I cannot believe that it is 30 years since the earliest releases of what would become Britpop came out. Yes, that period of the mid-90s where British bands seems to embraced the British music scenes of the late 60s, punk and glam rock vides of the 70s and even some indie influences of the 80s. This was where Cool Britannia became a thing and lad culture came to the fore. Women also got in on the act for those of you who remember The Girlie Show. Ah Britpop, the soundtrack to my university days and what days they were. I had never been into a current music scene before as I had always been looking backwards to the 60s and 70s for my musical fix. However, I was all over Britpop in a way I had not been before, and as it would turn out, since.
Like any other music scene, it is difficult to pinpoint what the first release was. For me, the first of the so called Britpop bands I heard was Suede, even though it was only through the music press than their music. After hearing ‘Animal Nitrate’ and ‘So Young’ on the radio, I was hooked in and the first album was duly bought. It was also during this time that the infamous Channel 4 programme The Word was broadcast and through that show, I was introduced to the bands that would soundtrack the next three to four years of my life. Oasis, Supergrass and the more obscure Thrum were just some of the bands I heard there and went out the next day to buy their records. The time most associated with Britpop are between 1994 to 1997 and I have plundered these key years to produce a series of compilations, with this being the first.
What is interesting about this movement is that it wasn’t really a movement the acts mostly associated with it wanted to be associated with. Three out of the so called big of Britpop bands have always maintained that they had nothing to do with it. Those bands being Blur, Oasis, Pulp and Suede. It also did not have much of a signature sound with the bands involved taking cues from so many periods in British music. However, one thing that the majority of he bands had was that they were guitar based.
Those eagle eyed of you will notice that there are a number of these artist that would not normally appear on a Britpop complication. Well, you would be correct but the title of the CDs give this away. It is The Britpop Years, not just Britpop. Therefore, American bands such as the Foo Fighters, Smoking Popes and The Presidents Of The United States Of America make an appearance. Bands who would normally be classed as being from the more dance or trip hop music such Massive Attack or Portishead are here. There is even the odd interloper from 1993 and 1998. This isn’t just about Britpop. This is about the Britpop Years, the soundtrack to my time at university and the memories this music brings back.
So, this year I will be presenting a number of Britpop themed compilations, lost albums as well as my usual content.
Disc 1
- Yes – McAlmont & Butler
- Girl From Mars – Ash
- Place Your Hands – Reef
- Nancy Boy – Placebo
- Breathe – The Prodigy
- Scooby Snacks – Fun Lovin’ Crimnals
- Wide Open Space – Mansun
- Wonderwall – Oasis
- One To Another – The Charlatans (UK)
- Never Here – Elastica
- Novocaine For The Soul – Eels
- Richard III – Supergrass
- Hey Dude – Kula Shaker
- You’ve Got A Lot To Answer For – Catatonia
- Sparky’s Dream – Teenage Fanclub
- Good Enough – Dodgy
- Great Things – Echobelly
- Nice Guy Eddie – Sleeper
- Ladykillers – Lush
- Love Spreads – The Stone Roses
- Stardust – Menswear
Disc 2
- Miss Sarajevo – Passengers
- Life In Mono (Album Version) – Mono
- To The End – Blur & Francoise Hardy
- Nothing More’s Gonna Get In My Way – Supergrass
- Waking Up – Elastica
- What Do I Do Now? – Sleeper
- What Do You Want From Me? – Monaco
- The Riverboat Song – Ocean Colour Scene
- Acquiesce – Oasis
- Your Woman – White Town
- Do You Remember The First Time? – Pulp
- Just When You’re Thinking Things Over – The Charlatans (UK)
- Ready To Go – Republica
- You & Me Song – The Wannadies
- Love Fool – The Cardigans
- Stripper Vicar – Mansun
- Goldfinger – Ash
- Stars – Dubstar
- Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From – Teenage Fanclub