The La's (album)

The La's
The La's
Studio album by The La's
Released	1 October 1990
Recorded	1987, July–September 1988, December 1989 – February 1990
Studio	Woodcray, Wokingham; Eden, London;
Genre	Alternative rock; jangle pop; skiffle;
Length	35:14
Label	Polydor; Go!; London;
Producer	Steve Lillywhite, Bob Andrews
The La's chronology
Singles from The La's
	"Way Out"; Released: 2 November 1987; "There She Goes"; Released: 31 October 1988; "Timeless Melody"; Released: 3 September 1990; "There She Goes"; Released: 22 October 1990 (re-issue); "Feelin'"; Released: 4 February 1991;

The La's is the only studio album by English rock band the La's, released on 1 October 1990 by Go! Discs. 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. In 2013, NME ranked The La's at number 153 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Release and reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Chicago Tribune	^[3]
Entertainment Weekly	A+^[4]
NME	8/10^[5]
The Observer	^[6]
Q	^[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[8]
Select	4/5^[9]
Uncut	^[10]
The Village Voice	A−^[11]

The La's 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. However, due to Mavers' exacting expectations, the sound eluded each of the producers, and the album eventually released was immediately disowned by the band.^[12]

Legacy edit

In 2013, NME ranked The La's at number 153 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.^[13] In 2016, Rolling Stone placed the record at number 13 on its list of the "40 Greatest One-Album Wonders".^[14] The La's was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[15] Noel Gallagher of Oasis named it as one of his 13 favourite albums.^[16]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Lee Mavers (except where stated)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Son of a Gun"	1:55
2.	"I Can't Sleep"	2:37
3.	"Timeless Melody"	3:01
4.	"Liberty Ship"	2:31
5.	"There She Goes"	2:42
6.	"Doledrum"	2:50
7.	"Feelin'"	1:45
8.	"Way Out"	2:32
9.	"I.O.U."	2:13
10.	"Freedom Song"	2:23
11.	"Failure"	2:54
12.	"Looking Glass"	7:51
Total length:		35:14

Bonus tracks

Japan bonus tracks (1998)
No.	Title	Length
13.	"Knock Me Down"	3:17
14.	"Endless"	3:11
15.	"Come in Come Out"	2:14
16.	"Who Knows"	3:31
17.	"Man I'm Only Human"	4:34
18.	"All by Myself"	5:56
19.	"Clean Prophet"	1:49
20.	"There She Goes" (original single version)	2:35

UK remastered edition bonus tracks (2001)
No.	Title	Length
13.	"All by Myself"	5:53
14.	"Clean Prophet"	1:47
15.	"Knock Me Down"	3:15
16.	"Over" (live in a stable in Liverpool, Lee Mavers/John Power)	5:02
17.	"I.O.U." (alternative version)	2:08

The La's – Deluxe Edition (2008)

Disc 1 tracks 1–12 per original release

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 edit

The La's^[17]

Lee Mavers – lead vocals and backing vocals, guitars
John Power – basses and backing vocals
Peter "Cammy" Camell – lead guitars
Neil Mavers – drums and tambourine
John "Boo" Byrne – electric guitar (on "There She Goes")
Chris Sharrock – drums and tambourine (on "There She Goes")
Paul Hemmings – electric guitar (on "Way Out")
John "Timmo" Timson – drums, tambourine and bells(on "Way Out")

Production^[17]

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^[17]

Ryan Art – design

The La's: Deluxe Edition personnel^[17]

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^[17]

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)

Chart performance edit

Charts (1990–1991)	Peak chart position
UK Albums Chart^[18]	30
US Billboard 200^[19]	196

References edit

^ Mueller, Andrew (2010). "The La's Callin' All Review". Retrieved 5 May 2023.
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The La's – The La's". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
^ Kot, Greg (14 February 1991). "The La's: The La's (Go! Discs/London)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
^ Arnold, Gina (5 April 1991). "The La's". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
^ Maconie, Stuart (6 October 1990). "The La's – The La's". NME. p. 54. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
^ Boden, Sarah (16 March 2008). "The La's, The La's – Deluxe Edition". The Observer. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "The La's: The La's". Q. No. 174. March 2001. pp. 126–127.
^ Moon, Tom (2004). "The La's". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 476. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
^ Harrison, Andrew (November 1990). "The Scally Army". Select. No. 5. p. 98.
^ "The La's: The La's". Uncut. No. 132. May 2008. p. 96.
^ Christgau, Robert (30 July 1991). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
^ Simpson, Dave (2 May 2008). "The madness of perfection". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 200–101". NME. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ Weingarten, Christopher R.; Spanos, Brittany; Exposito, Suzy; Reeves, Mosi; Grow, Kory; Harris, Keith; Fischer, Reed; Gehr, Richard; Johnston, Maura; Levy, Joe; Greene, Andy (4 April 2021). "40 Greatest One-Album Wonders". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ Dimery, Robert, ed. (2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (revised and updated ed.). Universe Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
^ Doran, John (17 October 2011). "Noel Gallagher Selects His Thirteen Favourite Albums". The Quietus. p. 5. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e The La's: Deluxe Edition (booklet). The La's. UK: Polydor Records. 2008. 5306021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ LA'S | Artist | Official Charts
^ The La's Music News & Info | Billboard

External links edit

The La's at AllMusic
The La's at Discogs (list of releases)
The La's at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)

[1] Mueller, Andrew (2010). "The La's Callin' All Review". Retrieved 5 May 2023.

[2] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The La's – The La's". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 May 2015.

[3] Kot, Greg (14 February 1991). "The La's: The La's (Go! Discs/London)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2015.

[4] Arnold, Gina (5 April 1991). "The La's". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2015.

[5] Maconie, Stuart (6 October 1990). "The La's – The La's". NME. p. 54. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 18 June 2023.

[6] Boden, Sarah (16 March 2008). "The La's, The La's – Deluxe Edition". The Observer. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[7] "The La's: The La's". Q. No. 174. March 2001. pp. 126–127.

[8] Moon, Tom (2004). "The La's". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 476. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[9] Harrison, Andrew (November 1990). "The Scally Army". Select. No. 5. p. 98.

[10] "The La's: The La's". Uncut. No. 132. May 2008. p. 96.

[11] Christgau, Robert (30 July 1991). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 May 2015.

[12] Simpson, Dave (2 May 2008). "The madness of perfection". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2010.

[13] "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 200–101". NME. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[14] Weingarten, Christopher R.; Spanos, Brittany; Exposito, Suzy; Reeves, Mosi; Grow, Kory; Harris, Keith; Fischer, Reed; Gehr, Richard; Johnston, Maura; Levy, Joe; Greene, Andy (4 April 2021). "40 Greatest One-Album Wonders". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[15] Dimery, Robert, ed. (2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (revised and updated ed.). Universe Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.

[16] Doran, John (17 October 2011). "Noel Gallagher Selects His Thirteen Favourite Albums". The Quietus. p. 5. Retrieved 24 October 2018.

[Deluxe_Edition-17] The La's: Deluxe Edition (booklet). The La's. UK: Polydor Records. 2008. 5306021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[18] LA'S | Artist | Official Charts

[19] The La's Music News & Info | Billboard

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