Miaow (album)
Encyclopedia
Miaow is the fourth album by The Beautiful South
. It was released in March 1994.
As with most Beautiful South albums, the songs were written by Dave Rotheray
and Paul Heaton
. The songs reflect a depressing moment in Heaton's life, and this continues with the follow-up album Blue is the Colour
. The best example of this on the album is the opening track "Hold on to What?", which could be interpreted as an attack on the ruling classes, this is most evident at the end of the song where Heaton sings Chamberlain had his paper, Jesus
had his cross, They held on, We held on to what?'
The songs also led the South's first female singer, Briana Corrigan
, to leave the band, after Heaton sent her copies of the songs, including "Mini-correct" and "Worthless Lie", she swiftly made the decision to leave. Equally swiftly, Heaton employed the then-unknown Jacqui Abbott
in her place, who went on to appear on every album up to Painting It Red
.
The cover originally depicted a lot of dog
s seated in a music hall with a gramophone
on the stage. However, HMV
made the band withdraw it as it mocked their trademark dog
, and the band put out a second cover, painted by Michael Sowa, depicting four dogs in a boat.
It reached number 6 in the album charts, and had three singles released from it.
and Dave Rotheray
, except where noted.
The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout...
. It was released in March 1994.
As with most Beautiful South albums, the songs were written by Dave Rotheray
Dave Rotheray
David Rotheray is a British musician, best known for being the lead guitarist for The Beautiful South.Rotheray was born the fifth of five children. His parents were both intellectual and had met through the Young Communist League...
and Paul Heaton
Paul Heaton
Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was a member of The Housemartins, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career....
. The songs reflect a depressing moment in Heaton's life, and this continues with the follow-up album Blue is the Colour
Blue Is the Colour
Blue Is the Colour, released October 1996, is The Beautiful South's fifth original album 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...
. The best example of this on the album is the opening track "Hold on to What?", which could be interpreted as an attack on the ruling classes, this is most evident at the end of the song where Heaton sings Chamberlain had his paper, Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
had his cross, They held on, We held on to what?'
The songs also led the South's first female singer, Briana Corrigan
Briana Corrigan
Briana Corrigan is an Irish singer. She was the first female singer for The Beautiful South, from 1988 to 1994.She was born in Northern Ireland, her family moving from Belfast to Portstewart, County Londonderry when she was eleven, but her love for the theatre made her move to Newcastle upon...
, to leave the band, after Heaton sent her copies of the songs, including "Mini-correct" and "Worthless Lie", she swiftly made the decision to leave. Equally swiftly, Heaton employed the then-unknown Jacqui Abbott
Jacqui Abbott
Jacqui Abbott Jacqui Abbott Jacqui Abbott (born Jacqueline Abbott, 10 November 1973, St Helens, Lancashire, was the female lead singer with the band The Beautiful South after 1994, following the departure of Briana Corrigan....
in her place, who went on to appear on every album up to Painting It Red
Painting It Red
Painting It Red is the seventh original album released by The Beautiful South in October 2000. The album is the band's joint longest, with 19 tracks...
.
The cover originally depicted a lot of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s seated in a music hall with a gramophone
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
on the stage. However, HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
made the band withdraw it as it mocked their trademark dog
Nipper
Nipper was a dog that served as the model for a painting titled His Late Master's Voice. This image was the basis for the dog and trumpet logo used by several audio recording and associated brands: His Master's Voice, HMV, RCA, Victor Talking Machine Company, RCA Victor and JVC.- Biography :Nipper...
, and the band put out a second cover, painted by Michael Sowa, depicting four dogs in a boat.
It reached number 6 in the album charts, and had three singles released from it.
Singles
- Good As Gold - released: February 1994 chart position: 23,
- Everybody's Talkin' - released: May 1994, chart position: 12
- Prettiest Eyes - released: August 1994, chart position: 37
Track listing
All songs written by Paul HeatonPaul Heaton
Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was a member of The Housemartins, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career....
and Dave Rotheray
Dave Rotheray
David Rotheray is a British musician, best known for being the lead guitarist for The Beautiful South.Rotheray was born the fifth of five children. His parents were both intellectual and had met through the Young Communist League...
, except where noted.
- "Hold on to What?Hold on to What?Hold on to What? is a song by English pop group The Beautiful South, the opening track of their fourth album Miaow. It was written at a time of alcoholism in lead singer Paul Heaton's life, and is one of their darkest and most sarcastic protest songs....
" - "Good as Gold (Stupid as Mud)Good as Gold (Stupid as Mud)Good as Gold is a song by Pop group The Beautiful South, the second track on their fourth album Miaow. It is one of their more popular songs and is frequently played live...
" - "Especially for You"
- "Everybody's Talkin'Everybody's Talkin'"Everybody's Talkin" is a folk rock song released by Fred Neil in 1966 that became a global success for Harry Nilsson in 1969, reaching #2 and #6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and Pop Singles chart respectively and winning a Grammy after it was featured on the soundtrack for the film...
" (Fred NeilFred NeilFred Neil was an American folk singer-songwriter in the 1960s and early 1970s. He did not achieve commercial success as a performer, and is mainly known through other people's recordings of his material – particularly "Everybody's Talkin'", which became a hit for Harry Nilsson after being...
) - "Prettiest Eyes"
- "Worthless Lie"
- "Hooligans Don't Fall in Love"
- "Hidden Jukebox"
- "Hold Me Close (Underground)"
- "Tattoo"
- "Mini-Correct"
- "Poppy"
Personnel
- Paul HeatonPaul HeatonPaul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was a member of The Housemartins, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career....
- vocals - Dave HemingwayDave HemingwayDave Hemingway , is a British musician and songwriter, and was a lead vocalist for the Hull-based band The Beautiful South until they disbanded in 2007...
- vocals - Jacqui AbbottJacqui AbbottJacqui Abbott Jacqui Abbott Jacqui Abbott (born Jacqueline Abbott, 10 November 1973, St Helens, Lancashire, was the female lead singer with the band The Beautiful South after 1994, following the departure of Briana Corrigan....
- vocals - Dave RotherayDave RotherayDavid Rotheray is a British musician, best known for being the lead guitarist for The Beautiful South.Rotheray was born the fifth of five children. His parents were both intellectual and had met through the Young Communist League...
- guitar - Sean WelchSean WelchSean Welch was the bassist for The Beautiful South and previously roadie for The Housemartins.During his childhood, he played in a number of school bands, but unlike many budding musicians he was dismissed for his lack of musical skill...
- bass - Dave SteadDave SteadDavid "Steady" Stead was the drummer for the alternate pop / rock band, The Beautiful South.-Life and career:...
- drums