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It was early 2008 and The Wedding Present were in Chicago, recording their seventh album, El Rey. But they had also recently completed a successful ‘twentieth anniversary’ concert tour for their debut LP George Best and, having played that entire album dozens of times live, it was fresh in their minds and under their fingers.Visit product page →
So, after they’d wrapped up recording El Rey, David suggested they lay down a 'live' version of George Best in the same studio. After all, the equipment was already set up and the band were on fire. Steve Albini, with whom they were recording, initially wasn't too keen on the idea but David assured him it would be quick and easy.
Albini grudgingly caved. But David was right; it was quick... recorded live, more like an early Beatles LP or a Wedding Present Peel Session than a long drawn out modern recording with a bunch of overdubs and multi-tracked layering. One could almost imagine that this is the version of George Best that David would have liked to have recorded back in 1987.
It is just so well done... as you’d expect, of course, with Albini at the controls. But you can also feel David’s 20 years older self guiding the new recording with experience and confidence. Everything is bigger… the drums on the original recording were played live, but were done on a ‘Simmons’ electronic drum kit.
The combination of Albini’s recording and the ultra-talented Graeme Ramsay on ‘real’ drums brings these frantic songs to life. However, the real difference comes out in the way those super-fast, ever-jangly guitars sound… they’re warmer, they’re rockier, they’re more modern. More… Albini!
To round everything off with another contemporary twist, multi award-winning mixer/producer Andrew Scheps [last heard on The Wedding Present’s ground-breaking Going, Going... album] enthusiastically agreed to mix the finished recordings, having heard the original LP for the first time in his living room in Los Angeles in 2012, when he was mixing The Wedding Present’s eighth studio album, Valentina.
Tracklisting:
1. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft
2. What Did Your Last Servant Die Of?
3. Don't Be So Hard
4. A Million Miles
5. All This And More
6. My Favourite Dress
7. Shatner
8. Something And Nothing
9. It's What You Want That Matters
10. Give My Love To Kevin
11. Anyone Can Make A Mistake
12. You Can't Moan, Can You? -
The Wedding Present, recorded and filmed at the Atomic Café, Munich, on 24 October 2010. This double disc release includes both a CD and a DVD of the concert.Visit product page →
Of the original Bizarro release, Allmusic says: The Wedding Present's second proper studio album, Bizarro, cut down a bit on the frenetic jangle the band was known for in its early days and replaced it with healthy doses of darkness and power. Adding some fuzzy, crunchy distortion to give the guitars some hefty impact, slowing the tempos down to speeds that allow vocalist David Gedge to squeeze more heartbroken despair and bleak sarcasm out of every line, and generally upping their game in every way, the album was the fullest realization of The Wedding Present's sound yet.
Leading off with the unstoppably hooky Brassneck'which features a brilliant Gedge reading of lines that rhyme "grow up" and "throw up," the album plays like a collection of thematically related singles. The most single-y among them is Kennedy'which has some brilliant sing-along lyrics and an intensely dramatic guitar strum buildup that crescendos into a maelstrom of sound.
The rest of the record isn't far behind; whether it's the sparse What Have I Said Now?'or the slowly grinding Bewitched'one could extract any song and it would feel like a highlight - even the epic-length Take Me!'which closes the album in a fury of strums, drum fills, and chugging bass that builds and builds until it seems like the song is going to levitate and take the listener right along with it.
The Wedding Present didn't necessarily need to improve their already winning template, but they did and it pays off big time on Bizarro.
Tracklisting:
1. Heather
2. What Did Your Last Servant Die Of?
3. Interstate 5 [Dvd Only]
4. End Credits
5. Real Thing
6. Mystery Date
7. Brassneck
8. Crushed
9. No
10. Thanks
11. Kennedy
12. What Have I Said Now?
13. Granadaland
14. Bewitched
15. Take Me!
16. Be Honest
Release Date: 06/09/2019 -
In November 2007 The Wedding Present performed their classic debut album 'George Best' live, in its entirety, in Dublin, Ireland. The concert, which took place in front of a thrilled crowd at the city's Village'venue to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the LP, was recorded and filmed for posterity is now released for the first time here on DVD and CD.Visit product page →
The NME described George Best as 'an unmitigated delight' upon its release and included it in its 2014 list of 'The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.'
Allmusic says 'It would be nearly impossible to name the standout tracks, since... every tune is so solid.'
