The Sundays had b-sides (a few anyway), and I'm sure that if whoever was putting together a deluxe edition was feeling industrious that demos, alternate takes and non-album cuts could be located. I wonder what the demand would be like, though. Anyone who was a Sundays fan in 1990 still seems to be as big of a Sundays fan today, but there's definitely a drop-off point.
― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 9 August 2008 19:03 (4 years ago) Permalink
They released fewer extra B-side songs that almost any other band of comparable stature. Re. the first LP for instance, there is only one extra B-side: 'don't tell your mother' (which is tremendous). There were a couple of B-sides re. the 2nd LP: one is about 90 seconds long (and gorgeous), the other is a (gorgeous) cover. They did more for the 3rd LP, I think - but at least 2 or 4 of the B-sides from that era are indeed demos and alternate takes (of 'can't be sure' and 'you're not the only one i know').
― the pinefox, Saturday, 9 August 2008 22:28 (4 years ago) Permalink
Certainly the best version of that song I have ever heard; but then I don't really understand the general heated adoration of the Burritos' take. The delicate touches that the Sundays added, the low-slung and high-flying guitar riffs and her dreamy way of singing it, seem to me to clean up next to any other reading of t that song - indeed it must be the greatest Stones cover I have ever heard. Virtually the greatest COVER I have ever heard, full stop.
I think I agree.
― Melissa W, Saturday, 9 August 2008 22:32 (4 years ago) Permalink
My January band for the last few years.
― roxymuzak, Friday, January 4, 2008 9:12 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark
^^^^^^^^^^^^
― Ein kluges Äpfelchen (Eisbaer), Sunday, 1 February 2009 09:55 (4 years ago) Permalink
Yeah linger is an amazing song to hear at this time of year.
― Moka, Sunday, 1 February 2009 10:06 (4 years ago) Permalink
― This is ILXOR, we do what we like (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 1 February 2009 10:30 (4 years ago) Permalink
Listening to STATIC & SILENCE for first time in years, actually, on spotify. It hasn't of course changed, but sounds fine.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 25 February 2009 08:41 (4 years ago) Permalink
'She' probably still the highlight, the equal of most of the 2nd LP, say.
Dear me, my opinions seem never to change, over however many years.
I like the clanking piano at 3:20 of track 5 also.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 25 February 2009 08:42 (4 years ago) Permalink
'Your Eyes' is OK, lively and nimble, a bit different from other Sundays. I've only just noticed, nearly 12 years on, the line about 'I think I'm off to Japan', accompanied by 'Japanese' crashing gong.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 25 February 2009 08:56 (4 years ago) Permalink
listening the entire back catalog is helping me through my working day right now.
― \∫Öζ/.... argh oh noes! (ken c), Thursday, 5 March 2009 16:09 (4 years ago) Permalink
Wild Horses couldn't drag me away
Oh god, please don't even get me started on the Sundays.
don't even get me started. Have you heard the first and second albums? HAVE YOU?
― I was still more rock and roll than anyone needed for the album (Bimble), Saturday, 9 May 2009 12:52 (4 years ago) Permalink
Come on, let's bring it down to earth. Most folks only know them from this song:
And they don't even the HALF of what they're missing.
Alex, thanks.
― I was still more rock and roll than anyone needed for the album (Bimble), Saturday, 9 May 2009 12:56 (4 years ago) Permalink
Okay no, I want to talk about this band RIGHT NOW. I don't care if you hate them, write me about them. god, in heaven the last traces of the soul of the Smiths were evident in the Sundays. You can't take it away from me, you young people with your hip hip-hip stuff...
I'm sorry but if you stack the first Sundays on top of the second one, then you have got some fantastic fucking legendary music going on.
See you at the Stone Roses fanclub meetup! LOLOLOL Mark G. back me up!
― I was still more rock and roll than anyone needed for the album (Bimble), Saturday, 9 May 2009 13:06 (4 years ago) Permalink
Oh god the cops are going to arrest me cause I sing too loud to it
But I gotta tell you that one "I Kicked A Boy" that one sends me to tears.Hurts me in my heart, that one. Don't care if anyone thinks I'm square.
And that's why "Finest Hour" is a moment every respectable gay man should experience.
I'm 18 years old again when I hear this music. Take note, gay lads.
― I was still more rock and roll than anyone needed for the album (Bimble), Saturday, 9 May 2009 13:09 (4 years ago) Permalink
― More Goth Than Your Grandmother (Bimble), Monday, 11 May 2009 02:13 (4 years ago) Permalink
still <3<3<3<3
― Flea Kuti (PappaWheelie V), Saturday, 22 August 2009 02:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
Aww, I was hoping this was a Bimble thread revive from beyond the grave.
― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 22 August 2009 04:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
This is srsly one of the best things ever. ilu bimble
― Turangalila, Friday, 18 September 2009 06:55 (3 years ago) Permalink
In such a mood for Harriet's voice today, listening to Reading Writing & Arithmetic is really improving my afternoon
― boxedjoy, Thursday, 22 April 2010 11:56 (3 years ago) Permalink
Thank you once again, Spotify, for stuff like this: an absolutely gorgeous song, which should have been on Static and Silence, consigned to the b-side of the Cry single.
