A 12-song selection of The Sundays. On a Sunday.
A little on the nose, I get it, though I'm surprised it's taken 248 Sundays since I started this blog to get around to it...!
To be honest, I wasn't particularly a fan of The Sundays when they first appeared on the scene in 1989/1990. In retrospect, it was probably more to do with the music rags going OTT (in my opinion) with their praise of the band, instilling some kind of knee-jerk response that I absolutely would not be told that I should love their music.
It was hard to escape the reach of The Sundays, especially as Harrier Wheeler's hair-in-a-bun/jumper/loose fit jeans with big buckled belt became a singular look for students in the early 1990s.
For all that, I resisted until I met my indie/jangly music-loving girlfriend and we started living together in the mid-1990s. She compiled a C90 for me sometime in 1996* in an attempt to educate in a stack of music that had largely passed me by.
The penultimate track on Side Two was You're Not The Only One I Know by The Sundays.
It also helped that in 1997, The Sundays released their third album, Static & Silence, preceded by the fabulous single Summertime, which sealed the deal for me and I fell hook, line and sinker for their lyrical and musical charms.
Sadly, Static & Silence has also proved to be The Sundays' final album. Although Harriet Wheeler and David Gavurin have continued to make music, it seems increasingly unlikely that it will be released.
What a body of work to savour, though, as this selection hopefully demonstrates. I haven't included either of the aforementioned singles, and the balance is heavily weighted towards my entry point, Static & Silence. That said, I've also omitted my favourite song from the album - and arguably by The Sundays - which is Monochrome.
You will find their debut single from 1989, Can't Be Sure, a rare edit/remix of Here's Where The Story Ends from an obscure Italian bootleg compilation and their final single, Cry. I've also featured songs from Reading, Writing & Arithmetic (1990) and Blind (1992), as well as a couple of B-sides. All brilliant, in my opinion.
The sadness that there is no reasonable prospect of a new album or single by The Sundays is offset by the love story at the heart of the band. Harriet and David met and fell in love whilst studying at Bristol University, formed a band, created a family and a house and life on their own terms, which continues to this day.
If that doesn't tug at your heartstrings, then the next 45 minutes definitely will.
1) So Much (1997)
2) Love (1992)
3) Cry (Album Version) (1997)
4) Here's Where The Story Ends (Remix) (1996)
5) Through The Dark (1997)
6) Can't Be Sure (Album Version) (1990)
7) I Can't Wait (1997)
8) A Certain Someone (1990)
9) What Do You Think? (1992)
10) She (1997)
11) 24 Hours (1992)
12) Gone (1997)
1990: Reading, Writing And Arithmetic: 6, 8
1992: Blind: 2, 9, 11
1996: Confuse The Masses: 4
1997: Cry EP: 5
1997: Static & Silence: 1, 3, 7, 10
1997: Summertime EP: 12
I saw The Sundays play one of their first ever gigs at The Cricketers in London. They were bottom of the bill to Jim Jiminee (who Harriet had some previous connection with which is presumably how they got the slot) and John Shuttleworth (who we were actually there to see). It was what you might call an eclectic line-up.
ReplyDeleteI think that perfectly describes the different ends of the spectrum we operate in, Ernie.
DeleteYou're right there at the start, finger on the pulse, seeing new talent emerging.
Metaphorically speaking, I arrive late on a breaking down bus, frequently when the band have left the stage, and often when they've gone their separate ways altogether.
The Sundays were a great band, releasing at least two very good albums (of which I bought one) and a few great singles. However, they were certainly not as important as, for example, The Smiths or the Cocteau Twins.
ReplyDeleteProof #1:
On Peel's Festive Fifty, you'll only find two Sundays songs (I find five in my own best lists; maybe I'll add 'Cry'). The only Peel session took place in 1989, before the first album was released.
Even more significant is proof #2:
At 'The Vinyl Villain,' you won't find a ICA featuring the Sundays (Instead you'll find 6 posts there, featuring a total of 3 singles from the Sundays).
Thanks
Thanks, Anon. As you say, I think that point #2 is even more significant than the first, but it looks like Martin may well address that issue.
DeleteOh, Harriet (sigh). May have to write a Sunday ICA.
ReplyDeleteMartin, yes please! You'd do a far better job than me!
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