Fall Heads Roll

Fall Heads Roll is an album by The Fall, released in 2005. It was recorded at Gracieland Studios in Rochdale, UK and Gigantic Studios in New York, NY. The US vinyl edition of the record is pressed on two discs and contains an alternate version of the track "Blindness". (One version of this tune is heard in the 2007 U.S. television ad campaign for the Mitsubishi Outlander.[1])

Although the group had reissued several earlier albums and their Peel Sessions box set through the Sanctuary group (on their Castle imprint), this was the first album of new material to be released by them, on this occasion appearing on their Slogan label. In the US, the album was their second with Narnack Records.

In a March 2005 interview with Kitchen Sink magazine, Mark E. Smith cited Heads Are Rolling and If You Assume as two possible titles for the then-unfinished album. The sleeve design and lettering is thought to make reference to the cover of the Van der Graaf Generator album Godbluff.

Track listing

1. "Ride Away" (Poulou/Smith) – 5:01
2. "Pacifying Joint" (Smith) – 3:46
3. "What About Us?" (Smith/Poulou) – 5:51
4. "Midnight Aspen" (Smith/Trafford) – 3:13
5. "Assume" (Smith) – 4:07
6. "Aspen Reprise" (Smith/Trafford) – 1:52
7. "Blindness" (Smith/Birtwistle) – 7:23 (7:11 on US 2LP)
8. "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" (Wood) – 2:49
9. "Bo Demmick" (Smith/Trafford/Birtwistle/Pritchard) – 4:15
10. "Youwanner" (Smith/Archer/Pritchard) – 5:02
11. "Clasp Hands" (Smith/Trafford) – 2:45
12. "Early Days of Channel Führer" (Smith/Pritchard) – 3:48
13. "Breaking the Rules" (Walker) – 2:26
14. "Trust in Me" (Smith/Trafford) – 3:34

John Peel

The late DJ John Peel, their most famous fan, was once asked if he would be happy with his life should he "drop dead tomorrow". He replied "Well, yes - but there's a new Fall album out next year so I don't want to drop dead just yet". This was the first album by the band that he never got to hear, as he died around a year before release, although the songs "Blindness", "Clasp Hands", "What About Us" and "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" were performed at the band's final Peel Session on August 4, 2004.

Personnel

The Fall

• Mark E. Smith – vocals, production
• Ben Pritchard – guitar
• Steve Trafford – bass guitar; vocals and guitars on "Youwanner", "Midnight Aspen", "I Can Hear The Grass Grow", "Clasp Hands", "Early Days Of Channel Führer" and "Trust In Me"
• Spencer Birtwistle – drums
• Elena Poulou – keyboards, vocals

Additional personnel

• Simon "Dingo" Archer – production; bass guitar on "Youwanner" and "Trust In Me", banjo on "Clasp Hands", vocals on "Trust in Me"
• Billy Pavone – vocals on "Trust in Me", guitar on "Blindness" (Alternate Version)
• Kenny Cummings – vocals on "Trust in Me"
• Phil Schuster – vocals on "Trust in Me"
• Tim Baxter - production