Dizzy Heights
Encyclopedia
Dizzy Heights was The Lightning Seeds' fourth studio album, released in 1996, and reached #11 in the UK Albums Chart
. It was re-issued in Sony Mid Price range in August 1999.
studio, a barge on the River Thames Ian Broudie
had rented from Pete Townshend
of The Who
. Work on the album was halted midway through 1996 so Broudie could concentrate on Three Lions
, which the Football Association had approached him to write, in time for Euro '96.
According to Broudie, the album was recorded in two 'sections' - one with the band utilising live drums and bass guitar, the other using loops and samplers produced by Broudie.
criticised the clichéd and unimaginative nature of tracks such as "Imaginary Friends", blasting "Fingers and Thumbs" and the 'flimsy' "Wishaway" as borrowing too heavily from the Beatles
. Billboard's Jonathan Cohen was equally as critical of "Wishaway" and "Touch and Go" on his website Nude as the News, claiming the album is "sucked into a netherworld of redundant riffs". Special criticism is reserved for "Sugar Coated Iceberg" which, according to Cohen, is ruined by "cornball" synth programming, and although "Ready or Not" and "Imaginary Friends" are praised, the album as a whole is described as "un-original".
The Spectator's Marcus Berkmann was slightly more praising of Dizzy Heights and indeed the first five Lightning Seeds albums, albeit in retrospect, in his 2006 article 'Seeds of Joy'. Steven Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide is also largely praising of the album, stating that a number of "terrific moments" "keep Broudie's reputation as a pop craftsman intact".
" and Wire
's "Outdoor Miner". It reached #20 in the UK charts
. The single version differs from that found as the penultimate track on the album.
"What If..." was released October 1996 in the UK. It peaked at #14 in the charts and, continuing in the vein of the previous single, included a cover of The Beach Boys' "Here Today" as a cassette-only B-side. The single's title track, co-written by Terry Hall
and Broudie, featured a poppy sound reminiscent of The Turtles
' "Happy Together
". The song is regarded as a stand-out track of the album by Broudie himself, who cites The Beach Boys and The Turtles as influences behind the song.
"Sugar Coated Iceberg" was co-written with Stephen Jones
of Babybird
, who Broudie admired as a contemporary songwriter partially due to the sense of humour exhibited in his lyrics. On hearing "You're Gorgeous
" and "Too Handsome To Be Homeless" played live, Broudie suggested to Jones that it would be "great to get together and write a song". According to Broudie, the words were written around the title, coming from the concept of a sugar-coated iceberg.
"You Showed Me", a cover of the Turtles song and the fourth single from Dizzy Heights, was originally intended to be a B-side to "What If..." but it was decided by the band that the produced version was good enough to be on the LP. Coming together relatively quickly, the track utilised loops and samplers from the Turtles original, "going back to machines" as Broudie put it. The song was to be The Lightning Seeds' most successful chart release (not including the two versions of "Three Lions
", co-written with Frank Skinner
and David Baddiel
) reaching #8 in the UK. By the time the song was released as a single, drummer Chris Sharrock had left the band to join Robbie Williams
' backing group, and new percussionist Zak Starkey
took his place in the video.
All single releases featured on the band's 1997 greatest hits
compilation, Like You Do
, along with a re-recorded version of "Waiting for Today to Happen". The four single tracks can also be found on 2006 compilation The Very Best Of
.
bassist Nicky Wire
. "Touch and Go" and "Like You Do" are quoted by Broudie as being placed 'in a line' with "The Life of Riley
" and "Pure" as being semi-autobiographical, which he cites along with a number of other songs from previous albums as feeling like 'one big song' to him. "Like You Do" would provide the title of the band's 1997 greatest hits compilation though the song did not appear on the collection itself. The album closes with "Fishes on the Line" which contains lyrics bordering on the surreal and an anthemic guitar outro.
(except where stated).
Production
Additional musicians
Other personnel
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...
. It was re-issued in Sony Mid Price range in August 1999.
Writing and recording
Dizzy Heights was recorded at the Eel Pie IslandEel Pie Island
Eel Pie Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Twickenham, in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London. It is situated on the Tideway and can be reached only by footbridge or boat...
studio, a barge on the River Thames Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie is a British singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from Liverpool, England. After emerging from the post punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to form the short-lived groups Original Mirrors and Care in the early 1980s as well...
had rented from Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. Work on the album was halted midway through 1996 so Broudie could concentrate on Three Lions
Three Lions
"Three Lions" is a song released in 1996, the official anthem of the England football team for that year's European Championships, held in England...
, which the Football Association had approached him to write, in time for Euro '96.
According to Broudie, the album was recorded in two 'sections' - one with the band utilising live drums and bass guitar, the other using loops and samplers produced by Broudie.
