The La's (album)

The La's
Studio album by The La's
Released 1 October 1990
(see release history)
Recorded July–September 1988
Woodcray Studios, Wokingham
December 1989 – February 1990
Eden Studios, London
Genre Jangle pop, alternative rock
Length 35:09
Label Polydor, Go!, London (828,202)
Producer Steve Lillywhite, Bob Andrews
The La's chronology

The La's
(1990)		 Lost La's 1984–1986: Breakloose
(1999)
Singles from The La's
  1. "Way Out"
    Released: 2 November 1987
  2. "There She Goes"
    Released: 31 October 1988
  3. "Timeless Melody"
    Released: 3 September 1990
  4. "There She Goes (re-issue)"
    Released: 22 October 1990
  5. "Feelin'"
    Released: 4 February 1991

The La's, the self-titled album by The La's, was the only studio release from the Liverpudlian four piece, released in 1990. It included "There She Goes," the group's biggest hit, and "Timeless Melody". A deluxe edition of The La's was released on 7 April 2008.

Writing and recording

All of the songs on The La's were written by Lee Mavers between 1986 and 1987 and after signing to Go! Discs in 1987 and for the next three years The La's worked with several producers to record their debut album, including John Porter, Gavin MacKillop, John Leckie, Bob Andrews, Jeremy Allom and Mike Hedges. The final sessions for the album were recorded December 1989 – February 1990 at the Eden Studios, London with producers Steve Lillywhite and Mark Wallis. "There She Goes" is a remixed version of the original single recording produced by Bob Andrews in 1988.

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Entertainment Weekly A+[2]
NME [3]
Chicago Tribune [4]
Robert Christgau A−[5]
Yahoo Music [6]

The album was released in 1990 on Go! Discs in the United Kingdom and in 1991 on London Records in the United States. The album was praised by critics and embraced by fans. It was the result of nearly three years in the studio with a string of acclaimed producers. Each attempted to capture the sound sought by Lee Mavers, the lead singer and principal songwriter of the band.

Unfortunately, due to Mavers' exacting expectations, the sound eluded each of the producers, and the album eventually released was immediately disowned by the band.[7]

A new version of the album, recorded by Mike Hedges (who has also worked with U2, Manic Street Preachers and The Cure) was found on a cassette, this new version was digitally remastered and released for the first time as part of The La's: Deluxe Edition.

This edition also includes previously unreleased archive recordings and radio sessions by the band, as well as deluxe packaging and expanded sleevenotes. The GLR session is a mono reproduction of the right channel only from the original stereo broadcast.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Lee Mavers (except where stated). 

No. Title Length
1. "Son of a Gun"   1:56
2. "I Can't Sleep"   2:37
3. "Timeless Melody"   3:01
4. "Liberty Ship"   2:30
5. "There She Goes"   2:42
6. "Doledrum"   2:50
7. "Feelin'"   1:44
8. "Way Out"   2:32
9. "I.O.U."   2:08
10. "Freedom Song"   2:23
11. "Failure"   2:54
12. "Looking Glass"   7:52
Total length:
 35:09

Bonus tracks

The La's: Deluxe Edition (2008)

Disc 1: Original album
No. Title Length
1. "Son of a Gun"   1:56
2. "I Can't Sleep"   2:37
3. "Timeless Melody"   3:01
4. "Liberty Ship"   2:30
5. "There She Goes"   2:42
6. "Doledrum"   2:50
7. "Feelin'"   1:44
8. "Way Out"   2:32
9. "I.O.U."   2:08
10. "Freedom Song"   2:23
11. "Failure"   2:54
12. "Looking Glass"   7:52
Disc 1: Bonus material
No. Title Length
13. "Son of a Gun" (Gary Crowley, GLR Session Dec '88) 1:55
14. "Doledrum" (Gary Crowley, GLR Session Dec '88) 3:00
15. "I Can't Sleep" (Gary Crowley, GLR Session Dec '88) 2:34
16. "Way Out" (Key 103, Jan '89) 2:42
17. "I Am the Key" (Key 103, Jan '89) 3:05
18. "That'll Be the Day" (BBC2 The Late Show Feb '89, Buddy Holly/Jerry Allison/Norman Petty) 2:07
Disc 2: Mike Hedges album
No. Title Length
1. "I.O.U." (Mike Hedges version) 2:05
2. "I Can't Sleep" (Mike Hedges version) 2:43
3. "Knock Me Down" (Mike Hedges version) 2:56
4. "Way Out" (Mike Hedges version) 2:47
5. "Doledrum" (Mike Hedges version) 2:57
6. "There She Goes" (Mike Hedges version) 2:49
7. "Feelin'" (Mike Hedges version) 1:48
8. "Timeless Melody" (Mike Hedges version) 3:07
9. "Son of a Gun" (Mike Hedges version) 2:05
10. "Clean Prophet" (Mike Hedges version) 2:09
11. "Come in Come Out" (Mike Hedges version) 2:16
12. "Failure" (Mike Hedges version) 3:08
13. "Looking Glass" (Mike Hedges version) 7:28
Disc 2: Bonus material
No. Title Length
14. "Doledrum" (John Porter mix) 2:53
15. "Way Out" (Andy MacDonald mix) 2:39
16. "There She Goes" (John Leckie mix) 2:44
17. "Man I'm Only Human" (John Leckie mix) 5:00
18. "Feelin'" (Bob Andrews mix) 1:53
19. "Clean Prophet" (Bob Andrews mix) 2:02
20. "I Can't Sleep" (Jeremy Allom mix) 2:41

