The La's (album)
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| The La's | ||||
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| Studio album by The La's | ||||
| Released | 1 October 1990 (see release history) |
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| Recorded | July–September 1988 Woodcray Studios, Wokingham December 1989 – February 1990 Eden Studios, London |
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| Genre | Jangle pop, alternative rock | |||
| Length | 35:14 | |||
| Label | Polydor, Go!, London (828,202) | |||
| Producer | Steve Lillywhite, Bob Andrews | |||
| The La's chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The La's | ||||
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The La's, the self-titled album by The La's, was the only studio release from the Liverpudlian four piece, released in 1990. It included "There She Goes," the group's biggest hit, and "Timeless Melody". A deluxe edition of The La's was released on 7 April 2008.
Contents
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 the Eden Studios, 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.
Release and reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Chicago Tribune | [2] |
| Drowned in Sound | 10/10[3] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [4] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A+[5] |
| NME | 9/10[6] |
| Q | [7] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
| Uncut | [9] |
| The Village Voice | A–[10] |
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.
Legacy
The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[12]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Lee Mavers (except where stated).
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Japan bonus tracks (1998) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 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 |
| UK remastered edition bonus tracks (2001) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 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
| Disc 1: Bonus material | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 13. | "Son of a Gun" (Gary Crowley, GLR Session Dec '88) | 1:55 |
| 14. | "Doledrum" (Gary Crowley, GLR Session Dec '88) | 3:00 |
| 15. | "I Can't Sleep" (Gary Crowley, GLR Session Dec '88) | 2:34 |
| 16. | "Way Out" (Key 103, Jan '89) | 2:42 |
| 17. | "I Am the Key" (Key 103, Jan '89) | 3:05 |
| 18. | "That'll Be the Day" (BBC2 The Late Show Feb '89, Buddy Holly/Jerry Allison/Norman Petty) | 2:07 |
| Disc 2: Mike Hedges album | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 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 |
| Disc 2: Bonus material | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 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[13]
|
|
Release history
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| 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 |
Chart performance
| Charts (1990–1991) | Peak chart position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart[14] | 30 |
| US Billboard 200[15] | 196 |
References
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- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ LA'S | Artist | Official Charts
- ↑ The La's Music News & Info | Billboard
