The La's (album)

The La's
Studio album by The La's
Released 1 October 1990
(see release history)
Recorded July–September 1988
Woodcray Studios, Wokingham
December 1989 – February 1990
Eden Studios, London
Genre Jangle pop, alternative rock
Length 35:14
Label Polydor, Go!, London (828,202)
Producer Steve Lillywhite, Bob Andrews
The La's chronology
The La's
(1990)		 Lost La's 1984–1986: Breakloose
(1999)
Singles from The La's
  1. "Way Out"
    Released: 2 November 1987
  2. "There She Goes"
    Released: 31 October 1988
  3. "Timeless Melody"
    Released: 3 September 1990
  4. "There She Goes"
    Released: 22 October 1990 (re-issue)
  5. "Feelin'"
    Released: 4 February 1991

The La's, the self-titled album by The La's, was the only studio release from the Liverpudlian four piece, released in 1990. It included "There She Goes," the group's biggest hit, and "Timeless Melody". A deluxe edition of The La's was released on 7 April 2008.

Writing and recording

All of the songs on The La's were written by Lee Mavers between 1986 and 1987 and after signing to Go! Discs in 1987 and for the next three years The La's worked with several producers to record their debut album, including John Porter, Gavin MacKillop, John Leckie, Bob Andrews, Jeremy Allom and Mike Hedges. The final sessions for the album were recorded December 1989 – February 1990 at the Eden Studios, London with producers Steve Lillywhite and Mark Wallis. "There She Goes" is a remixed version of the original single recording produced by Bob Andrews in 1988.

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Entertainment WeeklyA+[4]
NME9/10[5]
Q[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]
Select4/5[8]
Uncut[9]
The Village VoiceA−[10]

The album was released in 1990 on Go! Discs in the United Kingdom and in 1991 on London Records in the United States. The album was praised by critics and embraced by fans. It was the result of nearly three years in the studio with a string of acclaimed producers. Each attempted to capture the sound sought by Lee Mavers, the lead singer and principal songwriter of the band.

Unfortunately, due to Mavers' exacting expectations, the sound eluded each of the producers, and the album eventually released was immediately disowned by the band.[11]

A new version of the album, recorded by Mike Hedges (who has also worked with U2, Manic Street Preachers and The Cure) was found on a cassette, this new version was digitally remastered and released for the first time as part of The La's: Deluxe Edition.

This edition also includes previously unreleased archive recordings and radio sessions by the band, as well as deluxe packaging and expanded sleevenotes. The GLR session is a mono reproduction of the right channel only from the original stereo broadcast.

Legacy

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[12]

Track listing

All tracks written by Lee Mavers (except where stated). 

No. Title Length
1. "Son of a Gun"   1:55
2. "I Can't Sleep"   2:37
3. "Timeless Melody"   3:01
4. "Liberty Ship"   2:31
5. "There She Goes"   2:42
6. "Doledrum"   2:50
7. "Feelin'"   1:45
8. "Way Out"   2:32
9. "I.O.U."   2:13
10. "Freedom Song"   2:23
11. "Failure"   2:54
12. "Looking Glass"   7:51
Total length:
 35:14
Bonus tracks
The La's – Deluxe Edition (2008)

Disc 1 tracks 1–12 per original release

Personnel

The La's[13]

  • Lee Mavers – guitar, vocals
  • John Power – bass, backing vocals
  • Peter "Cammy" Camell – guitar
  • Neil Mavers – drums
  • John "Boo" Byrne – guitar (on "There She Goes")
  • Chris Sharrock – drums (on "There She Goes")
  • Paul Hemmings – guitar (on "Way Out")
  • John "Timmo" Timson – drums (on "Way Out")
Production[13]
  • Steve Lillywhite – producer, mixing
  • Mark Wallis – additional producer, engineer
  • Donal Hodgson – engineer (on "Looking Glass")
  • Bob Andrews – producer (on "There She Goes")
  • Dave Charles – engineer (on "There She Goes")
Additional personnel[13]
  • Ryan Art – design
The La's: Deluxe Edition personnel[13]
  • Barry Sutton – guitar (disc one: tracks 13–18, disc two: tracks 1–13, 20)
  • Chris Sharrock – drums (disc one: tracks 13–18, disc two: tracks 1–13, 18–20)
  • Paul Hemmings – guitar (disc two: tracks 14–15)
  • John "Timmo" Timson – drums (disc two: tracks 14–15)
  • Peter "Cammy" Camell – guitar (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • Iain Templeton – drums (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • John "Boo" Byrne – guitar (disc two: tracks 18–19)
The La's: Deluxe Edition production personnel[13]
  • Mike Hedges – producer, remastering (disc two: tracks 1–13)
  • Ian Grimble – engineer, mixing (disc two: tracks 1–13)
  • Kevin Metcalfe – remastering (disc two: tracks 1–13)
  • John Porter – producer (disc two: track 14)
  • Kenny Jones – engineer (disc two: track 14)
  • Gavin MacKillop – producer (disc two: track 15)
  • Andy MacDonald – remixing (disc two: track 15)
  • John Leckie – producer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • Barry Hammond – engineer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • Mike Shepherd – engineer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • Bob Andrews – producer (disc two: tracks 18–19)
  • Dave Charles – engineer (disc two: tracks 18–19)
  • Jeremy Allom – producer (disc two: track 20)
  • Mike Haas – engineer (disc two: track 20)

Release history

Region Date Label Format(s) Catalog
United Kingdom 1 October 1990 Go! Discs LP, CD, Cassette 828,202
Europe November 1990 Polydor LP, CD, Cassette 828,202
United States 1991 London Records LP, CD, Cassette 828,202
Japan 1998 Polydor CD (8 bonus tracks) POCD 1041
United Kingdom 29 January 2001 Go! Discs CD (Remastered edition, 5 bonus tracks) 549,566
United Kingdom 14 April 2008 Polydor 2xCD (Deluxe edition) 5306021

Chart performance

Charts (1990–1991) Peak chart position
UK Albums Chart[14] 30
US Billboard 200[15] 196

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The La's – The La's". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  2. ↑ Kot, Greg (14 February 1991). "The La's: The La's (Go! Discs/London)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-857-12595-8.
  4. ↑ Arnold, Gina (5 April 1991). "The La's". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Capper, Andy (3 February 2001). "The La's: The La's". NME. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "The La's: The La's". Q (174): 126–27. March 2001.
  7. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 476. ISBN 0-743-20169-8.
  8. ↑ Harrison, Andrew (November 1990). "The Scally Army". Select (5): 98.
  9. ↑ "The La's: The La's". Uncut (132): 96. May 2008.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert (30 July 1991). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  11. ↑ Simpson, Dave (2 May 2008). "The madness of perfection". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  12. ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 The La's: Deluxe Edition (booklet). The La's. UK: Polydor Records. 2008. 5306021.
  14. ↑ LA'S | Artist | Official Charts
  15. ↑ The La's Music News & Info | Billboard
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