The Bluetones
Encyclopedia
The Bluetones were an English
indie rock
band
, formed in Hounslow
, Greater London
, in 1993. The band's members were Mark Morriss
on vocals
, Adam Devlin
on guitar
, Scott Morriss
on bass guitar
, and Eds Chesters
on drums
. A fifth member, Richard Payne
, came on board between 1998 and 2002. The band was originally named "The Bottlegarden".
The band's biggest hit, "Slight Return
", was released in 1996. They have achieved thirteen Top 40 singles
and three Top 10 album
s in the UK
charts
.
The Bluetones' commercial success waned after the fall of the Britpop
movement, yet they continued to tour and release new records and were therefore often labelled as "Britpop survivors".
The band's latest album A New Athens
was released on 31 May 2010.
The band split on 1 October 2011 following a farewell tour which ended with a concert in Osaka, Japan.
, the band signed to A&M Records
and released Expecting to Fly on their own sublabel Superior Quality Recordings. The album entered the UK Albums Chart
at number one
, and featured the singles "Bluetonic
" and "Slight Return
", with the latter being beaten to number one by one-hit-wonders Babylon Zoo
's "Spaceman
". Following the touring and promotional duties for Expecting to Fly, the band released stand-alone single "Marblehead Johnson
" to bridge the gap between albums.
The second album, Return To The Last Chance Saloon
, was released in 1998. While failing to generate the commercial success of their debut, it did spawn hits in the form of "Solomon Bites the Worm
" and "If...
".
Whilst many of their mid 1990s peers had disbanded by 2000, The Bluetones released their third album, Science & Nature
, which again reached the Top 10 and featured the hit singles "Keep the Home Fires Burning" and "Autophilia
".
After releasing a best-of album in 2002, the band followed up with Luxembourg
, an album which received mixed reviews.
A three-album deal was signed in late 2005 with the Cooking Vinyl
record label, promptly followed by the limited release of E.P. Serenity Now
and a full UK tour.
In early 2006, Universal issued a comprehensive box set of all The Bluetones singles and B-sides
released between 1995 and 2003, A Rough Outline.
A single, entitled "My Neighbour's House
", was released in the UK on 18 September 2006. The single was taken from their self-titled album
, which was released on 9 October that year. It failed to chart in the UK Albums Chart
after its first week on sale. The album was also released in the US
, the first such occurrence since their debut. Although no reason was cited, on 1 October 2006, it was announced that a planned nine-date tour of North America
and Australia
had been scrapped. However, on 1 November 2006, the band began a month-long tour of Europe in support of their new release, including two sold-out nights at Glasgow
's King Tuts.
In February 2007, the band released BBC Radio Sessions
containing tracks recorded for the BBC between 1994 and 2000. This was followed in June with their first full live album
, Once Upon a Time in West Twelve
, recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire
on 18 November 2005, and was followed on 29 October 2007, by a live DVD
of the same concert
under the title Beat about the Bush. 2007 also saw the release of a compilation album
of early demo
recordings
, entitled The Early Garage Years
. They also released a DVD under the title Blue Movies.
In January 2008, the band began a mini-tour of Scotland
, playing five cities (Stirling
, Dunfermline
, Aberdeen
, Glasgow
and Edinburgh
) in as many nights. In May 2008 a ten-date tour covered Cambridge
, Whitehaven
, Sheffield
, Newcastle upon Tyne
, Birmingham
, London
, Bristol
, Manchester
and Darwen
, including one of the last few concerts at the Astoria
. They also played a show with Brit-pop rivals Dodgy
on 17 May 2009, at a secret London venue, to benefit the homelessness charity Crisis
, as part of the charity's 'Hidden Gigs' campaign against hidden homelessness.
In December 2008, the band embarked on a five-date tour, taking in Lincoln, Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham. The tour saw them playing their debut album, Expecting to Fly, in full. Some further dates were subsequently announced for February and March 2009.
On 31 May 2010, the band released an album called A New Athens
. Despite largely positive reviews by fans and critics alike, the album failed to chart in the UK Albums Chart.
The song "Sleazy Bed Track
" from the 1998 album Return To The Last Chance Saloon
was featured in the popular 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
and also included on the soundtrack.
