In It for the Money

In It for the Money
Studio album by Supergrass
Released 21 April 1997
Recorded Sawmills Studio
Autumn 1996
Genre Britpop, alternative rock
Length 43:03
Label Parlophone
Producer Supergrass
John Cornfield
Supergrass chronology
I Should Coco
(1995)		 In It For The Money
(1997)		 Supergrass
(1999)
Singles from In It for the Money
  1. "Going Out"
    Released: 26 February 1996
  2. "Richard III"
    Released: 31 March 1997
  3. "Sun Hits the Sky"
    Released: 9 June 1997
  4. "Late in the Day"
    Released: 6 October 1997
Alternative cover
Japanese edition cover

In It for the Money is the second album by Supergrass, released in 1997. NME called it "more fun than watching a wombat in a washing machine"[1] and named it the 10th best album of the year. In 1998, Q readers voted it the 68th greatest album of all time,[2] while in 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 57 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.[3] Its sound is more focused and ambitious than their debut, I Should Coco.

Contents

Recording and conception

Only two songs were written before entering Sawmills Studio, so most of the tracks were penned during recording itself.[4]

Recording was often disrupted by Danny Goffey impromptly going back to London, to record with his and Pearl Lowe's band Lodger. He was told by management that this was unacceptable behaviour. This, along with Gaz Coombes and Goffey's bickering in the music press about the underlying meaning of lyrics to "Going Out", put strain on the recording process.[5]

It is speculated that Parlophone, the record label Supergrass were on, offered the band a sum of money to decide on a final name for the album, because they were taking too long to deliberate.[6][7] However, the band themselves claim that they never received any of this money in return.[8] Other suggestions considered for the title of the album included Hold On to the Handrail and Children of the Monkey Basket (which is now the name of the band's self-run website).[5]

Several of the songs end with snippets of other, unreleased songs, that play until fade out.

Track listing

CD & limited edition CD (with bonus CD) CDPCS7388 / TC TCPCS7388 / 12"PCS7388

  1. "In It for the Money" – 3:05
  2. "Richard III" – 3:13
  3. "Tonight" – 3:09
  4. "Late in the Day" – 4:43
  5. "G-Song" – 3:27
  6. "Sun Hits the Sky" – 4:55
  7. "Going Out" – 4:16
  8. "It's Not Me" – 2:56
  9. "Cheapskate" – 2:43
  10. "You Can See Me" – 3:40
  11. "Hollow Little Reign" – 4:08
  12. "Sometimes I Make You Sad" – 2:48 The guitar solo in "Sometimes I Make You Sad" was written during the recording of In It for the Money; it was recorded at half speed then sped up to achieve the mandolin-like sound.[4] The only use of percussion in the song is a cymbal, the drum noises were instead simulated by members of the band making 'grunting' noises. These were then put on a loop.

Limited edition bonus CD

  1. "Caught by the Fuzz" (acoustic) – 3:06
  2. "Sitting Up Straight" (alternative mix) – 2:22
  3. "Melanie Davis" – 2:46
  4. "Odd?" – 4:14 Members of the band can be heard blowing bubbles into a bucket during the outro of this song.[9]
  5. "Wait for the Sun" – 4:11
  6. "Nothing More's Gonna Get in My Way" – 4:05
  7. "Sex!" – 2:38
  8. "20ft Halo" – 3:21
  9. "Je Suis Votre Papa Sucre" – 1:45

Album artwork

It was originally planned that the album cover would be an oil painting by Maff Burley, an old school friend of Danny Goffey, of the band curled up in a circular window at the Harvester surrounded by small insects.[7] Supergrass decided later not to use this image, but instead a photograph of themselves "busking" during the filming of the video for their single "Cheapskate". Consequently, due to such short notice, this alternative version of the album cover was released only in Japan.[10]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [11]
Drowned in Sound (10/10)[12]
Free Press News Service [13]
Music Central [14]
NME (8/10)[15]
Nude As The News (9.5/10)[16]
Pitchfork Media (8.9/10)[17]
Q [18]
Rolling Stone [19]
Static And Feedback (Favourable)[20]

The album peaked at #2 in the UK Albums Chart,[21] having sold 300,000 copies in the UK and over one million worldwide. "The fact that it has sold more worldwide than I Should Coco," said Gaz Coombes, "means we can sleep at night."[2][22]

The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[23]

References

  1. ^ Williams, Simon (19 April 1997). "Supergrass: In It For The Money". NME. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/mn970419.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "The 100 Greatest Albums Ever #68: In It For The Money". Q. February 1998. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/mq980200.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  3. ^ "The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever". Q. rocklistmusic.co.uk. 2000. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlists.html#fuckme. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  4. ^ a b Supergrass Discothèque - Navigate to "In It For The Money"
  5. ^ a b "People Who Live In Glass Houses". Select. October 1999. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/ms991001.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  6. ^ "Your Money's No Good Here, Son". Q. July 1997. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/mq970700.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  7. ^ a b "The Hair bare Bunch!". Vox. April 1997. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/mv970400.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  8. ^ "In It for the Money Photo Album". childrenofthemonkeybasket.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070330005057/http://www.childrenofthemonkeybasket.com/artwork/iiftm/index.html. 
  9. ^ Supergrass Discothèque - Navigate to "Mansize Rooster" (1995 release)
  10. ^ "In It for the Money [Japan]". strangeones.com. http://www.strangeones.com/music/imports/jap_initforthemoney.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  11. ^ Erlewine. "Supergrass: In It for the Money > Review" at Allmusic. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  12. ^ Rawcliffe, Jonathan (5 December 2001). "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Drowned in Sound. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/4774/reviews/2716-. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  13. ^ "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Free Press News Service. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/mr970000.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  14. ^ Gundersen, Edna. "In It for the Money: Supergrass". Music Central. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/mc970002.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  15. ^ Williams, Simon (19 April 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money". NME. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/mn970419.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  16. ^ Carpenter, Troy. "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Nude As The News. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/me000428.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  17. ^ Schreiber, Ryan. "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 26 November 2001. http://web.archive.org/web/20011126192508/pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/s/supergrass/in-it-for-the-money.shtml. 
  18. ^ Cavanagh, David (May 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Q. http://www.strangeones.com/press/articles/mq970500.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  19. ^ Robbins, Ira (4 April 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media) (RS 759). ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071023014218/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/supergrass/albums/album/209051. 
  20. ^ Taveres, Nick. "A record store surprise is an all-time masterpiece". staticandfeedback.com. http://www.staticandfeedback.com/Music/0103supe.html. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  21. ^ "In It for the Money". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=45504. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 
  22. ^ "British album certifications – Supergrass – In It for the Money". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter In It for the Money in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  23. ^ Dimery, Robert, ed (2005). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Cassell Illustrated. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/1001albums.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 

External links

Supergrass
Studio albums
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Singles
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