Release and reception
Andy Gill of The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
criticised the clichéd and unimaginative nature of tracks such as "Imaginary Friends", blasting "Fingers and Thumbs" and the 'flimsy' "Wishaway" as borrowing too heavily from the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Billboard's Jonathan Cohen was equally as critical of "Wishaway" and "Touch and Go" on his website Nude as the News, claiming the album is "sucked into a netherworld of redundant riffs". Special criticism is reserved for "Sugar Coated Iceberg" which, according to Cohen, is ruined by "cornball" synth programming, and although "Ready or Not" and "Imaginary Friends" are praised, the album as a whole is described as "un-original".
The Spectator's Marcus Berkmann was slightly more praising of Dizzy Heights and indeed the first five Lightning Seeds albums, albeit in retrospect, in his 2006 article 'Seeds of Joy'. Steven Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide is also largely praising of the album, stating that a number of "terrific moments" "keep Broudie's reputation as a pop craftsman intact".
Singles
The first single to be released from the album was "Ready or Not", which featured B-side covers of "Another Girl, Another PlanetAnother Girl, Another Planet
In December 2004 Blink-182 recorded a cover of this song for the opening track of Travis Barker's MTV reality show Meet the Barkers. It was later released in 2005 on their Greatest Hits album...
" and Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
's "Outdoor Miner". It reached #20 in the UK charts
UK 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 ...
. The single version differs from that found as the penultimate track on the album.
"What If..." was released October 1996 in the UK. It peaked at #14 in the charts and, continuing in the vein of the previous single, included a cover of The Beach Boys' "Here Today" as a cassette-only B-side. The single's title track, co-written by Terry Hall
Terry Hall (singer)
Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
and Broudie, featured a poppy sound reminiscent of The Turtles
The Turtles
The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
' "Happy Together
Happy Together (song)
"Happy Together" is a 1967 song from The Turtles' album of the same name. Released in February 1967, the song knocked The Beatles' "Penny Lane" out of the #1 slot for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the group's only chart-topper. "Happy Together" reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart in...
". The song is regarded as a stand-out track of the album by Broudie himself, who cites The Beach Boys and The Turtles as influences behind the song.
"Sugar Coated Iceberg" was co-written with Stephen Jones
Stephen Jones (Baby Bird)
Stephen Jones is an English musician and novelist.- Lo-fi period :After studying at Nottingham Trent University, Jones became involved with an experimental theatre company, Dogs in Honey, in Sheffield in the late 1980s, writing songs for productions.By 1994, Jones had written over 400 songs and...
of Babybird
Babybird
Babybird are a British indie band formed in 1995. The band is fronted by Stephen Jones, who has also released records as a solo artist, using his own name.-Career:Jones had begun...
, who Broudie admired as a contemporary songwriter partially due to the sense of humour exhibited in his lyrics. On hearing "You're Gorgeous
You're Gorgeous
You're Gorgeous is a song by the British band Babybird released as a commercial single in 1996.- Reception :The song remains Babybird's biggest hit and the track that the band are best known for...
" and "Too Handsome To Be Homeless" played live, Broudie suggested to Jones that it would be "great to get together and write a song". According to Broudie, the words were written around the title, coming from the concept of a sugar-coated iceberg.
"You Showed Me", a cover of the Turtles song and the fourth single from Dizzy Heights, was originally intended to be a B-side to "What If..." but it was decided by the band that the produced version was good enough to be on the LP. Coming together relatively quickly, the track utilised loops and samplers from the Turtles original, "going back to machines" as Broudie put it. The song was to be The Lightning Seeds' most successful chart release (not including the two versions of "Three Lions
Three Lions
"Three Lions" is a song released in 1996, the official anthem of the England football team for that year's European Championships, held in England...
", co-written with Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is a British writer, comedian and actor. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."He is a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.-Youth and early career...
and David Baddiel
David Baddiel
David Lionel Baddiel is an English comedian, novelist and television presenter.-Early life:Baddiel was born in New York, and moved to England when he was four months old. His father, Colin Brian Baddiel, was a Welsh research chemist with Unilever before being made redundant in the 1980s, after...
) reaching #8 in the UK. By the time the song was released as a single, drummer Chris Sharrock had left the band to join Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
' backing group, and new percussionist Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey is an English rock drummer. He is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Starr's first wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett. He is also well known for his unofficial membership in the English rock band The Who, with whom he has performed and recorded since 1996. He is also the third...
took his place in the video.
All single releases featured on the band's 1997 greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation, Like You Do
Like You Do... Best of the Lightning Seeds
Like You Do... Best of The Lightning Seeds is the first official greatest hits album from The Lightning Seeds released on November 10, 1997...
, along with a re-recorded version of "Waiting for Today to Happen". The four single tracks can also be found on 2006 compilation The Very Best Of
The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds
The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds is the second official greatest hits album, released on 12 June 2006 since Like You Do... Best of The Lightning Seeds, released in 1997.-Release and reception:-Track listing:...
.
Non-single tracks
The album opens with "Imaginary Friends", a tongue-in-cheek comment on modern society and moves into a more acoustic mode in "Waiting for Today to Happen", a track written by Broudie in collaboration with Manic Street PreachersManic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
bassist Nicky Wire
Nicky Wire
Nicholas Allen Jones, known as Nicky Wire, is the lyricist, bassist and occasional vocalist with the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.-Early life:...