The album has achieved legendary status in the hearts and minds of alternative music fans everywhere. The band returns to Dublin on 17 June to perform George Best live once again... but this time it will be for the final time ever.
Tracklisting:
1. Blonde
2. Brassneck
3. Don't Take Me Home Until I'm Drunk
4. King's Cross
5. Convertible
6. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah [Extended Version]
7. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft
8. What Did Your Last Servant Die Of?
9. Don't Be So Hard
10. A Million Miles
11. All This And More
12. My Favourite Dress
13. Shatner
14. Something And Nothing
15. It's What You Want That Matters
16. Give My Love To Kevin
17. Anyone Can Make A Mistake
18. You Can't Moan, Can You?
19. Perfect Blue
20. Kennedy
21. Flying Saucer -
Sold outVisit product page →'LIVE 1990' collects the seventh and eighth of The Wedding Present's infamous 'live tapes'; cassettes that the band sold at shows and through their fanzine in the late 1980s. The recordings were unavailable anywhere else. Fans eagerly collected them and they became very rare.
This is the fourth in the series of these much-demanded, re-mastered recordings. 'Live 1990' is especially interesting because it includes a recording of The Wedding Present's first ever concert in North America. The live set at this time drew heavily from the band's recently released major label debut album, 'Bizarro' but there are also early versions of tracks that were to end up on Bizarro's critically acclaimed successor, 'Seamonsters.'
CD 1:
Hoboken Maxwell's 10th June 19901. Don't Talk, Just Kiss2. Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)3. Corduroy4. Kennedy5. I'm Not Always So Stupid6. Heather7. Brassneck8. Bewitched9. Take Me!10. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft11. Crawl12. What Have I Said Now?CD 2:
Kilburn National Ballroom 20th November 19901. Dalliance2. Don't Talk, Just Kiss3. Kennedy4. Crawl5. Heather6. Brassneck7. Corduroy8. Take Me!9. Bewitched10. Dare11. What Have I Said Now?12. I'm Not Always So Stupid13. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft14. Niagara -
Visit product page →The Wedding Present's 7th studio album.
1. Santa Ana Winds2. Spider-Man On Hollywood3. I Lost The Monkey4. Soup5. Palisades6. The Trouble With Men7. Model Actress Whatever8. Don't Take Me Home Until I'm Drunk9. The Thing I Like Best About Him Is His Girlfriend [Santa Monica And La Brea Version]10. Boo Boo11. Swingers -
Visit product page →At the time of its release in 2005, Take Fountain was the first Wedding Present album for nine years. David Gedge had spent the intervening period releasing recordings by Cinerama and you can certainly hear the influence of his 'other' group on this LP.
Take Fountain is as eloquent an emotional discourse as he has mustered [Mojo].
Fans have long since recognised Gedge as more poet than pop star. Like Byron without the marsh fever, Take Fountain confirms his status as an extraordinary songwriter [The Times].
Fountain, incidentally, is a main East to West avenue in Los Angeles. When an aspiring starlet asked the film-star Bette Davis for advice on "the best way to get into Hollywood", Ms Davis replied "Take Fountain!"
Tracklisting:
1. On Ramp2. Interstate 5 (Extended Version)3. Always The Quiet One4. I'm From Further North Than You5. Mars Sparkles Down On Me6. Ringway To Seatac7. Don't Touch That Dial (Pacific Northwest Version)8. It's For You9. Larry's10. Queen Anne11. Perfect Blue -
Release Date: 05/04/2024Visit product page →
Locked Down And Stripped Back Volume Two features home recordings of Wedding Present classics along with a previously unreleased song: ‘That Would Only Happen In A Movie’.
The first volume in the series came about when David Gedge’s annual festival At The Edge Of The Sea went ‘virtual’ in 2020 and the band recorded semi-acoustic versions of songs to be streamed. An album of the tracks was compiled and released due to popular demand.
The same thing happened the following year and so Volume Two features tracks initially recorded for 2021’s online festival. There’s a bevy of guest stars on this second album! Jon Stewart [of Platinum-album-selling Sleeper fame] reprises his new role as Wedding Present guitarist but is joined here by some Wedding Present members of old.
