| Good Humor | ||||
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| Studio album by Saint Etienne | ||||
| Released | April 6, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | Spring 1997 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, synthpop | |||
| Length | 43:35 | |||
| Label |
Sub Pop - SPCD 435 |
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| Producer | Tore Johansson | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
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| Saint Etienne chronology | ||||
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Good Humor is an album by Saint Etienne released in 1998. The American spelling 'humor' is used in the title as the band were, according to Sarah Cracknell, "fed up with the 'quintessentially English' tag, so there was a bit of a backlash against that."[5]
The album was a departure for the group, who had been associated with the indie dance genre. Tiger Bay, their previous album, had added many acoustic and orchestral elements but still belonged to the synth-pop and dance genres, but Good Humor is more acoustic, having more in common musically with their 1993 hit single "You're in a Bad Way". Good Humor was demoed in the UK using synths and drum machines, but was recorded in Sweden under the guidance of Tore Johansson, who augmented their sound with a full band and a horn section.
Contents |
Good Humor was recorded in two weeks at Tambourine Studios, Malmo, Sweden. The album was produced by Tore Johansson who had produced all of The Cardigans' previous studio albums. Most of the B-sides were also recorded and produced during the two week sessions. Sarah Cracknell cut short the promotion of her solo album Lipslide and single "Goldie" to record the album.
Saint Etienne had always been affiliated with Creation Records through Heavenly Records, but Good Humor was their first release for the label proper. Its original release date was planned for summer 1997 but was delayed by Creation because they were committed to promoting Oasis's album Be Here Now.
In the United States, the group was signed to the prestigious Sub Pop label. Initial copies of the US release contained a second CD of bonus songs called Fairfax High made up mostly of B-sides from UK singles. Each of the tracks on this second CD is available as part of the 2010 deluxe edition of Good Humor. Fairfax High was the first of a series of US-only singles, albums and EPs.
The first single was "Sylvie", which reached #12 in the UK Top 40. The band wanted "Lose That Girl" to be the second single from the album, but Creation decided on "The Bad Photographer", which reached #27. "Lose That Girl" was scheduled for release by Creation in late 1998 but was scrapped at close to the last minute.[6] Remixes by the Trouser Enthusiasts were produced, but were not pressed to even promo 12". The Trouser Enthusiasts' remix was later featured as a bonus track on the North American-only B-sides compilation Interlude.
An instrumental demo of "Lose That Girl" and a single mix of "Sylvie" produced by Tore Johansson are included on the fan club CD Nice Price. The band-written sleeve notes describe the influence of soft rock on the former. The song also had the working title of "Jazz Odyssey" (a nod to This is Spinal Tap).
The album was rereleased on 4 October 2010 in a two CD "deluxe edition". The bonus disc contained the whole of Fairfax High as well as a number of other tracks.
Good Humor charted at #18 on the UK albums chart.
All songs written by Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, and Pete Wiggs
All tracks written by Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, and Pete Wiggs except where noted.
With:
Sylvie January 1998
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CD one
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CD two
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The Bad Photographer April 1998
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CD one
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CD two
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