. "Touch and Go" and "Like You Do" are quoted by Broudie as being placed 'in a line' with "The Life of Riley
The Life of Riley (song)
"The Life of Riley" is a pop song by the British band The Lightning Seeds. It was released in 1992 with the album Sense.The song was a minor hit when it was first released in March 1992, reaching number 28 on the UK Singles Chart...
" and "Pure" as being semi-autobiographical, which he cites along with a number of other songs from previous albums as feeling like 'one big song' to him. "Like You Do" would provide the title of the band's 1997 greatest hits compilation though the song did not appear on the collection itself. The album closes with "Fishes on the Line" which contains lyrics bordering on the surreal and an anthemic guitar outro.
Track listing
All songs written by Ian BroudieIan Broudie
Ian Broudie is a British singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from Liverpool, England. After emerging from the post punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to form the short-lived groups Original Mirrors and Care in the early 1980s as well...
(except where stated).
- "Imaginary Friends" – 2:44 (Broudie/Terry HallTerry Hall (singer)Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
) - "You Bet Your Life" – 3:34
- "Waiting For Today To Happen" – 3:34 (Broudie/Nicky WireNicky WireNicholas Allen Jones, known as Nicky Wire, is the lyricist, bassist and occasional vocalist with the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.-Early life:...
) - "What If..." – 3:23 (Broudie/Hall)
- "Sugar Coated Iceberg" – 3:53 (Broudie/Stephen JonesStephen Jones (Baby Bird)Stephen Jones is an English musician and novelist.- Lo-fi period :After studying at Nottingham Trent University, Jones became involved with an experimental theatre company, Dogs in Honey, in Sheffield in the late 1980s, writing songs for productions.By 1994, Jones had written over 400 songs and...
) - "Touch and Go" – 3:53
- "Like You Do" – 3:23 (Broudie/Hall)
- "Wishaway" – 3:17
- "Fingers and Thumbs" – 3:21
- "You Showed MeYou Showed Me"You Showed Me" is a song written by Jim McGuinn and Gene Clark of The Byrds in 1964. It was recorded by The Turtles and released as a single in 1969, becoming the group's last big hit in the U.S. The song has also been covered by a number of other bands and artists over the years, including The...
" – 4:08 (Gene ClarkGene ClarkGene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
/Roger McGuinnRoger McGuinnJames Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
) - "Ready or Not" – 3:50
- "Fishes on the Line" – 3:54
Personnel
The Lightning Seeds- Ian BroudieIan BroudieIan Broudie is a British singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from Liverpool, England. After emerging from the post punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to form the short-lived groups Original Mirrors and Care in the early 1980s as well...
– vocals, guitar, producer - Simon RogersSimon RogersSimon Rogers is a British musician and composer, notable for his chart success both as a musician and as a producer as well as for his considerable portfolio of television soundtrack work.-Biography:...
– keyboards, programming, producer - Martyn CampbellMartyn CampbellMartyn Campbell is an English bass guitarist from Liverpool, England. He is best known for his work with Rain, The Lightning Seeds, Richard Ashcroft, Wah! and Terry Hall...
– bass, backing vocals - Angie Pollack – backing vocals
- Chris SharrockChris SharrockChris Sharrock is an English drummer from Bebington, Merseyside, England who has a long history of being an official member of many noted British bands, including The Icicle Works, The La's, The Wild Swans, World Party, The Lightning Seeds, The Robbie Williams Band, Oasis, and Beady...
– drums
Production
- Dave Bascombe – producer, mixing
- Cenzo Townshend – engineer
- John GreyJohn Grey-14th and 15th centuries:*Sir John de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Rotherfield , founding member and 14th Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1348*John de Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Rotherfield , 2nd Baron Grey of Rotherfield...
– engineer - Kenny Patterson – engineer
Additional musicians
- Clive Layton – Hammond organ, piano
- Terry HallTerry Hall (singer)Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
– backing vocals - Carl Brown – backing vocals
- Paul Roberts – backing vocals
Other personnel
- Mark FarrowMark FarrowMark Farrow was named Designer of the Year in the Creative Review Peer Poll in 2004, voting him ‘the most important graphic designer working today’. His career began in the early 1980s designing experimental sleeves and posters for Factory Records, and The Haçienda, which placed him at the...
– design - John Ross – photography
Charts
| Charts (1996–1997) | Peak chart position |
|---|---|
| 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... |
11 |
Singles
| Release date | Single | Peak UK 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 ... |
|---|---|---|
| 26 February 1996 | "Ready or Not" | #20 |
| 21 October 1996 | "What If..." | #14 |
| 6 January 1997 | "Sugar Coated Iceberg" | #12 |
| 14 April 1997 | "You Showed Me" | #8 |
Certifications
- United KingdomUnited KingdomThe 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...
(BPIBritish Phonographic IndustryThe British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
): Silver, Gold (1 January 1997)