Writing and recording
All of the songs on The La's were written by Lee Mavers between 1986 and 1987 and after signing to Go! Discs in 1987 and for the next three years, the La's worked with several producers to record their debut album, including John Porter, Gavin MacKillop, John Leckie, Bob Andrews, Jeremy Allom and Mike Hedges. The final sessions for the album were recorded December 1989 – February 1990 at Eden Studios in London with producers Steve Lillywhite and Mark Wallis. "There She Goes" is a remixed version of the original single recording produced by Bob Andrews in 1988. The La's first single song, Way Out, was re-recorded for the album.
Release and reception
The album was released in 1990 on Go! Discs in the United Kingdom and in 1991 on London Records in the United States. The album was praised by critics and embraced by fans. It was the result of nearly three years in the studio with a string of acclaimed producers. Each attempted to capture the sound sought by Lee Mavers, the lead singer and principal songwriter of the band. Unfortunately, due to Mavers' exacting expectations, the sound eluded each of the producers, and the album eventually released was immediately disowned by the band.[11]
A new version of the album, recorded by Mike Hedges (who has also worked with U2, Manic Street Preachers and the Cure) was found on a cassette, this new version was digitally remastered and released for the first time as part of The La's: Deluxe Edition. This edition also includes previously unreleased archive recordings and radio sessions by the band, as well as deluxe packaging and expanded sleevenotes. The GLR session is a mono reproduction of the right channel only from the original stereo broadcast.
Track listing
All tracks written by Lee Mavers (except where stated).
|
1. | "Son of a Gun" | 1:55 |
2. | "I Can't Sleep" | 2:37 |
3. | "Timeless Melody" | 3:01 |
4. | "Liberty Ship" | 2:31 |
5. | "There She Goes" | 2:42 |
6. | "Doledrum" | 2:50 |
7. | "Feelin'" | 1:45 |
8. | "Way Out" | 2:32 |
9. | "I.O.U." | 2:13 |
10. | "Freedom Song" | 2:23 |
11. | "Failure" | 2:54 |
12. | "Looking Glass" | 7:51 |
Total length: | 35:14 |
- Bonus tracks
|
|
13. | "Knock Me Down" | 3:17 |
14. | "Endless" | 3:11 |
15. | "Come in Come Out" | 2:14 |
16. | "Who Knows" | 3:31 |
17. | "Man I'm Only Human" | 4:34 |
18. | "All by Myself" | 5:56 |
19. | "Clean Prophet" | 1:49 |
20. | "There She Goes" (original single version) | 2:35 |
|
|
13. | "All by Myself" | 5:53 |
14. | "Clean Prophet" | 1:47 |
15. | "Knock Me Down" | 3:15 |
16. | "Over" (live in a stable in Liverpool, Mavers/John Power) | 5:02 |
17. | "I.O.U." (alternative version) | 2:08 |
- The La's – Deluxe Edition (2008)
Disc 1 tracks 1–12 per original release
|
|
1. | "I.O.U." (Mike Hedges version) | 2:05 |
2. | "I Can't Sleep" (Mike Hedges version) | 2:43 |
3. | "Knock Me Down" (Mike Hedges version) | 2:56 |
4. | "Way Out" (Mike Hedges version) | 2:47 |
5. | "Doledrum" (Mike Hedges version) | 2:57 |
6. | "There She Goes" (Mike Hedges version) | 2:49 |
7. | "Feelin'" (Mike Hedges version) | 1:48 |
8. | "Timeless Melody" (Mike Hedges version) | 3:07 |
9. | "Son of a Gun" (Mike Hedges version) | 2:05 |
10. | "Clean Prophet" (Mike Hedges version) | 2:09 |
11. | "Come in Come Out" (Mike Hedges version) | 2:16 |
12. | "Failure" (Mike Hedges version) | 3:08 |
13. | "Looking Glass" (Mike Hedges version) | 7:28 |
|
|
14. | "Doledrum" (John Porter mix) | 2:53 |
15. | "Way Out" (Andy MacDonald mix) | 2:39 |
16. | "There She Goes" (John Leckie mix) | 2:44 |
17. | "Man I'm Only Human" (John Leckie mix) | 5:00 |
18. | "Feelin'" (Bob Andrews mix) | 1:53 |
19. | "Clean Prophet" (Bob Andrews mix) | 2:02 |
20. | "I Can't Sleep" (Jeremy Allom mix) | 2:41 |
Personnel
The La's[14]
- Lee Mavers – guitar, vocals
- John Power – bass, backing vocals
- Peter "Cammy" Camell – guitar
- Neil Mavers – drums
- John "Boo" Byrne – guitar (on "There She Goes")
- Chris Sharrock – drums (on "There She Goes")
- Paul Hemmings – guitar (on "Way Out")
- John "Timmo" Timson – drums (on "Way Out")
- Production[14]
