50ft Queenie

"50 Ft Queenie"
Single by PJ Harvey
from the album Rid of Me
Released	April 1993
Format	CD single, 12", 7"
Recorded	December 1992 at Pachyderm Studio, Cannon Falls, Minnesota, US
Genre	Alternative rock, punk blues, lo-fi
Length	2:26
Label	Island
Writer(s)	PJ Harvey
Producer(s)	Steve Albini
PJ Harvey singles chronology
"Sheela-Na-Gig" (1992) "50ft Queenie" (1993) "Man-Size" (1993) Rid of Me track listing "Highway '61 Revisited" (Track 7) "50ft. Queenie" (Track 8) "Yuri-G" (Track 9)

"50ft Queenie" is the third single by English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, and the first from her second studio album Rid of Me. It is performed by Harvey's eponymous trio, consisting of Harvey on vocals and guitar, Rob Ellis on drums, and Steve Vaughan on bass. Released in April 1993, the song charted in the United Kingdom and was a Top 30 hit, but failed to chart in the United States. A promotional music video directed by Maria Mochnacz was also filmed.

Background and history

The song was recorded at Pachyderm Studios with Steve Albini - who had previously produced albums for the Pixies and The Breeders - and decided to work with him due to the fact "the instruments on the album sound like they're breathing and real."

Track listing

All songs written by PJ Harvey.

UK CD and European 12" single (Island Records, CID 538, 862 037-2 / 12IS 538, 862 037-1)^[1][2]

1. 50 ft Queenie - 2:26
2. Reeling - 2:39
3. Man-Size (demo) - 3:24
4. Hook (demo) - 4:33

Tracks 1 and 2 recorded by Steve Albini. Tracks 3 and 4 recorded by PJ Harvey.

The demo version of "Hook" later appeared on 4-Track Demos.

UK 7" single (Island Records, IS 538, 862 037-7)^[3]

1. 50 ft Queenie - 2:26
2. Reeling - 2:39
3. Man-Size (demo) - 3:24

Music video

Directed by Maria Mochnaz, the music video for the song features PJ Harvey performing the song, with the small leopard skin coat as seen in the single's inlay artwork. The backdrop of the video reads "HEY I'M ONE BIG QUEENIE." It was later featured on Beavis and Butt-Head.

Chart positions

Chart (1993)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[4]	27
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[5]	179

References

1. Discogs, PJ Harvey - 50ft Queenie (CD, Maxi) at Discogs http://www.discogs.com/P-J-Harvey-50ft-Queenie/release/404656 Retrieved from discogs.com on 30 April 2010.
2. Discogs, PJ Harvey - 50ft Queenie (12", Single) at Discogs http://www.discogs.com/P-J-Harvey-50ft-Queenie/release/1563933 Retrieved from discogs.com on 30 April 2010.
3. Discogs, PJ Harvey - 50ft Queenie (7") at Discogs http://www.discogs.com/P-J-Harvey-50ft-Queenie/release/1633436 Retrieved from discogs.com on 30 April 2010.
4. "PJ HARVEY - The Official Charts Company". UK Singles Chart. 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
5. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry (submitted to [email protected]), received 15 July 2015". imgur.com. Retrieved 19 July 2015.