The Great Western
Encyclopedia
The Great Western is the debut solo album by Manic Street Preachers
vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield
, released on July 24, 2006 on Columbia Records
. The majority of the lyrics were written by Bradfield, who had only contributed lyrics to the songs "Ocean Spray
" and "Firefight" previously for Manic Street Preachers. Manics bassist/lyricist Nicky Wire
contributes lyrics to the song "Bad Boys and Painkillers," and also included is a cover of Jacques Brel
's "To See a Friend in Tears." The album features drummer Dafydd Ieuan
of fellow Welsh
band Super Furry Animals
on "Run Romeo Run."
The title apparently refers to the Great Western Railway
, which seems to be reflected in the album's artwork. Bradfield refers to his journeys between his home in South Wales
to London
on the GWR in the song "Émigré." An alternative explanation may be that the name relates to the Great Western Hotel in Cardiff which was part of the South Wales band circuit in the 1980s
The album debuted at #22 on the UK Album Chart in the week of July 30, 2006.
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.- Early life :...
, released on July 24, 2006 on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. The majority of the lyrics were written by Bradfield, who had only contributed lyrics to the songs "Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray (song)
"Ocean Spray" is a song by the Manic Street Preachers, which was released as a single on June 4, 2001, the third song to be released from the album Know Your Enemy...
" and "Firefight" previously for Manic Street Preachers. Manics bassist/lyricist Nicky Wire
Nicky Wire
Nicholas Allen Jones, known as Nicky Wire, is the lyricist, bassist and occasional vocalist with the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.-Early life:...
contributes lyrics to the song "Bad Boys and Painkillers," and also included is a cover of Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
's "To See a Friend in Tears." The album features drummer Dafydd Ieuan
Dafydd Ieuan
Dafydd Ieuan is the drummer with the band, Super Furry Animals and The Peth. He currently lives in Cardiff with his wife Debbie, and their two children Cai and Lleucu....
of fellow Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
band Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
on "Run Romeo Run."
The title apparently refers to the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
, which seems to be reflected in the album's artwork. Bradfield refers to his journeys between his home in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on the GWR in the song "Émigré." An alternative explanation may be that the name relates to the Great Western Hotel in Cardiff which was part of the South Wales band circuit in the 1980s
The album debuted at #22 on the UK Album Chart in the week of July 30, 2006.
Track listing
- All songs written by James Dean Bradfield except where noted.
- "That's No Way to Tell a LieThat's No Way To Tell A Lie"That's No Way to Tell a Lie" is the debut single by Manic Street Preachers vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield, released on July 10, 2006 on Columbia Records. It is from the album The Great Western. The song premiered on Janice Long's show on BBC Radio 2 in late April.The song was added to...
" – 3:05 - "An English GentlemanAn English Gentleman"An English Gentleman" is the second single from the album The Great Western by Manic Street Preachers vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield, released on September 25, 2006 on Columbia Records. The title track pays tribute to the late Manics publicist Philip Hall...
" – 3:05 - "Bad Boys and Painkillers" – 3:49
- (Lyrics by Nicky WireNicky WireNicholas Allen Jones, known as Nicky Wire, is the lyricist, bassist and occasional vocalist with the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.-Early life:...
)
- (Lyrics by Nicky Wire
- "On Saturday Morning We Will Rule the World" – 3:17
- "Run Romeo Run" – 3:24
- "Still a Long Way to Go" – 3:50
- (Lyrics co-written by John Niven)
- "Émigré" – 3:29
- (Lyrics co-written by John Niven)
- "To See a Friend in Tears" – 3:38
- (Written by Jacques BrelJacques BrelJacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
)
- (Written by Jacques Brel
- "Say Hello to the Pope" – 3:24
- "The Wrong Beginning" – 3:15
- "Which Way to Kyffin" – 2:57
Singles
- "That's No Way to Tell a LieThat's No Way To Tell A Lie"That's No Way to Tell a Lie" is the debut single by Manic Street Preachers vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield, released on July 10, 2006 on Columbia Records. It is from the album The Great Western. The song premiered on Janice Long's show on BBC Radio 2 in late April.The song was added to...
" (July 10, 2006) - "An English GentlemanAn English Gentleman"An English Gentleman" is the second single from the album The Great Western by Manic Street Preachers vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield, released on September 25, 2006 on Columbia Records. The title track pays tribute to the late Manics publicist Philip Hall...
" (September 25, 2006)