Personnel

The La's[8]

  • Lee Mavers – guitar, vocals
  • John Power – bass, backing vocals
  • Peter "Cammy" Camell – guitar
  • Neil Mavers – drums
  • John "Boo" Byrne – guitar (on "There She Goes")
  • Chris Sharrock – drums (on "There She Goes")
  • Paul Hemmings – guitar (on "Way Out")
  • John "Timmo" Timson – drums (on "Way Out")
Production[8]
  • Steve Lillywhite – producer, mixing
  • Mark Wallis – additional producer, engineer
  • Donal Hodgson – engineer (on "Looking Glass")
  • Bob Andrews – producer (on "There She Goes")
  • Dave Charles – engineer (on "There She Goes")
Additional personnel[8]
  • Ryan Art – design
The La's: Deluxe Edition personnel[8]
  • Barry Sutton – guitar (disc one: tracks 13–18, disc two: tracks 1–13, 20)
  • Chris Sharrock – drums (disc one: tracks 13–18, disc two: tracks 1–13, 18–20)
  • Paul Hemmings – guitar (disc two: tracks 14–15)
  • John "Timmo" Timson – drums (disc two: tracks 14–15)
  • Peter "Cammy" Camell – guitar (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • Iain Templeton – drums (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • John "Boo" Byrne – guitar (disc two: tracks 18–19)
The La's: Deluxe Edition production personnel[8]
  • Mike Hedges – producer, remastering (disc two: tracks 1–13)
  • Ian Grimble – engineer, mixing (disc two: tracks 1–13)
  • Kevin Metcalfe – remastering (disc two: tracks 1–13)
  • John Porter – producer (disc two: track 14)
  • Kenny Jones – engineer (disc two: track 14)
  • Gavin MacKillop – producer (disc two: track 15)
  • Andy MacDonald – remixing (disc two: track 15)
  • John Leckie – producer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • Barry Hammond – engineer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • Mike Shepherd – engineer (disc two: tracks 16–17)
  • Bob Andrews – producer (disc two: tracks 18–19)
  • Dave Charles – engineer (disc two: tracks 18–19)
  • Jeremy Allom – producer (disc two: track 20)
  • Mike Haas – engineer (disc two: track 20)

Release history

Region Date Label Format(s) Catalog
United Kingdom 1 October 1990 Go! Discs LP, CD, Cassette 828,202
Europe November 1990 Polydor LP, CD, Cassette 828,202
United States 1991 London Records LP, CD, Cassette 828,202
Japan 1998 Polydor CD (8 bonus tracks) POCD 1041
United Kingdom 29 January 2001 Go! Discs CD (Remastered edition, 5 bonus tracks) 549,566
United Kingdom 14 April 2008 Polydor 2xCD (Deluxe edition) 5306021

Chart performance

Charts (1990–1991) Peak chart position
UK Albums Chart[9] 30
US Billboard 200[10] 196

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r11304/review
  2. ↑ "Music Review: The La's, by The La's". Entertainment Weekly.
  3. ↑ "The La's : The La's". NME.
  4. ↑ Kot, Greg (14 February 1991). "The La's The La's (Go! Discs/London". Chicago Tribune.
  5. ↑ Robert Christgau: CG: the la's
  6. ↑ Mulvey, John (29 January 2001). "The La's – 'The La's'". Archived from the original on 24 July 2008.
  7. ↑ Simpson, Dave (2 May 2008). "The madness of perfection". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 The La's: Deluxe Edition (booklet). The La's. UK: Polydor Records. 2008. 5306021.
  9. ↑ LA'S | Artist | Official Charts
  10. ↑ The La's Music News & Info | Billboard

External links