On 28 March, the band announced they would split after a farewell tour in September 2011, with a message from frontman Mark Morriss saying "After 17 years and 6 albums, The Bluetones have decided that the time has arrived to call it a day and move on to other challenges. Before disappearing forever though, we will be heading out for one last tour, as a chance to say farewell and thank you to all the fans that have sustained us over these years, with a career-spanning Greatest Hits/Best Of... style set of songs. It's gonna be emotional."
:
, Little Britain
and the Adam and Joe Show.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed in Hounslow
Hounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
, Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, in 1993. The band's members were Mark Morriss
Mark Morriss
Mark James Morriss is an English singer-songwriter. He is the lead singer for The Bluetones, and is the older brother of bandmate Scott Morriss. He is also pursuing a solo career....
on vocals
Singing
Singing 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...
, Adam Devlin
Adam Devlin
Adam Devlin is the guitarist and songwriter for the English band, The Bluetones.-External links:*...
on guitar
Guitar
The 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...
, Scott Morriss
Scott Morriss
Scott Edward Morriss is the bass player for the English band The Bluetones. He is the younger brother of bandmate and lead vocalist Mark Morriss. He also plays bass in his brother's backing group, The Mummys....
on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and Eds Chesters
Eds Chesters
Eds Chesters was the drummer for the English band, The Bluetones. Currently working as an Osteopath at "Health in Motion" clinic in Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire....
on drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
. A fifth member, Richard Payne
Richard Payne
Richard Payne is an English musician who plays the keyboards and guitar. He is a former member of the bands Dodgy and The Bluetones.-External links:***...
, came on board between 1998 and 2002. The band was originally named "The Bottlegarden".
The band's biggest hit, "Slight Return
Slight Return
"Slight Return" is a song by The Bluetones, released as the second single from their 1996 debut album Expecting to Fly. A re-release, it was originally issued as a double-A-side with "The Fountainhead" the previous year. It peaked at number two in the UK singles chart and remains the band's...
", was released in 1996. They have achieved thirteen Top 40 singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and three Top 10 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
.
The Bluetones' commercial success waned after the fall of the Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
movement, yet they continued to tour and release new records and were therefore often labelled as "Britpop survivors".
The band's latest album A New Athens
A New Athens (album)
A New Athens is the sixth album by The Bluetones. It was released on May 31, 2010 on CIA Recordings.Despite largely positive reviews by fans and critics alike, the album failed to chart in the Top 200 UK Albums Chart after its first week on release....
was released on 31 May 2010.
The band split on 1 October 2011 following a farewell tour which ended with a concert in Osaka, Japan.
History
After the release of two singles on Fierce Panda RecordsFierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass...
, the band signed to A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
and released Expecting to Fly on their own sublabel Superior Quality Recordings. The album entered the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at number one
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, and featured the singles "Bluetonic
Bluetonic
"Bluetonic" was the first single released by The Bluetones from their 1995 debut album Expecting to Fly. It was also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03....
" and "Slight Return
Slight Return
"Slight Return" is a song by The Bluetones, released as the second single from their 1996 debut album Expecting to Fly. A re-release, it was originally issued as a double-A-side with "The Fountainhead" the previous year. It peaked at number two in the UK singles chart and remains the band's...
", with the latter being beaten to number one by one-hit-wonders Babylon Zoo
Babylon Zoo
Babylon Zoo were a British rock band of the mid-1990s from Wolverhampton, England, fronted by Jas Mann. They were best known for the song "Spaceman", which on its release on 21 January 1996, went straight to #1 on the UK Singles Chart, selling 418,000 copies in the first week of...
's "Spaceman
Spaceman (song)
"Spaceman" is a song by British singer-songwriter Jas Mann, of Babylon Zoo. Known for its heavily distorted guitars and metallic, robotic-sounding vocals, it went straight to Number 1 on the UK singles chart on 21 January 1996, selling 418,000 copies in the first week of release...
". Following the touring and promotional duties for Expecting to Fly, the band released stand-alone single "Marblehead Johnson
Marblehead Johnson
"Marblehead Johnson" is a song by The Bluetones, released as a standalone single in 1996. It peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart in 1996...
" to bridge the gap between albums.