Peter Solowka, from the band’s first line-up appears on ‘Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm’ playing his second instrument, the accordion, while Hit Parade guitarist Paul Dorrington contributes to a re-working of the Top 30 single ‘Blue Eyes’. Long-time Wedding Present bass player Terry de Castro returns to infuse the album with her own unique style, while current Wedding Present bass player Melanie Howard takes over the lead vocal duties on a beautiful version of 1986’s ‘At The Edge Of The Sea’. Last, but certainly not least, Amelia Fletcher – backing vocalist on George Best and Bizarro – also returns to the party!
Tracklisting:
1. Brassneck
2. No
3. Careless
4. Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm
5. What Have I Said Now?
6. Perfect Blue
7. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft
8. That Would Only Happen In A Movie
9. At The Edge Of The Sea
10. Blue Eyes
11. Dare
12. Octopuss
As on the first volume, each musician recorded and filmed their parts at home and, as before, it is fascinating to see how stripped-back arrangements bring out different aspects of these brilliant songs.
Tracklisting:
1. Brassneck
2. No
3. Careless
4. Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm
5. What Have I Said Now?
6. Perfect Blue
7. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft
8. That Would Only Happen In A Movie
9. At The Edge Of The Sea
10. Blue Eyes
11. Dare
12. Octopuss -
Visit product page →A double CD featuring two live concerts from 1987. These recordings were the first two releases in the band's bootleg cassette series. With new sleeve notes by the original drummer (Shaun Charman).
CD 1:
Leicester Polytechnic (5th May 1987)1. This Boy Can Wait2. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft3. All This And More4. A Million Miles5. You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends6. Anyone Can Make A Mistake7. Something And Nothing8. It's What You Want That Matters9. My Favourite Dress10. Never Said11. Give My Love To Kevin12. Go Out And Get 'Em Boy!13. Getting Nowhere Fast14. Once MoreCD 2:
München Alabama - Halle (22nd November 1987)1. Never Said2. Don't Be So Hard3. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft4. Once More5. Nobody's Twisting Your Arm6. This Boy Can Wait7. A Million Miles8. I'm Not Always So Stupid9. Anyone Can Make A Mistake10. It's What You Want That Matters11. What Did Your Last Servant Die Of?12. Give My Love To Kevin13. Shatner14. My Favourite Dress15. You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends16. Felicity17. It's Not Unusual18. Getting Nowhere Fast -
Sold outVisit product page →This is the second in the series of these much-demanded, re-mastered recordings. 'Live 1987² was released in 2007 to popular acclaim. 'Live 1988² is especially interesting because it includes some early versions of tracks that went on to appear on their major label debut, 'Bizarro'.
CD 1:
Rotterdam 30th March 19881. Introduction2. You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends3. Never Said4. What Did Your Last Servant Die Of?5. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft6. Not From Where I'm Standing7. This Boy Can Wait8. A Million Miles9. Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now?10. Don't Be So Hard11. Nothing Comes Easy12. Anyone Can Make A Mistake13. I'm Not Always So Stupid14. Nobody's Twisting Your ArmCD 2:
Valencia Arena 18th November 19881. Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now?2. This Boy Can Wait3. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft4. Kennedy5. What Did Your Last Servant Die Of?6. No7. Anyone Can Make A Mistake8. Give My Love To Kevin9. Be Honest10. I'm Not Always So Stupid11. Nobody's Twisting Your Arm12. Take Me! -
Visit product page →This is the third in the series of these much-demanded, re-mastered recordings. 'Live 1987² was released in 2007 and 'Live 1988² was released earlier this year, both to popular acclaim. 'Live 1989² is especially interesting because it includes some early versions of tracks that went on to appear on the band's major label debut, 'Bizarro'.
This year the band are celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the release of Bizarro by playing the album live. One of the discs also features The Wedding Present in 'Ukrainian' style, as they perform their versions of Ukrainian folk music.
