The first four singles released on Nude Records back in 1992 and 1993 consisted of three by Suede and one by The Jennifers. I can't vouch for the offering by the latter, but I do know that all nine tracks by the former are up there with the best things they ever recorded:-
mp3 : Suede - The Drowners
mp3 : Suede - To The Birds
mp3 : Suede - My Insatiable One
Released in May 1992, the debut didn't do as well as many in the music press had predicted, stalling at #49. Daytime radio just weren't sure how The Drowners fitted it. It wasn't pop. It wasn't indie. It wasn't rock. It certainly wasn't the catchiest song out there. Arguably, the lead track wasn't even the best of the three songs on the single.....but as an introduction to a new group, this was up there with the best of them.
mp3 : Suede - Metal Mickey
mp3 : Suede - Where The Pigs Don't Fly
mp3 : Suede - He's Dead
Four months later. Loads more great press including an endorsement by Morrissey - although given his lack of credibility in the mid 90s it could easily have been the kiss of death. Daytime radio got it this time helpe by Metal Mickey being far catchier than the debut and so it reached #17. Boys and girls all over the UK fell in love with Brett Anderson. Indie-kids who loved their guitars began to think Bernard Butler could be the new Johnny Marr...
mp3 : Suede - Animal Nitrate
mp3 : Suede - Painted People
mp3 : Suede - The Big Time
Fast forward to February 1993. A triumphant UK autumn tour including what I'm told was one of the best ever gigs at King Tut's in Glasgow - I couldn't get my hands on a ticket. The third single is released and the buzz is all about how amazing the LP is going to be. In just eight months and on the back of just six released songs, Suede are tipped as THE band to watch in 1993. Animal Nitrate is a tremendous leap forward. It's indie-glam-pop rolled into one and it sounds perfect on daytime radio. It reaches #7. One slight grumble....the b-sides aren't quote up to the very high standards of the previous efforts, but that would have been almost beyond belief.
I saw Suede at the now demolished Plaza Ballroom in Glasgow on 1 April 1993. It was a fantastic night. They sounded and looked sensational. It was just a couple of days after the self-titled debut LP hit the shops. It was such a good gig that the LP, other than the three singles, sounded limp in comparison.
Listening again now that was a very harsh judgement, but it's one that having been handed down made it impossible for Suede to feature in the 50 LPs rundown. Today's post is my way of saying sorry.
And here's a wee bonus track. The band's contribution to the 1992 NME LP Ruby Trax:-
mp3 : Suede - Brass In Pocket
They were certainly special in those early days.
5 comments:
I saw them ten days later, at The Event (as was) in Brighton. An outstanding night. I remember they had a cameraman filming the t-shirts of the people in the queue outside. Wonder what became of that footage?
That blog title'll get you some 'interesting' traffic...
spooky - just done a post on the debut lp for my desert island discs
You know,I'm always pleasantly surprised when I go back and listen to Suede (and even Brett Anderson's solo stuff). I think that they are one of the few bands that have sounds that stand the test of time. Always a pleasure to hear them.
The Jennifers were Gaz Coombs first band, before he went on to form Supergrass. If you have the single you're quids in.
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