The second album, Return To The Last Chance Saloon
Return to the Last Chance Saloon
Return to the Last Chance Saloon is the second album by The Bluetones. It was released on 9 March 1998 on Universal Records. The album is currently certified Gold by the BPI...
, was released in 1998. While failing to generate the commercial success of their debut, it did spawn hits in the form of "Solomon Bites the Worm
Solomon Bites the Worm
"Solomon Bites the Worm" is a song by The Bluetones, released as the first single from their second album, 1998's Return to the Last Chance Saloon. It reached number ten in the UK Singles Chart. In 2006, it was included on the band's compilation album, A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03...
" and "If...
If... (Bluetones song)
"If..." is a song by The Bluetones, released as the second single from their second album, Return to the Last Chance Saloon, in 1998. It reached number thirteen on the UK Singles Chart....
".
Whilst many of their mid 1990s peers had disbanded by 2000, The Bluetones released their third album, Science & Nature
Science & Nature
Science & Nature is the third album by The Bluetones. It was released on 12 April 2000 on Universal Records. Its offspring singles were "Keep the Home Fires Burning" and "Autophilia"...
, which again reached the Top 10 and featured the hit singles "Keep the Home Fires Burning" and "Autophilia
Autophilia (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Car)
"Autophilia " is a song by The Bluetones, released as their second single from their third album, Science & Nature...
".
After releasing a best-of album in 2002, the band followed up with Luxembourg
Luxembourg (album)
Luxembourg is the fourth album by The Bluetones. It was released on 12 May 2003 on Superior Quality Recordings. It was re-issued on Cooking Vinyl on 15 May 2006. Its offspring singles were a "Fast Boy/Liquid Lips" double-A side and "Never Going Nowhere"....
, an album which received mixed reviews.
A three-album deal was signed in late 2005 with the Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
record label, promptly followed by the limited release of E.P. Serenity Now
Serenity Now
Serenity Now is an EP by The Bluetones, released in 2005 and made available by mail-order only.-Track listing:#"Serenity Now"#"Autumn Tones"#"Mine in the Morning"#"The Happy Lobotomy"...
and a full UK tour.
In early 2006, Universal issued a comprehensive box set of all The Bluetones singles and B-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
released between 1995 and 2003, A Rough Outline.
A single, entitled "My Neighbour's House
My Neighbour's House
"My Neighbour's House" is the first single released by The Bluetones from their fifth album, The Bluetones, in 2006. It reached number 68 in the UK Singles Chart.-Track listing:CD#"My Neighbour's House"#"Your Psychotic Friend"#"South Thoresby"7"...
", was released in the UK on 18 September 2006. The single was taken from their self-titled album
The Bluetones (album)
The Bluetones is the fifth album by The Bluetones. It was released on October 9, 2006 on Cooking Vinyl.The album sees the band reunite with producer Hugh Jones, who was at the controls for the band's first two albums, Expecting to Fly and Return To The Last Chance Saloon...
, which was released on 9 October that year. It failed to chart in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
after its first week on sale. The album was also released in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the first such occurrence since their debut. Although no reason was cited, on 1 October 2006, it was announced that a planned nine-date tour of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
had been scrapped. However, on 1 November 2006, the band began a month-long tour of Europe in support of their new release, including two sold-out nights at Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
's King Tuts.
In February 2007, the band released BBC Radio Sessions
BBC Radio Sessions (The Bluetones)
BBC Radio Sessions is a compilation of live performances by British band The Bluetones on BBC Radio 1 between the years of 1994 and 2000.The first thousand editions sold included a lyric sheet signed by Mark Morriss.Morriss also penned the liner notes:...
containing tracks recorded for the BBC between 1994 and 2000. This was followed in June with their first full live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, Once Upon a Time in West Twelve
Once Upon a Time in West Twelve
Once Upon a Time in West Twelve is a live-performance album by British band The Bluetones. It was recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire on 18 November 2005.-Track listing:#"The Jub-Jub Bird"#"Bluetonic"#"Liquid Lips"#"Carn't Be Trusted"...
, recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire
Shepherds Bush Empire
The O2 Shepherds Bush Empire is a music venue in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, run by the Academy Music Group. It was built in 1903, as a music hall, and in 1953 became the BBC Television Theatre...
on 18 November 2005, and was followed on 29 October 2007, by a live DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
of the same concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
under the title Beat about the Bush. 2007 also saw the release of a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of early demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, entitled The Early Garage Years
The Early Garage Years
The Early Garage Years is a compilation album by The Bluetones. It was released on July 30, 2007.-Track listing:#"Are You Blue or Are You Blind?" #"Talking to Clarry" #"Carnt Be Trusted"...
. They also released a DVD under the title Blue Movies.
In January 2008, the band began a mini-tour of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, playing five cities (Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
) in as many nights. In May 2008 a ten-date tour covered Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, 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...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Darwen
Darwen
Darwen is a market town and civil parish located within Lancashire, England. Along with its northerly neighbour, Blackburn, it forms the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen — a unitary authority area...
, including one of the last few concerts at the Astoria
London Astoria
The London Astoria was a music venue, located at 157 Charing Cross Road, in London, England. It had been leased and run by Festival Republic since 2000. It was closed on 15 January 2009 and has since been demolished...
. They also played a show with Brit-pop rivals Dodgy
Dodgy
Dodgy are an English power pop rock trio, that rose to prominence during the Britpop era of the 1990s, who are best known for their hits "Staying Out for the Summer", "If You're Thinking of Me", and "Good Enough"...
on 17 May 2009, at a secret London venue, to benefit the homelessness charity Crisis
Crisis (charity)
Crisis is is the UK national charity for single homeless people. The charity offers year-round education, employment, housing and well-being services from centres in London, Newcastle, Oxford, Edinburgh and Merseyside, called Crisis Skylight Centres....
, as part of the charity's 'Hidden Gigs' campaign against hidden homelessness.
In December 2008, the band embarked on a five-date tour, taking in Lincoln, Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham. The tour saw them playing their debut album, Expecting to Fly, in full. Some further dates were subsequently announced for February and March 2009.
On 31 May 2010, the band released an album called A New Athens
A New Athens (album)
A New Athens is the sixth album by The Bluetones. It was released on May 31, 2010 on CIA Recordings.Despite largely positive reviews by fans and critics alike, the album failed to chart in the Top 200 UK Albums Chart after its first week on release....
. Despite largely positive reviews by fans and critics alike, the album failed to chart in the UK Albums Chart.
The song "Sleazy Bed Track
Sleazy Bed Track
"Sleazy Bed Track" is a song by The Bluetones, released as the third single from their second album, 1998's Return to the Last Chance Saloon. It was also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03, and on the soundtrack to the 2010 Universal Pictures...
" from the 1998 album Return To The Last Chance Saloon
Return to the Last Chance Saloon
Return to the Last Chance Saloon is the second album by The Bluetones. It was released on 9 March 1998 on Universal Records. The album is currently certified Gold by the BPI...
was featured in the popular 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a 2010 comedy film directed by Edgar Wright, based on the graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The film is about Scott Pilgrim , a young Canadian musician, meeting the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers , an American delivery girl...
and also included on the soundtrack.
On 28 March, the band announced they would split after a farewell tour in September 2011, with a message from frontman Mark Morriss saying "After 17 years and 6 albums, The Bluetones have decided that the time has arrived to call it a day and move on to other challenges. Before disappearing forever though, we will be heading out for one last tour, as a chance to say farewell and thank you to all the fans that have sustained us over these years, with a career-spanning Greatest Hits/Best Of... style set of songs. It's gonna be emotional."
Studio albums
- Expecting to Fly - 12 February 1996 - #1 (UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
) - Return to the Last Chance SaloonReturn to the Last Chance SaloonReturn to the Last Chance Saloon is the second album by The Bluetones. It was released on 9 March 1998 on Universal Records. The album is currently certified Gold by the BPI...
- 9 March 1998 - #10 (UK) - Science & NatureScience & NatureScience & Nature is the third album by The Bluetones. It was released on 12 April 2000 on Universal Records. Its offspring singles were "Keep the Home Fires Burning" and "Autophilia"...
- 12 April 2000 - #7 (UK) - LuxembourgLuxembourg (album)Luxembourg is the fourth album by The Bluetones. It was released on 12 May 2003 on Superior Quality Recordings. It was re-issued on Cooking Vinyl on 15 May 2006. Its offspring singles were a "Fast Boy/Liquid Lips" double-A side and "Never Going Nowhere"....