CD 1:
Manchester Middleton Civic Hall - 30th April 19891. Katrusya2. Davni Chasy3. Sertsem I Dusheyu4. Oi Divchino5. Vasya Vasyliok6. Hude Dnipro Hude7. Zavtra Ya Buda Did Nesom Chuzin8. Buv Holodin, Konya Vrkraw9. Vesna10. Tiutiunyk11. Cherez Richku, Cherez Hai12. Svitit Misyats13. Hopak14. VerkhovynoCD 2:
Frankfurt Batschkapp - 3rd December 19891. Brassneck2. Don't Talk, Just Kiss3. Kennedy4. Granadaland5. Bewitched6. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft7. I'm Not Always So Stupid8. Crushed9. Gone10. Give My Love To Kevin11. My Favourite Dress12. Take Me!13. What Have I Said Now? -
Sold outVisit product page →'LIVE 1991' collects the ninth and tenth of The Wedding Present's infamous 'live tapes' - cassettes that the band sold at concerts and through their fanzine in the 80s & 90s. The recordings were unavailable anywhere else. Fans eagerly collected them and they became very rare.
This is the fifth in the series of these much-demanded and beautifully mastered CD re-releases - Lives 1987, 1988, 1989 & 1990 have all been graciously received by the press and public.
'Live 1991' includes mixing-desk recordings of Wedding Present concerts in Sweden and their home county of Yorkshire. The live set at this time drew heavily from the band's recently released and critically acclaimed third album, 'Seamonsters.'
Tracklisting:
Wakefield Rooftop Gardens 28th August 1991:1. Lovenest2. Dalliance3. Blue Eyes4. Suck5. Kennedy6. Blonde7. Crawl8. Come Play With Me9. Corduroy10. Dare11. Carolyn12. California13. Heather
Uppsala Barowiak 13th November 1991:1. Dalliance2. Go Go Dancer3. Corduroy4. Crawl5. Heather6. Rotterdam7. Brassneck8. Come Play With Me9. Blonde10. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft11. Silver Shorts12. Suck13. Lovenest14. Blue Eyes15. Dare16. Octopussy -
'LIVE 1992' takes the eleventh of The Wedding Present's infamous 'live tapes' - cassettes that the band sold at concerts and through their fanzine in the 80s & 90s ' and pairs it with a previously unreleased live recording. The Wedding Present's 'live tapes' were unavailable anywhere else. Fans eagerly collected them and they became very rare.Visit product page →
This is the sixth in the series of Scopitones' much-demanded and beautifully mastered CD re-releases - Lives 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 & 1991 have all been graciously received by the press and the band's loyal record buying public.
'Live 1992' includes mixing-desk recordings of Wedding Present concerts in The Netherlands and at Brixton Academy in London and contains 38 tracks.
The live set at this time drew heavily from The Wedding Present's critically acclaimed 'Hit Parade' series where the band released a single a month throughout 1992, equalling Elvis Presley's 1957 record of twelve hits in a year.
?Den Haag Paard 30th October 1992
1. Boing!2. Go Go Dancer3. Lovenest4. Three5. Blue Eyes6. Blonde7. Kennedy8. Suck9. Loveslave10. Silver Shorts11. The Queen Of Outer Space12. Bewitched13. Crawl14. Heather15. Sticky16. Come Play With Me17. Brassneck18. Corduroy19. Dare20. Dalliance21. Flying SaucerLondon Brixton Academy 12th December 19921. Dalliance2. Dare3. Boing!4. Three5. Blue Eyes6. Crawl7. Come Play With Me8. Sticky9. Heather10. Blonde11. Loveslave12. Silver Shorts13. The Queen Of Outer Space14. Suck15. Corduroy16. Lovenest17. Flying Saucer -
Sold outSearch For Paradise, released in 2006, collects the three singles and accompanying B-sides from the critically acclaimed Take Fountain album [which was released the preceding year] together with previously unreleased acoustic versions of the A-sides and a pop remix by the German group Klee.Visit product page →
It comes with a bonus DVD of the videos that were made for the singles and the stand out album track "Don't Touch That Dial", plus a three minute film made for an acoustic live version of "Perfect Blue" with bonus "behind the scenes" footage.
CD:1. Interstate 52. Bad Thing3. Snapshots4. I'm From Further North Than You5. Rekindling6. The Girl With The Curious Smile7. Nickels And Dimes8. I'm From Further North Than You (Klee Remix)9. Ringway To Seatac10. Shivers11. American Tan12. Interstate 5 (Acoustic Version)13. I'm From Further North Than You (Acoustic Version)14. Ringway To Seatac (Acoustic Version)DVD:1. Don't Touch That Dial2. Interstate 53. I'm From Further North Than You4. Ringway To Seatac5. Perfect Blue (Live Acoustic Version)6. Filming Furrther North7. I5 Outtakes8. Making Of Seatac
