The Great Western

The Great Western is the debut solo album by Manic Street Preachers vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield, released on July 24, 2006 on Columbia Records. The majority of the lyrics were written by Bradfield, who had only contributed lyrics to the songs "Ocean Spray" and "Firefight" previously for Manic Street Preachers. Manics bassist/lyricist Nicky Wire contributes lyrics to the song "Bad Boys and Painkillers," and also included is a cover of Jacques Brel's "To See a Friend in Tears." The album features drummer Dafydd Ieuan of fellow Welsh band Super Furry Animals on "Run Romeo Run."

The title apparently refers to the Great Western Railway, which seems to be reflected in the album's artwork. Bradfield refers to his journeys between his home in South Wales to London on the GWR in the song "Émigré." An alternative explanation may be that the name relates to the Great Western Hotel in Cardiff which was part of the South Wales band circuit in the 1980s

The album debuted at #22 on the UK Album Chart in the week of July 30, 2006.

Track listing

• All songs written by James Dean Bradfield except where noted.

1. "That's No Way to Tell a Lie" – 3:05
2. "An English Gentleman" – 3:05
3. "Bad Boys and Painkillers" – 3:49
   • (Lyrics by Nicky Wire)
4. "On Saturday Morning We Will Rule the World" – 3:17
5. "Run Romeo Run" – 3:24
6. "Still a Long Way to Go" – 3:50
   • (Lyrics co-written by John Niven)
7. "Émigré" – 3:29
   • (Lyrics co-written by John Niven)
8. "To See a Friend in Tears" – 3:38
   • (Written by Jacques Brel)
9. "Say Hello to the Pope" – 3:24
10. "The Wrong Beginning" – 3:15
11. "Which Way to Kyffin" – 2:57

Singles

• "That's No Way to Tell a Lie" (July 10, 2006)
• "An English Gentleman" (September 25, 2006)

External links

• Album info from Official Myspace site