Second Coming (album)
Encyclopedia
Second Coming is the second studio album by The Stone Roses
, released through Geffen Records
on 5 December 1994 in the UK and in early 1995 in the US. It was recorded at Forge Studios in Oswestry
, Shropshire
and Rockfield Studios
near Monmouth
in Wales between 1992 and 1994. It went platinum in the UK and sold 1 million copies worldwide and was dedicated to Philip Hall, the band's publicist, who died of cancer in 1993. On cassette tape and vinyl record record format, it was released as a double album
. Second Coming would be the Stone Roses' final studio album before splitting up in 1996 and eventually reuniting in 2011.
four-piece, it suffered greatly at the time from the sheer weight of expectation generated by both the 5½ year gap between it and the band's eponymous debut
, and the band's withdrawal from the live arena for 4½ of those years. In addition, The Stone Roses made their return in a changed musical environment, with the UK newly-ensconced in Britpop
with Blur
and Oasis
as the premier rock bands of the day. The album reached number 4 in the UK Album Chart.
Second Coming features tribal rhythms, 1970s-style extended guitar riffs, funky rock/blues numbers with jazz elements and campfire style songs such as "Your Star Will Shine" and "Tightrope" that hint at the band's rural surroundings at the time (the band moved to Wales to make the album). As the line-up began to crumble, three singles ("Love Spreads
", "Ten Storey Love Song
", and "Begging You
") from the album were released in the UK.
, except where noted.
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, released through Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
on 5 December 1994 in the UK and in early 1995 in the US. It was recorded at Forge Studios in Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
and Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
near Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
in Wales between 1992 and 1994. It went platinum in the UK and sold 1 million copies worldwide and was dedicated to Philip Hall, the band's publicist, who died of cancer in 1993. On cassette tape and vinyl record record format, it was released as a double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
. Second Coming would be the Stone Roses' final studio album before splitting up in 1996 and eventually reuniting in 2011.
Reception
The second album by the influential ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
four-piece, it suffered greatly at the time from the sheer weight of expectation generated by both the 5½ year gap between it and the band's eponymous debut
The Stone Roses (album)
The Stone Roses is the debut album by English rock band The Stone Roses, released on Silvertone Records in 1989. It cemented the band's reputation among critics, and is still rated by some as one of the most important albums ever...
, and the band's withdrawal from the live arena for 4½ of those years. In addition, The Stone Roses made their return in a changed musical environment, with the UK newly-ensconced in Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
with Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
and Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
as the premier rock bands of the day. The album reached number 4 in the UK Album Chart.
Second Coming features tribal rhythms, 1970s-style extended guitar riffs, funky rock/blues numbers with jazz elements and campfire style songs such as "Your Star Will Shine" and "Tightrope" that hint at the band's rural surroundings at the time (the band moved to Wales to make the album). As the line-up began to crumble, three singles ("Love Spreads
Love Spreads
"Love Spreads" is a song by The Stone Roses, released in November 1994 as the first single from their second album Second Coming. The record was a number two hit in the UK, the highest peak for any song by the band, as well as the only Stone Roses song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, charting at...
", "Ten Storey Love Song
Ten Storey Love Song
"Ten Storey Love Song" is a The Stone Roses single released in March 1995. It was written by guitarist John Squire.It reached number 11 and spent three weeks in the UK Singles Chart. The B-sides "Moses" and "Ride On" were the last new recordings released by the group.A music video accompanied the...
", and "Begging You
Begging You
"Begging You" is a song by The Stone Roses, released as the final single before their break-up a year later, and was the third single from the album Second Coming. "Begging You" was released in the UK and Australia, peaking at #15 on the UK Singles Chart....
") from the album were released in the UK.
Track listing
All songs were written by John SquireJohn Squire
John Thomas Squire is an English musician, songwriter and artist.Squire is best known as the guitarist for The Stone Roses, a rock band in which he formed a songwriting partnership with lead singer Ian Brown. After leaving The Stone Roses he went on to found The Seahorses and has since released...
, except where noted.