- Steve Lillywhite – producer, mixing
- Mark Wallis – additional producer, engineer
- Donal Hodgson – engineer (on "Looking Glass")
- Bob Andrews – producer (on "There She Goes")
- Dave Charles – engineer (on "There She Goes")
- Additional personnel[14]
|
- The La's: Deluxe Edition personnel[14]
- Barry Sutton – guitar (disc one: tracks 13–18, disc two: tracks 1–13, 20)
- Chris Sharrock – drums (disc one: tracks 13–18, disc two: tracks 1–13, 18–20)
- Paul Hemmings – guitar (disc two: tracks 14–15)
- John "Timmo" Timson – drums (disc two: tracks 14–15)
- Peter "Cammy" Camell – guitar (disc two: tracks 16–17)
- Iain Templeton – drums (disc two: tracks 16–17)
- John "Boo" Byrne – guitar (disc two: tracks 18–19)
- The La's: Deluxe Edition production personnel[14]
- Mike Hedges – producer, remastering (disc two: tracks 1–13)
- Ian Grimble – engineer, mixing (disc two: tracks 1–13)
- Kevin Metcalfe – remastering (disc two: tracks 1–13)
- John Porter – producer (disc two: track 14)
- Kenny Jones – engineer (disc two: track 14)
- Gavin MacKillop – producer (disc two: track 15)
- Andy MacDonald – remixing (disc two: track 15)
- John Leckie – producer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
- Barry Hammond – engineer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
- Mike Shepherd – engineer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
- Bob Andrews – producer (disc two: tracks 18–19)
- Dave Charles – engineer (disc two: tracks 18–19)
- Jeremy Allom – producer (disc two: track 20)
- Mike Haas – engineer (disc two: track 20)
|
Release history
Region |
Date |
Label |
Format(s) |
Catalog |
United Kingdom |
1 October 1990 |
Go! Discs |
LP, CD, Cassette |
828,202 |
Europe |
November 1990 |
Polydor |
LP, CD, Cassette |
828,202 |
United States |
1991 |
London Records |
LP, CD, Cassette |
828,202 |
Japan |
1998 |
Polydor |
CD (8 bonus tracks) |
POCD 1041 |
United Kingdom |
29 January 2001 |
Go! Discs |
CD (Remastered edition, 5 bonus tracks) |
549,566 |
United Kingdom |
14 April 2008 |
Polydor |
2xCD (Deluxe edition) |
5306021 |
References
- ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The La's – The La's". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
- ↑ Kot, Greg (14 February 1991). "The La's: The La's (Go! Discs/London)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
- ↑ Arnold, Gina (5 April 1991). "The La's". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
- ↑ Capper, Andy (3 February 2001). "The La's: The La's". NME. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
- ↑ "The La's: The La's". Q (174): 126–27. March 2001.
- ↑ Moon, Tom (2004). "The La's". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 476. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ↑ Harrison, Andrew (November 1990). "The Scally Army". Select (5): 98.
- ↑ "The La's: The La's". Uncut (132): 96. May 2008.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (30 July 1991). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
- ↑ Simpson, Dave (2 May 2008). "The madness of perfection". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/30-greatest-one-album-wonders-20160714/13-the-las-the-las-1990
- ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
- 1 2 3 4 5 The La's: Deluxe Edition (booklet). The La's. UK: Polydor Records. 2008. 5306021.
- ↑ LA'S | Artist | Official Charts
- ↑ The La's Music News & Info | Billboard
External links
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- Mike Badger
- John "Timmo" Timson
- Phil Butcher
- Jim "Jasper" Fearon
- Bernie Nolan
- Tony Clarke
- Paul Rhodes
- John Power
- Barry Walsh
- Paul Hemmings
- Mark Birchall
- Peter "Cammy" Camell
- Iain Templeton
- John "Boo" Byrne
- Chris Sharrock
- Barry Sutton
- Neil Mavers
- James Joyce
- Lee Garnett
- Jay Lewis
- Nick Miniski
- Gary Murphy
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Albums | |
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Singles | |
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Related articles | |
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