Tommy (1985-1987)
Encyclopedia
Tommy is a compilation by The Wedding Present
gathering their first four singles, their B-sides and selected tracks from two early radio sessions. It was released in July 1988 by their own record company, Reception Records.
. The production is relatively lo-fi
but the songs are high-energy. All tracks of their first four singles are included except for "You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends", the double A-side with "This Boy Can Wait", as the radio version was deemed superior. Similarly, all tracks of their first John Peel
session are included but for the radio version of "This Boy Can Wait", whose single version was considered better.
By the time of their fourth single, "My Favourite Dress", the band had started working with Chris Allison
, who went on to produce the band's George Best and Bizarro
albums.
Two of the songs on Tommy made a reappearance on George Best: "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?", re-recorded under its new title of "It's What You Want That Matters", and "My Favourite Dress" with an added new coda
.
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
gathering their first four singles, their B-sides and selected tracks from two early radio sessions. It was released in July 1988 by their own record company, Reception Records.
About the album
Tommy provides an overview of the band's output before its first album George BestGeorge Best (album)
George Best is the debut album by The Wedding Present. It was released in October 1987 by their own record company, Reception Records.After self-releasing five singles on Reception Records label, the band turned to recording their first album, continuing their collaboration with producer Chris...
. The production is relatively lo-fi
Low fidelity
Low fidelity or lo-fi describes a sound recording which contains technical flaws such as distortion, hum, or background noise, or limited frequency response...
but the songs are high-energy. All tracks of their first four singles are included except for "You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends", the double A-side with "This Boy Can Wait", as the radio version was deemed superior. Similarly, all tracks of their first John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
session are included but for the radio version of "This Boy Can Wait", whose single version was considered better.
By the time of their fourth single, "My Favourite Dress", the band had started working with Chris Allison
Chris Allison
Chris Allison is a British record producer and founder/head of Sonic360 Records.He is primarily known for his work with The Wedding Present; however, he has also produced for Coldplay, The Beta Band and Plastilina Mosh....
, who went on to produce the band's George Best and Bizarro
Bizarro (album)
Bizarro is the second studio album by The Wedding Present. It was released in October 1989 by their record label, RCA.- About the album :...
albums.
Two of the songs on Tommy made a reappearance on George Best: "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?", re-recorded under its new title of "It's What You Want That Matters", and "My Favourite Dress" with an added new coda
Coda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
.
Side A
- "Go Out and Get 'Em Boy!" – 4:09
- "(The Moment Before) Everything's Spoiled Again" – 3:19
- "Once More" – 3:14
- "At the Edge of the Sea" – 2:39
- "Living and Learning" (radio session) – 2:53
- "This Boy Can Wait" – 4:01
Side B
- "You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends" (radio session) – 3:01
- "Felicity (KirkOrange JuiceOrange Juice was a Scottish post-punk band founded in the middle class Glasgow suburb of Bearsden as the Nu-Sonics in 1976. Edwyn Collins formed the Nu-Sonics with his school-mate Alan Duncan and was subsequently joined by James Kirk and Steven Daly, who left a band called The Machetes. The band...
)" (radio session) – 2:18 - "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?" (radio session) – 3:46
- "Never Said" – 2:37
- "Every Mother's Son" – 1:36
- "My Favourite Dress" (single version) – 4:13
The band
- David GedgeDavid GedgeDavid Gedge is an English musician and songwriter. He is the main songwriter and vocalist in the bands The Wedding Present and Cinerama...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Peter SolowkaPeter SolowkaPeter Solowka born in Leeds of Ukrainian and Irish descent was guitarist with the Wedding Present from its inception until 1991 after the recording of the Seamonsters album...
– guitar - Keith Gregory – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Shaun Charman – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(A2-6, B1-6)
Technical staff
- Carl Rosamond and The Wedding Present – producersRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
(A1-4, A6) - Clive GregsonClive GregsonClive Gregson is an English singer/songwriter, musician and record producer. He has toured in bands, provided backup for well-known musicians, and written songs that have been covered by Kim Carnes, Norma Waterson and Nanci Griffith.-Solo:At the end of 1984 Gregson released his first solo record,...
– producer (A5) - Mike Wilcojc – producer (B1-3)
- Chris AllisonChris AllisonChris Allison is a British record producer and founder/head of Sonic360 Records.He is primarily known for his work with The Wedding Present; however, he has also produced for Coldplay, The Beta Band and Plastilina Mosh....
and The Wedding Present – producer (B4-6) - Paul Smith – engineer (A5)
- Mike Robinson – engineer (B1-3)