- "Breaking into Heaven" – 11:21
- "Driving South" – 5:09
- "Ten Storey Love SongTen Storey Love Song"Ten Storey Love Song" is a The Stone Roses single released in March 1995. It was written by guitarist John Squire.It reached number 11 and spent three weeks in the UK Singles Chart. The B-sides "Moses" and "Ride On" were the last new recordings released by the group.A music video accompanied the...
" – 4:29 - "Daybreak" (Ian BrownIan BrownIan George Brown is an English musician, best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Stone Roses, which broke up in 1996 but are confirmed to reunite in 2012. Since the break-up of the Stone Roses he has pursued a solo career...
, Gary MounfieldGary MounfieldGary Manny "Mani" Mounfield , is an English rock bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. He has a distinctive playing style that combines a fast moving rock style with a dance rhythm or dub groove...
, Squire, Alan WrenAlan WrenAlan John Wren , better known as Reni, is the drummer of The Stone Roses.Reni is considered by many to be the best drummer of his generation and the "single most important drummer in UK indie circles." According to former Hacienda General Manager Howard Jones, he "played the drums like Hendrix...
) – 6:33 - "Your Star Will Shine" – 2:59
- "Straight to the Man" (Brown) – 3:15
- "Begging YouBegging You"Begging You" is a song by The Stone Roses, released as the final single before their break-up a year later, and was the third single from the album Second Coming. "Begging You" was released in the UK and Australia, peaking at #15 on the UK Singles Chart....
" (Squire, Brown) – 4:56 - "Tightrope" – 4:27
- "Good Times" – 5:40
- "Tears" – 6:50
- "How Do You Sleep" – 4:59
- "Love SpreadsLove Spreads"Love Spreads" is a song by The Stone Roses, released in November 1994 as the first single from their second album Second Coming. The record was a number two hit in the UK, the highest peak for any song by the band, as well as the only Stone Roses song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, charting at...
" – 5:46
- 90. secret track (Brown, Mounfield, Squire, Wren) – 6:26
- After "Love Spreads" are 76 silent tracks, each lasting 4 seconds. These are followed by an untitled and hidden track, generally referred to as "The Foz"
Personnel
- Ian BrownIan BrownIan George Brown is an English musician, best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Stone Roses, which broke up in 1996 but are confirmed to reunite in 2012. Since the break-up of the Stone Roses he has pursued a solo career...
- vocals, harmonica, recording of running water (track 1) - John SquireJohn SquireJohn Thomas Squire is an English musician, songwriter and artist.Squire is best known as the guitarist for The Stone Roses, a rock band in which he formed a songwriting partnership with lead singer Ian Brown. After leaving The Stone Roses he went on to found The Seahorses and has since released...
- electric and acoustic guitars, recording of jets (track 7), backing vocals (tracks 8 and 11), artwork - ManiGary MounfieldGary Manny "Mani" Mounfield , is an English rock bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. He has a distinctive playing style that combines a fast moving rock style with a dance rhythm or dub groove...
- bass guitar - ReniAlan WrenAlan John Wren , better known as Reni, is the drummer of The Stone Roses.Reni is considered by many to be the best drummer of his generation and the "single most important drummer in UK indie circles." According to former Hacienda General Manager Howard Jones, he "played the drums like Hendrix...
- drums, backing vocals, recording of running water (track 1) - Simon Dawson - Keyboard,Jew's harp (Track 6), wurlitzer electric piano (tracks 6 and 10), acoustic piano (tracks 11 and 12) producer (all tracks), engineer (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 12)
- Paul Schroeder - producer (tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11), engineer (tracks 1, 2, 6, 9)
- John LeckieJohn LeckieJohn Leckie is a British music producer, notable for producing many high-profile albums such as The Stone Roses's debut and Radiohead's The Bends...
- partly responsible for recording (tracks 3, 7, 11) - Mark Tolle - initial recording (tracks 4, 8, 10)
- Al "Bongo" Shaw - initial recording (tracks 4, 8, 10)