Hup (album)
Encyclopedia
Hup is the second album by The Wonder Stuff
.
The Hup album contains several references to the 1980s BBC sit-com The Young Ones
.
"30 Years In The Bathroom" features the line: 'Now it's time to share the joke that the latch on the bathroom door was broke.' The song name is taken from an exchange between Neil and Rik after Neil has been waiting outside of the bathroom door for Rik to come out. Rik asks Neil 'How long have you been waiting there?' and Neil replies "30 years" (this is itself a reference to Emily Bronte
's Wuthering Heights
).
There is also another Young Ones reference in the song "Cartoon Boyfriend". In the episode called Sick, Mike walks into a room and says to the other house mates "What's this fish doing in my bed?" before walking back off set looking perplexed. In the song Hunt
sings the line "there's a worm in my head and a fish in my bed, she said. Confused? You will be..."
"Let's Be Other People" mentions the book by Leonard Cohen
called Beautiful Losers
.
"Piece of Sky" was originally planned to be the next single after "Golden Green", but this plan was abandoned when Rob Jones left the band in December 1989. The promotional video originally filmed for "Piece Of Sky" was re-worked (notably with all shots of Rob Jones being removed) and ultimately used for their next single, "Circlesquare", which was written on the same day as "Can't Shape Up"; May 9, 1989.
"Can't Shape Up" was originally much slower and played on acoustic guitar with harmonica
. One version featured references to Rick Astley
. The slower version was released on the Welcome to the Cheap Seats
EP.
"Good Night Though" refers to a line in a 1976 BBC play by Mike Leigh
called Nuts in May
, featuring a group of Brummie
s going camping.
"Unfaithful" is the folksy ballad on the album, and does not feature percussion, only strings and acoustic guitar. "Golden Green" was originally a purely electric guitar and percussion song which had Martin Bell's fiddle and banjo added. There was an alternate chorus to "Golden Green" which was not included in the version on Hup.
The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
.
The Hup album contains several references to the 1980s BBC sit-com The Young Ones
The Young Ones (TV series)
The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
.
"30 Years In The Bathroom" features the line: 'Now it's time to share the joke that the latch on the bathroom door was broke.' The song name is taken from an exchange between Neil and Rik after Neil has been waiting outside of the bathroom door for Rik to come out. Rik asks Neil 'How long have you been waiting there?' and Neil replies "30 years" (this is itself a reference to Emily Bronte
Emily Brontë
Emily Jane Brontë 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet, best remembered for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother...
's Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë published in 1847. It was her only novel and written between December 1845 and July 1846. It remained unpublished until July 1847 and was not printed until December after the success of her sister Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre...
).
There is also another Young Ones reference in the song "Cartoon Boyfriend". In the episode called Sick, Mike walks into a room and says to the other house mates "What's this fish doing in my bed?" before walking back off set looking perplexed. In the song Hunt
Miles Hunt
Miles Hunt is the singer / guitarist and songwriter for the Stourbridge, England-based Alternative Rock band The Wonder Stuff.- Early life :His father was a union official for the TGWU...
sings the line "there's a worm in my head and a fish in my bed, she said. Confused? You will be..."
"Let's Be Other People" mentions the book by Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
called Beautiful Losers
Beautiful Losers
Beautiful Losers is a novel by Leonard Cohen. Published in 1966 by McClelland and Stewart, it was the Canadian novelist-poet's second novel, and precedes his career as a singer-songwriter...
.
"Piece of Sky" was originally planned to be the next single after "Golden Green", but this plan was abandoned when Rob Jones left the band in December 1989. The promotional video originally filmed for "Piece Of Sky" was re-worked (notably with all shots of Rob Jones being removed) and ultimately used for their next single, "Circlesquare", which was written on the same day as "Can't Shape Up"; May 9, 1989.
"Can't Shape Up" was originally much slower and played on acoustic guitar with harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
. One version featured references to Rick Astley
Rick Astley
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
. The slower version was released on the Welcome to the Cheap Seats
Welcome to the Cheap Seats
"Welcome to the Cheap Seats" was a single by The Wonder Stuff, from the 1991 album Never Loved Elvis. It was released as a single in 1992, and peaked at #8 on the pop charts in the United Kingdom. It features backing vocals by Kirsty MacColl...
EP.
"Good Night Though" refers to a line in a 1976 BBC play by Mike Leigh
Mike Leigh
Michael "Mike" Leigh, OBE is a British writer and director of film and theatre. He studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and studied further at the Camberwell School of Art and the Central School of Art and Design. He began as a theatre director and playwright in the mid 1960s...
called Nuts in May
Nuts in May
Nuts in May is a television film devised and directed by Mike Leigh, originally broadcast as part of the BBC's Play for Today series on 13 January 1976. It is the comical story of a nature-loving and rather self-righteous couple's exhausting battle to enjoy what they perceive to be the idyllic...
, featuring a group of Brummie
Brummie
Brummie is a colloquial term for the inhabitants, accent and dialect of Birmingham, England, as well as being a general adjective used to denote a connection with the city, locally called Brum...
s going camping.
"Unfaithful" is the folksy ballad on the album, and does not feature percussion, only strings and acoustic guitar. "Golden Green" was originally a purely electric guitar and percussion song which had Martin Bell's fiddle and banjo added. There was an alternate chorus to "Golden Green" which was not included in the version on Hup.
Track listing
All songs written and performed by The Wonder Stuff- "30 Years In The Bathroom"
- "Radio Ass Kiss"
- "Golden Green"
- "Let's Be Other People"
- "Piece Of Sky"
- "Can't Shape Up"
- "Don't Let Me Down, Gently"
- "Cartoon Boyfriend"
- "Good Night Though"
- "Unfaithful"
- "Them, Big Oak Trees"
- "Room 410"
Personnel
- Miles HuntMiles HuntMiles Hunt is the singer / guitarist and songwriter for the Stourbridge, England-based Alternative Rock band The Wonder Stuff.- Early life :His father was a union official for the TGWU...
- vocals, Guitar - Malcolm Treece - guitar, vocals
- Rob Jones - bass
- Martin Bell - fiddle, banjo
- James Taylor - Hammond organ
- Martin GilksMartin GilksMartin Richard Gilks was an English musician. He was a founder member and original drummer for The Wonder Stuff, based in Stourbridge ....
- drums