So Tough
So Tough | ||||
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Studio album by Saint Etienne | ||||
Released | 22 February 1993 (1993-02-22) | |||
Recorded | Summer – Autumn 1992 | |||
Studio | RMS, London | |||
Genre |
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Length | 48:29 (UK version) 55:40 (US version) | |||
Label | Heavenly (UK) – HVNLP 6 Warners (US) – 9 45166 | |||
Producer | Saint Etienne | |||
Saint Etienne chronology | ||||
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Singles from So Tough | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Consumer Guide | A−[3] |
NME | 6/10[4] |
Pitchfork | 8.9/10[5] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record Collector | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Select | 4/5[10] |
Vox | 8/10[11] |
So Tough is the second studio album by British band Saint Etienne, released in 1993. It is their highest-charting album to date, reaching No. 7 on the UK Album Chart.
So Tough is the first Saint Etienne album to feature Sarah Cracknell as an official member of the band.[12] It was originally intended as a concept album which starts at "Mario's Cafe" in London then travels around the world, but it ultimately came to be viewed as a solely London album.[13]
Samples and references
One of the distinctive features of the album is the use of samples between the songs. The band were keen to use linking dialogue, similar to that used on some of their favourite albums – particularly The Who Sell Out by The Who and Head by The Monkees – as well as contemporary hip hop albums that featured recurring skits.[12][14] They are taken from a variety of sources, including the films Peeping Tom, Billy Liar, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lord of the Flies and That'll Be the Day, as well as the television series The Family and the 1958 stereo demonstration album A Journey into Stereophonic Sound. The band had intended to use a number of samples from American films, but the cost of clearing these samples led them to using primarily British samples.[14] Additionally, the song "Conchita Martinez" features a recurring sample from the opening riff of Rush's 1980 hit "The Spirit of Radio".[15] The string sounds used in the chorus of opening song "Mario's Café" are an interpolation of the piano melody from The Temptations' 1967 single "I Wish It Would Rain".
So Tough takes its title from the Beach Boys album Carl and the Passions – "So Tough".[13] "Conchita Martinez" is named after the Grand Slam-winning Spanish tennis player Conchita Martínez,[16] who later went on to win the Wimbledon singles title. The song "Mario's Cafe" was inspired by a real Kentish Town restaurant of that name.[17]
Cover
The album cover features a picture of lead singer Sarah Cracknell aged 6, taken by her father Derek Cracknell.[18]
Releases
The album was reissued as a limited edition 2-CD set with You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone.
The US release added "Join Our Club" (3:22), which had been a UK single in 1992. "Who Do You Think You Are" (3:49) is included on some US versions between "Here Come Clown Feet" and "Junk the Morgue". "You're in a Bad Way" (3:08) and "Hobart Paving" (4:57) are presented in their single versions, including extra instrumentation. The former is longer, while the latter features a drum pattern not present on the original version.
The album was reissued on 31 August 2009, as part of the ongoing Deluxe Editions of the band's recordings. The new release features B-sides, rare and unreleased tracks.
Track listing
1993 release
All tracks are written by Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, except where indicated
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Mario's Cafe" | 4:38 | |
2. | "Railway Jam" | 4:14 | |
3. | "Date with Spelman" | 0:18 | |
4. | "Calico" |
| 5:12 |
5. | "Avenue" |
| 7:40 |
6. | "You're in a Bad Way" (substituted for the single version (3:07) on US and Japanese editions) |
| 2:43 |
7. | "Memo to Pricey" | 0:23 | |
8. | "Hobart Paving" (substituted for the single version (4:57) on US and Japanese editions) | 5:03 | |
9. | "Leafhound" | 4:05 | |
10. | "Clock Milk" | 0:14 | |
11. | "Conchita Martinez" |
| 4:02 |
12. | "No Rainbows for Me" | 3:56 | |
13. | "Here Come Clown Feet" | 0:22 | |
14. | "Junk the Morgue" | 5:12 | |
15. | "Chicken Soup" | 0:33 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
16. | "Join Our Club" | 3:22 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
16. | "Join Our Club" | 3:22 |
17. | "Archway People" | 3:17 |
2009 reissue
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Mario's Cafe" | 4:38 | |
2. | "Railway Jam" | 4:14 | |
3. | "Date with Spelman" | 0:18 | |
4. | "Calico" |
| 5:12 |
5. | "Avenue" |
| 7:40 |
6. | "You're in a Bad Way" |
| 2:43 |
7. | "Memo to Pricey" | 0:23 | |
8. | "Hobart Paving" | 5:03 | |
9. | "Leafhound" | 4:05 | |
10. | "Clock Milk" | 0:14 | |
11. | "Conchita Martinez" | 4:02 | |
12. | "No Rainbows for Me" | 3:56 | |
13. | "Here Come Clown Feet" | 0:22 | |
14. | "Junk the Morgue" | 5:12 | |
15. | "Chicken Soup" | 0:33 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Everything Flows" | Norman Blake | 4:44 |
2. | "Railway Jam" (Vocal Version) | 6:20 | |
3. | "Who Do You Think You Are" |
| 3:53 |
4. | "Some Place Else" | 3:44 | |
5. | "Duke Duvet" | 3:12 | |
6. | "Paper" |
| 4:11 |
7. | "Johnny in the Echo Cafe" | 4:01 | |
8. | "Archway People" | 3:21 | |
9. | "California Snow Story" | 4:21 | |
10. | "Join Our Club" | 3:18 | |
11. | "Everlasting" | 4:33 | |
12. | "Snowplough" | 3:43 | |
13. | "Rainy Day Women" | Bob Dylan | 3:57 |
14. | "Peterloo" | 4:29 | |
15. | "I'm Too Sexy" |
| 5:10 |
16. | "Stranger in Paradise" |
| 3:29 |
17. | "Hobart Paving" (Van Dyke Parks Version) | 4:50 |
Sample credits
- "Conchita Martinez" contains samples of "The Spirit of Radio" by Rush, sampled under licence from PolyGram Special.[19]
Personnel
The liner notes list the album's personnel as follows:[19]
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Charts
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
---|---|
European Albums (Music & Media)[20] | 25 |
UK Albums (OCC)[21] | 7 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[22] | 1 |
B-sides
- from "Avenue"
- "Some Place Else"
- "Paper"
- "Johnny in the Echo Cafe"
- "Avenue (Variety club mix)" (Remixed by Gordon King and The "Natural" Pete Smith)
- "Avenue (Butlins mix)" (Remixed by Gordon King and The "Natural" Pete Smith)
- "Avenue (Martial mix)" (Remixed by Rudy Tambala/A.R. Kane)
- "Avenue (Venusian mix)" (Remixed by Rudy Tambala/A.R. Kane)
- from "You're in a Bad Way"
- "Archway People"
- "California Snow Story"
- "Duke Duvet"
- "St. Etienne Speaks..."