- 12 May 2003 - #49 (UK) - The BluetonesThe Bluetones (album)The Bluetones is the fifth album by The Bluetones. It was released on October 9, 2006 on Cooking Vinyl.The album sees the band reunite with producer Hugh Jones, who was at the controls for the band's first two albums, Expecting to Fly and Return To The Last Chance Saloon...
- 9 October 2006 - #100 (UK) - A New AthensA New Athens (album)A New Athens is the sixth album by The Bluetones. It was released on May 31, 2010 on CIA Recordings.Despite largely positive reviews by fans and critics alike, the album failed to chart in the Top 200 UK Albums Chart after its first week on release....
- 31 May 2010 - #21 Indie
Compilation albums
- Are You Blind?Are You Blind?Are You Blind? is a limited-edition compilation album by The Bluetones. It was released in May 2000 on Superior Quality Records. Only five hundred copies were made.-Track listing:All tracks written by: Chesters, Devlin, Morriss, Morriss...
- May 2000 (limited edition promotional CD) - The SinglesThe Singles (Bluetones Album)The Singles is a greatest hits compilation album by The Bluetones. It was released on 8 April 2002 on Universal Records. Its offspring single was "After Hours".-Track listing:All tracks written by: Chesters, Devlin, Morriss, Morriss...
- 8 April 2002 - #14 (UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
) - A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03 - 7 March 2006 - #156
- The Early Garage YearsThe Early Garage YearsThe Early Garage Years is a compilation album by The Bluetones. It was released on July 30, 2007.-Track listing:#"Are You Blue or Are You Blind?" #"Talking to Clarry" #"Carnt Be Trusted"...
- 30 July 2007 - Collection - 21 April 2008
Live albums
- BBC Radio SessionsBBC Radio Sessions (The Bluetones)BBC Radio Sessions is a compilation of live performances by British band The Bluetones on BBC Radio 1 between the years of 1994 and 2000.The first thousand editions sold included a lyric sheet signed by Mark Morriss.Morriss also penned the liner notes:...
- 26 February 2007 - #164 - Once Upon a Time in West TwelveOnce Upon a Time in West TwelveOnce Upon a Time in West Twelve is a live-performance album by British band The Bluetones. It was recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire on 18 November 2005.-Track listing:#"The Jub-Jub Bird"#"Bluetonic"#"Liquid Lips"#"Carn't Be Trusted"...
- 25 June 2007
EPs
- A Bluetones CompanionA Bluetones CompanionA Bluetones Companion is an EP by The Bluetones, released in 1995. Its offspring single was the opening "Are You Blue Or Are You Blind?"-Track listing:#"Are You Blue or Are You Blind?"#"String Along"#"Driftwood"#"Bluetonic"#"Colorado Beetle"...
- 25 September 1995 (JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
only) - MudslideMudslide (The Bluetones EP)Mudslide is an EP by The Bluetones, released in 2000. "Mudslide" was also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03.-Track listing:#"Mudslide" #"Keep the Home Fires Burning"...
- 30 October 2000 - Serenity NowSerenity NowSerenity Now is an EP by The Bluetones, released in 2005 and made available by mail-order only.-Track listing:#"Serenity Now"#"Autumn Tones"#"Mine in the Morning"#"The Happy Lobotomy"...
- 14 November 2005 (mail-order-only release)
Singles
All chart positions are for the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
:
- 1995 - "Slight Return/The FountainheadSlight Return/The Fountainhead"Slight Return"/"The Fountainhead" are songs by The Bluetones, released as their first single, a double A-side, in 1995. They were also included on the band's 2007 compilation The Early Garage Years....
" - limited edition 7" - 1995 - "Are You Blue or Are You Blind?Are You Blue or Are You Blind?"Are You Blue or Are You Blind?" is a song by The Bluetones, released as a standalone single, and included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03.-Track listing:*CD / 12"#"Are You Blue or Are You Blind?"...
" - #31 - 1995 - "BluetonicBluetonic"Bluetonic" was the first single released by The Bluetones from their 1995 debut album Expecting to Fly. It was also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03....
