediscovery?
The Housemartins - I Can't Put My Finger on It (mp3)
The Housemartins - Five Get Over Excited (mp3)
4 comments:
Mine has to be The Orange Juice (the 3rd proper). I always loved You Can't Hide Your Love Forever, Rip It Up and the EP Texas Fever, but the last one didn't push my buttons back then as much as the earlier ones did. Fast forward to the 2010 OJ Boxset Coals To Newcastle and I throw the OJ on. Blown away, and now consider it right up there with the others. One other: Wha'ppen?, by The Beat. Again, thank to a reissue campaign box set (Complete Beat). So many, but now I'll have to dig out The People That Grinned Themselves To Death!! And get my hands on that deluxe edition of London 0 HUll 4.
Hi Uncle E. I remember you mentioning your Wha'ppen? experience when the box came out, but I didn't know about you and OJ. That's cool and, I imagine, quite unexpected. You were probably salivating over the extras and got a little bonus with the rediscovered album.
Hope you can find the deluxe edition of Housemartins' debut. So good. On Amazon, I saw it as download only when I wrote this one last week.
Glad you're enjoying the new Hitchcock. Sure to make my year-end list.
Yes, the new Hitchcock and his entire discography has been in heavy rotation since May. I found the Deluxe Edition of the Housemartins as well, for about $12 on Amazon and ordered it. Can't wait! Thanks for the tip!
Brian, an update for you. Once more you have influenced my buying habits as I recently splurged for the Deluxe version of London 0 Hull 4. I was surprised I did not own this in digital format of any kind, just vinyl, which has been packed away for over 20 years! I ordered it from the UK and it took about 3 weeks, but let me tell you I am loving it. The sound on the proper album is clean and clear and much fuller than I remember, but the bonus disk is worth twice what I paid! Love the original single version of Flag Day, and unknown to me gems like Drop Down Dead, Stand At Ease and Coal Train To Hatfield Main are great additions. Love the packaging of these deluxe editions in general (I'm a sucker!), and this one doesn't disappoint, right down to the liner notes by Phil Jupitus. Thanks, man, any other recommendations send my way! Maybe a post from you on some of your favorite deluxe editions is in order?
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