- from "Hobart Paving" / "Who Do You Think You Are"
- "Who Do You Think You Are"
- "Who Do You Think You Are (Quex-RD)" (Remixed by Aphex Twin)
- "Your Head My Voice (Voix Revirement)" (Remixed by Aphex Twin)
- "Who Do You Think You Are (Strobelights & Platform Shoes Mix) (Remixed by Roger Sanchez)
- "Who Do You Think You Are (Nu Solution Mix) (Remixed by Roger Sanchez)
- "Who Do You Think You Are (Saturday Night Fever Dub) (Remixed by Roger Sanchez)
- "Who Do You Think You Are (Radio Remix) (Remixed by Roger Sanchez)
References
- ^ a b Lassner, Bryan (1998). "Saint Etienne". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 971–972.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "So Tough – Saint Etienne". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Saint Etienne: So Tough". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ George, Iestyn (20 February 1993). "Saint Been Nothin' Yet". NME. p. 28.
- ^ Harvell, Jess (17 September 2009). "Saint Etienne: So Tough / Sound of Water". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ "Saint Etienne: So Tough". Q. No. 79. April 1993. p. 88.
- ^ "Saint Etienne: So Tough". Record Collector. p. 98.
[I]t provides bona fide belters such as 'You're in a Bad Way,' alongside countless sound collages and swirling, half-heard samples and steals.
- ^ White, Armond (5 August 1993). "Saint Etienne: So Tough". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ Berger, Arion (2004). "Saint Etienne". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 713–14. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Harrison, Andrew (March 1993). "UK Gold". Select. No. 33. p. 74.
- ^ McLean, Craig (March 1993). "Everything Flows". Vox. No. 30. p. 56.
- ^ a b Lindsay, Cam (1 June 2017). "Rank Your Records: Bob Stanley Expertly Appraises Saint Etienne's Eight Full-Lengths". Vice. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b Reed, John (November 1995). "Saint Etienne". Record Collector. No. 195. pp. 36–39.
- ^ a b Lobb, Adrian (8 September 2009). "Bob Stanley On Saint Etienne's Reissues And His Love Of Pop". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "The Spirit of Radio". Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Rogers, Jude (10 September 2009). "Saint Etienne: So Tough & Sound Of Water reissues". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Hann, Michael (3 August 2004). "Frying up the charts". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ So Tough (liner notes). Saint Etienne (deluxe ed.). Heavenly Records. 2009. HVNLP6CDDE.
{{cite AV media}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b So Tough (liner notes). Saint Etienne. Heavenly Records. 1993. HVNLP6CD.
{{cite AV media}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 11. 13 March 1993. p. 22. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Independent: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 13 March 1993. p. 16. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
External links
- Fan site with full lyrics and discussion of sample and influences of album
- v
- t
- e
- Sarah Cracknell
- Bob Stanley
- Pete Wiggs
- Gerard Johnson
- Ian Catt
- Foxbase Alpha
- So Tough
- Tiger Bay
- Good Humor
- Sound of Water
- Finisterre
- Tales from Turnpike House
- Words and Music by Saint Etienne
- Home Counties
- I've Been Trying to Tell You
- You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone
- Fairy Tales from Saint Etienne
- Too Young to Die: Singles 1990–1995
- Casino Classics
- Continental
- Interlude
- Smash the System: Singles and More
- Travel Edition 1990–2005
- London Conversations: The Best of Saint Etienne
- "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
- "Kiss and Make Up"
- "Nothing Can Stop Us"
- "Join Our Club"
- "Avenue"
- "You're in a Bad Way"
- "Hobart Paving"
- "Who Do You Think You Are"
- "Xmas 93"
- "Pale Movie"
- "Like a Motorway"
- "Hug My Soul"
- "He's on the Phone"
- "Sylvie"
- "The Bad Photographer"
- "Tell Me Why (The Riddle)"
- "Shower Scene"
- "A Good Thing"
- "Stars Above Us"
- "Burnt Out Car"
- "Method of Modern Love"