" - #19 - 1996 - "Slight ReturnSlight Return"Slight Return" is a song by The Bluetones, released as the second single from their 1996 debut album Expecting to Fly. A re-release, it was originally issued as a double-A-side with "The Fountainhead" the previous year. It peaked at number two in the UK singles chart and remains the band's...
" (re-issue) - #2 - 1996 - "Cut Some Rug/Castle RockCut Some Rug/Castle Rock"Cut Some Rug/Castle Rock" is a single by The Bluetones, the third single to be released from their 1996 debut album Expecting to Fly. Both title tracks were also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03...
" - #7 - 1996 - "Marblehead JohnsonMarblehead Johnson"Marblehead Johnson" is a song by The Bluetones, released as a standalone single in 1996. It peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart in 1996...
" - #7 - 1998 - "Solomon Bites the WormSolomon Bites the Worm"Solomon Bites the Worm" is a song by The Bluetones, released as the first single from their second album, 1998's Return to the Last Chance Saloon. It reached number ten in the UK Singles Chart. In 2006, it was included on the band's compilation album, A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03...
" - #10 - 1998 - "If...If... (Bluetones song)"If..." is a song by The Bluetones, released as the second single from their second album, Return to the Last Chance Saloon, in 1998. It reached number thirteen on the UK Singles Chart....
" - #13 - 1998 - "Sleazy Bed TrackSleazy Bed Track"Sleazy Bed Track" is a song by The Bluetones, released as the third single from their second album, 1998's Return to the Last Chance Saloon. It was also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03, and on the soundtrack to the 2010 Universal Pictures...
" - #35 - 1998 - "4-Day Weekend4-Day Weekend"4-Day Weekend" is a song by The Bluetones, released as the fourth and final single from their second album, 1998's Return to the Last Chance Saloon. The single was available by mail-order only, hence it did not chart, but it was subsequently included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline:...
" - did not chart (mail-order-only release) - 2000 - "Keep the Home Fires Burning" - #13
- 2000 - "Autophilia (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Car)Autophilia (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Car)"Autophilia " is a song by The Bluetones, released as their second single from their third album, Science & Nature...
" - #18 - 2002 - "After HoursAfter Hours (Bluetones song)"After Hours" is a single released by The Bluetones from their 2002 compilation album, The Singles. It was also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03...
" - #26 - 2003 - "Fast Boy/Liquid LipsFast Boy/Liquid Lips"Fast Boy/Liquid Lips" was a double-A-side single, released by The Bluetones from their fourth album, 2003's Luxembourg. Both title tracks were also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03...
" - #25 - 2003 - "Never Going NowhereNever Going Nowhere"Never Going Nowhere" was the second single released by The Bluetones from their fourth album, Luxembourg, in 2003. It reached number 40 in the UK Singles Chart...
" - #40 - 2006 - "My Neighbour's HouseMy Neighbour's House"My Neighbour's House" is the first single released by The Bluetones from their fifth album, The Bluetones, in 2006. It reached number 68 in the UK Singles Chart.-Track listing:CD#"My Neighbour's House"#"Your Psychotic Friend"#"South Thoresby"7"...
" - #68 - 2006 - "Head on a SpikeHead on a Spike"Head on a Spike" is the second single released by The Bluetones from their fifth album, The Bluetones, in 2006.-Track listing:*CD#"Head on a Spike"#"Untitled #6"#"Surrendered" *Download...
" - #135 - 2007 - "SurrenderedSurrendered (Bluetones song)"Surrendered" is the third single released by The Bluetones from their fifth album, 2006's The Bluetones.-Track listing:#"Surrendered" #"Wasn’t I Right About You"...
" - 2010 - "Carry Me Home"
- 2010 - "Golden Soul"
Video/DVD releases
- 1997 - Mondo Concerto
- 2007 - Blue Movies
- 2007 - Beat about the Bush
- 2009 - Expecting to Fly Live
Television
They have made cameo appearances in the British comedy shows SpacedSpaced
Spaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
, Little Britain
Little Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
and the Adam and Joe Show.
External links
- http://www.thebluetones.info/ The Bluetones' official website
- www.myspace.com/thebluetones The Bluetones' official MySpace
- www.bluetones.org.uk A Bluetones fan page