See how it's shining through the darkAs the teardrops fall and it illuminates the roomAnd we can't stop staring for a moment
― that mustardless plate (Bill A), Friday, 30 September 2011 12:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
Static & Silence sounds lovely tonight.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 13:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
"I used to be really frustrated about the lack of a lyric sheet on, at least, the vinyl, and actually wrote to Rough Trade asking them for this (or anything else Sundays-related). A white envelope came through the door a few weeks later with the lyrics to the LP photocopied by someone in the office, nothing else, no note or acknowledgement as I recall. I was looking for that envelope the other day but goodness knows just where it is now."
Reading this made me think "I miss the days when I'd do this kind of thing" but when I thought about it, I don't ever think I've written to a record company for lyrics ... A weird nostalgia for something that never actually happened.
― djh, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 22:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
I think I might now know where that envelope is.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 14:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
I think Reading Writing and Arithmetic is pretty solid, though I'm not as crazy about Wheeler's voice as some. It's that fashion for faux-naive, girlish-sounding voices in early '90s alternative music that dates it a bit. Cf. Kim Deal and Edie Brickell.
― o. nate, Thursday, 19 April 2012 15:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
faux-naive, girlish-sounding voices in early '90s alternative music that dates it a bit
One of the only styles from the 90s I'm still fond of and wish was as widespread now as it was then.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 19 April 2012 15:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
And yet, if the Sundays came back, they would still have a massive amount of goodwill.
― Mark G, Thursday, 19 April 2012 15:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
ha that's a great story about the lyrics sheet! very Rough Trade.
― piscesx, Thursday, 19 April 2012 16:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
their cover of Wild Horses is ... somethin else
― surm, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:26 (4 months ago) Permalink
just imagine Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon necking
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:29 (4 months ago) Permalink
ok now what
― ( ͡° ͜ʖ͡°) (sic), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 19:49 (4 months ago) Permalink
Now take your shirt off.
― Gollum: "Hot, Ready and Smeagol!" (Phil D.), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 19:51 (4 months ago) Permalink
Always makes me think of Buffy's prom
― Tim F, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:08 (4 months ago) Permalink
Glad pop culture never ruined this song for me. I still think of just listening to it in my room and pining for Harriet.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:09 (4 months ago) Permalink
ditto
― Cunga, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:23 (4 months ago) Permalink
it breaks my heart
― surm, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:27 (4 months ago) Permalink
Where did they go?
― Mark G, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:44 (4 months ago) Permalink
READING, WRITING & ARITHMETIC is one of my favorite albums of all time. Equivalent in quality, IMO, to The Smiths' or The Stone Roses' debut LPs.
― Tyler Burns (burns46824@yahoo.com), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:51 (4 months ago) Permalink
mmeeeeee too
― surm, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:52 (4 months ago) Permalink
Equivalent in quality, IMO, to The Smiths' or The Stone Roses' debut LPs.
I am offended on behalf of The Sundays.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:52 (4 months ago) Permalink
o SNAP!
― surm, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:53 (4 months ago) Permalink
Correct, though, that this is one of the finest albums.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 21:59 (4 months ago) Permalink
Blind gets a lot of stick but imo Goodbye is the best thing they ever did. It has serious bite, none of the whimsy of the debut that doesn't really appeal, and the multiple guitars at the end absolutely slay me.
― ledge, Thursday, 31 January 2013 16:18 (4 months ago) Permalink
I love them so much that I even think Static & Silence is great, adult contempo synth horns and all.
― The Apple Dumpling Gangbang (Old Lunch), Thursday, 31 January 2013 16:22 (4 months ago) Permalink
agree that "goodbye" is an all-time great song! "those stories were a good read... they were dumb as well" is undeniably classic.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 31 January 2013 16:41 (4 months ago) Permalink
I've listened to RW&A a few times recently, influenced by the fact that it was released 23 years ago this month. 23 years. That's a lot of memories, but every time I listen I still remember listening to it when it first came out; it was my getting ready to go out music, of all things. And, as dear old Bimble wrote in this thread: "I'm 18 years old again when I hear this music.", but it sparkles with the same quiet power even now, and Harriet's voice is pretty, but never drippy or girlish - there's a steeliness to it, and, although her lyrics can be somewhat impressionistic, they also contain lines that are straightforward, brusque or barbed. I do love her phrasing, though. This go around I'm being particularly haunted by "Joy", and how she sings the line "Well you saw him/and you can hardly know", which gives me shivers.
― DavidM, Thursday, 31 January 2013 19:13 (4 months ago) Permalink
― DavidM, Thursday, 31 January 2013 19:18 (4 months ago) Permalink
I don't anticipate them ever falling out of my all-time top five artists.
― The Apple Dumpling Gangbang (Old Lunch), Thursday, 31 January 2013 20:38 (4 months ago) Permalink