The Sun Is Often Out
| The Sun Is Often Out | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 29 April 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995–1996 | |||
| Studios | Axis, Sheffield, England | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 63:26 | |||
| Label | Mother | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Longpigs chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Sun Is Often Out | ||||
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The Sun Is Often Out (stylised as THE SUN iS OfTEN oUT) is the debut studio album by the English alternative rock band Longpigs, released on 29 April 1996 by the Irish rock band U2's record label, Mother Records.[1] It peaked at number 26 on the UK Albums Chart.[2]
The album's first two singles released in July and October 1995, "She Said" and "Jesus Christ", both failed to chart in the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 67 and 61 instead.[3][4] Its third single released in January 1996, "Far", entered the lower half of the Top 40, peaking at number 37 as well as receiving radio airplay,[5] particularly from BBC Radio 1. The following single released in April, "On and On", was their breakthrough, charting at number 16.[6] With the momentum of the album's release in April and the rerelease of "She Said" in June, also peaking at number 16,[7] the final single released in September, "Lost Myself" stalled at number 22,[8] breaking the streak of the band's Top 20 singles.
On 26 June 2020, the album was reissued on blue vinyl by Demon Records.[9] Later on 19 October 2024, it was again reissued on yellow vinyl by Demon for National Album Day 2024.[10]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| The Guardian | [12] |
| The Phoenix | [13] |
| Select | 3/5[14] |
The Sun Is Often Out was ranked placed at number 32 in Melody Maker's top 50 best albums of 1996 list,[15] by both critics and fans, and received a 4-star rating from AllMusic.[11] BBC's Sean Adams praised the album when looking back on it in 2012.[16]
Track listing
[edit]All songs are written by Crispin Hunt except where noted.[17]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lost Myself" | 5:04 | |
| 2. | "She Said" | 4:24 | |
| 3. | "Far" | 3:46 | |
| 4. | "On and On" | 4:10 | |
| 5. | "Happy Again" | 4:17 | |
| 6. | "All Hype" | Crispin Hunt, Dee Boyle | 3:23 |
| 7. | "Sally Dances" | 3:44 | |
| 8. | "Jesus Christ" | 4:00 | |
| 9. | "Dozen Wicked Words" | 5:00 | |
| 10. | "Elvis" | 4:22 | |
| 11. | "Over Our Bodies" (track ends at 7:05 and stays silent between this time and 17:05) | 7:05 | |
| 12. | "Sleep" (track starts at 17:05 and ends at 21:16) | 4:10 | |
| Total length: | 63:26 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Personnel per booklet.[17]
Longpigs
- Crispin Hunt – vocals, guitar
- Richard Hawley – guitar, vocals
- Simon Stafford – bass, piano, Hammond organ, vocals
- Dee Boyle – drums, vocals
Additional personnel
- Kevin Bacon – producer
- Jonathan Quarmby – producer
- Stephen Harris - engineering, mixing
- Hugh Jones – additional mixing, production (track 3)
- Gil Norton – additional mixing, production (track 4)
- Abraham Pants – design
- Orla Quirke – design
- Steven Stevlor – band photography
References
[edit]- ↑ Luffman, Mark (11 May 1996). "Albums — The Sun Is Often Out by the Longpigs". Melody Maker. Vol. 73, no. 19. p. 51.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 5/5/1996". Official Charts. 5 May 1996. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 16/7/1995". Official Charts. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 22/10/1995". Official Charts. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 11/2/1996". Official Charts. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 7/4/1996". Official Charts. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 16/6/1996". Official Charts. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 29/9/1996". Official Charts. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ Etheridge, Loz (26 June 2020). "Longpigs – The Sun Is Often Out (re-issue) (Demon Records)". God Is in the TV. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Longpigs: The Sun Is Often Out (1LP Yellow Vinyl) NATIONAL ALBUM DAY 2024". Demon Music Group. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: The Sun Is Often Out - Longpigs". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
- ↑ Sweeting, Adam. "Review: Longpigs - The Sun Is Often Out (Mother Records)". Friday Review (April 26, 1996): 12.
- ↑ Perry, Jonathan (27 October 1997). "Boston Phoenix CD Reviews". The Phoenix. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ↑ Upton, Sam (May 1996). "New Albums". Select. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ↑ "Melody Maker Best Albums of 1996 by Melody Maker (1996)". bestalbumsever.com. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- ↑ "Longpigs The Sun Is Often Out Review". BBC. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- 1 2 The Sun Is Often Out (CD album notes). Mother. 29 April 1996. MUMCd9602.
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