Conference marvin::uk_music

    Friends who live in Hull sent me a xmas present: a cd by a band
    called "The Beautiful South". Title of the cd "Choke". I have never
    been a big "Housemartins" fan, but I quite like this new cd. So
    back to work I scanned the UK_MUSIC conference to join some discussion
    but the notes about Housemartins and The Beautiful South seem to be
    quite dead....                                          
    
    Fel!x ;-}
    

    
    Hi Fel!x,
    
    I got the Choke album just before Christmas and I like it too.  Some of
    the songs do sort of remind me of the Housemartins but I liked them too
    anyway, so what the hell.
    
    I think the album has been discussed in other notes as well, just not
    this one.
    
    Paul

    The 1st album was one of my favourites of last year.  Really worth
    buying.
    
    
    matty

    Paul,
    do you know in which notes there is a discussion about "Choke"?
    I would like to know more about the band... does anybody know about
    the musical past of the band members?  
    
    By the way, my favourite tracks are probably "I should 've kept my eyes
    shut" and "I have come for my award".
                         
    fel!x.
    
    

I'm another Beautiful South fan. I liked the Housemartins, I liked the 
Smiths and the BS is sort of a cross between the two. The dark lyrics 
with poppy sounds, strong harmonies and tight arrangements. 

I saw them last month at the Glasgow Barrowlands, and they also put on 
a nice concert. The six regular members (Paul Heaton, David Stead,
David Rotheray, Dave Hemingway, Sean Welch, and Briana Corrigan) were
joined by three brass players and they did a full range from both 
albums. Still very tight, wonderful vocals, good dancing and 
bouncier/driving rhythms which were quite danceable (especially Woman 
in the wall, You keep it all in, and What you see is what you get).

The two albums' track listings:

Welcome to the Beautiful South
------------------------------
Song for Whoever		You keep it all in
Have you ever been away?	Woman in the wall
From under the covers		Oh Blackpool
I'll sail this ship alone	Love is...
Girlfriend			I love you (but you're boring)
Straight in at 37

Choke
-----
Tonight I fancy myself		Lips
My book				I think the answer's yes
Let love speak up itself	A little time
Should've kept my eyes shut	Mother's pride
I've come for my award		I hate you (but you're interesting)
				The rising of Grafton street

 In addition, the 12"es have tracks not on either album

Song for whoever  b/w Straight in at 37 and You and your big ideas
You keep it all in and You Can't smile it away b/w I love you (but 
	you're boring) and an Instrumental
A little time b/w In other words I hate you and What you see is what 
	you get
My Book and Big Beautiful South b/w Bigger doesn'y mean better and 
	Speak to me	 

I don't have the 12" for I'll sail this ship alone which was their 
other single release.

    
    I have also got the two CDs "Welcome.." and "Choke". Are they really
    a Hull band ?                                        
         
    fel!x                                          
                                               

   I discovered yesterday that the song my local radio station have
   been playing constantly, and which I really like, is My Book by
   The Beautiful South.  Excellent song.

    Re:-1, Shame it didn't chart.
    
    RE:-2, What wrong with Hull???
    
    matty

    RE .8
    
    matty, nothing wrong at all with Hull - my wife is from Hull, so
    Hull is one of the English places I know best (I am Swiss and live
    in Switzerland). Actually, I got my first Beautiful South cd from
    friends who live in Hull.  
          
    felix.
                                  
                                                                                          

    Please don't judge England on Hull ;-)
    
    matty

    No, I don't judge Hull on England.
    
    felix

    
    Obviously music travels slowly.  There is a local English radio station
    here (Riviera Radio) that has started to play the song I now believe to
    be "My Book" often enough for me to think it must have just been
    released as a single.  A great song and it has been frustrating me the
    last week to actually find out who did it.  
    
    Although the vocals sounded strangely familiar I'd never heard of
    the Beautiful South and started to wonder if I'd heard the name right.  
    At least this note has confirmed it!
    
    Andy
      

    Riviera Radio - what a great station!!!  Remember to carry a radio when
    you leave harbour, advice I'll never forget...:-)
    
    Mikef

    Any news about THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH? are they touring? new album soon?
    do they still exist?
    
    Swissfelix 
    (far away from the Beautiful North, but soon on holiday in Yorkshire)