Memory Muscle
| Memory Muscle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 26 May 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2007–2008 | |||
| Studios | Charlton Farm, Somerset, England Brackenhurst, Surrey, England | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 37:15 | |||
| Labels |
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| Producer | Gordon Mills Jr. | |||
| Mark Morriss chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Memory Muscle | ||||
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Memory Muscle is the debut solo album by English singer and songwriter Mark Morriss, best known as the lead vocalist of indie rock band the Bluetones. It was released on 26 May 2008 by Fullfill Records,[2] and followed The Fi-Lo Beddow EP, a self-released EP from February 2006 that consisted of five early recordings of the songs from Memory Muscle,[1] under the pseudonym "Fi-Lo Beddow",[3] as Morriss was first reluctant to use his own name.[4] Its singles were "I'm Sick" and "Lay Low", which was released as a download-only single.
Following the release of Memory Muscle, Morriss joined Matt Berry's live band the Maypoles, as well as spending the year touring the album.[5][6][7]
Background
[edit]"I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to try something on my own for once. Being in the Bluetones has always been a great satisfaction to me creatively, but making this record enabled me to shoulder all the responsibility myself, and it was a very stimulating experience."
After being with his band the Bluetones for twelve consecutive years, Mark Morriss decided to try creating some new music independently. He wrote most songs during a natural break away from the band, and worked out for him since he enjoyed the recording and touring process. The title of the album is the thought of the heart or mind as the muscle where emotions are stored, as well as wordplay for "muscle memory".[4]
"How Maggie Got Her Bounce Back" was written about Morriss' former partner and how love can help put modern life pressures into perspective. "Lemon & Lime" was one of the first songs written for the record and discusses frustration and resentment.[4]
Production
[edit]The drums and bass guitars for Memory Muscle were recorded at Charlton Farm in Somerset by Louie Nicastro. Everything else was recorded at Brackenhurst in Surrey by Gordon Mills Jr.[8] The strings were arranged by film composer David Arnold who became a fan of Morriss' band the Bluetones since their debut album Expecting to Fly (1996) while scoring the science fiction action film Independence Day.[9]
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
AllMusic gave Memory Muscle a rating of 3.5/5.[10] Planet Mellotron rated it 3/5.[11] Kirk Burton of Is This Music? described it as a "giant sounding, classic pop record".[12] Steve Carroll of the York Press praised Mark Morriss' "distinctive" vocals and referred to the album as a "creditable" start in his solo career, ranking it 4/5.[1] It was referred to as a "direct successor" to Expecting to Fly.[13]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Mark Morriss, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "How Maggie Got Her Bounce Back" | 3:28 | |
| 2. | "I'm Sick" | 3:17 | |
| 3. | "So It Goes" | 3:24 | |
| 4. | "Buckle Up, Baby Doll" | 2:48 | |
| 5. | "Alcoholiday" | Norman Blake | 3:21 |
| 6. | "Digging a Hole" | 2:56 | |
| 7. | "Lemon & Lime" | 3:11 | |
| 8. | "Unwanted Friend" | 3:35 | |
| 9. | "Bienvenido" | 2:38 | |
| 10. | "Lay Low" | 3:58 | |
| 11. | "My Autumn's Done Come" | Lee Hazlewood | 4:30 |
Personnel
[edit]Personnel per CD notes.[8]
Personnel
- Mark Morriss – vocals, guitar, omni chord
- Gordon Mills Jr. – drums, percussion, mellotron, mandolin, guitar
- Scott Morriss – upright bass guitar, strap-on bass guitar
- Alex Lee-Richards – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer
- Pete Baker – trumpet, flugelhorn
- David Arnold – planner (track 8)
- Cassius Sam – guitar solo (track 4)
- Yoko Von Koko – backing vocals (track 4)
- Louie Nicastro – glockenspiel (track 5)
Additional personnel
- Louie Nicastro – recorded by
- Gordon Mills Jr. – recorded by, mixing
- Ali Fletcher – executive producer
- David Arnold – string arranger, string composer
- Steve Orchard – strings recorded by
- Mark Morriss – mixing
- Paul Agar – design
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Carroll, Steve (13 June 2008). "Mark Morriss, Memory Muscle (Universal) ****". York Press. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "Home". Fulfill Muzic. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ↑ "Interview with Mark Morris from The Bluetones, 13th October 2005". cinemaetc.co.uk. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Mark Morriss (The Bluetones) Interview". terapija.net. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "About - Mark Morriss". markmorrissmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "MATT BERRY & MARK MORRISS". whelanslive.com. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ Jacques, Adam (14 February 2014). "How we met: Mark Morriss & Matt Berry - 'the most challenging thing about Matt is how difficult he is to say no to'". The Independent. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- 1 2 Memory Muscle (CD album notes). Fulfill. 26 May 2008. FCCD110.
- ↑ "Fullfill Music". Fullfill.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ↑ "Mark Morriss: Memory Muscle Tracks & Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ Thompson, Andy. "Planet Mellotron Album Reviews: Samples M6". planetmellotron.com. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ Burton, Kirk (7 July 2008). "Mark Morriss - Memory Muscle". isthismusic.com. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "MARK MORRISS: Memory Muscle (2008)". terapija.net. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2026.