Leisure (album)
5 min read
Singles from Leisure
Released: 15 October 1990
Released: 15 April 1991
Released: 29 July 1991
Leisure is the debut album by the English rock band Blur, released in August 1991 by record label Food.
Contents
- 1 Content
- 2 Release
- 3 Reception and legacy
- 4 Track listing
- 5 Personnel
- 6 Charts and certifications
- 6.1 Weekly charts
- 6.2 Certifications
- 7 References
- 8 External links
Content[edit]
The original version of “Sing”, entitled “Sing (To Me)”, was recorded as a demo in late 1989 under the band’s former name, Seymour, and can be heard on the ultra-rare promo-only single which was released over a decade later in February 2000 and on the first of 4-disc set with rare material in the Blur 21 box set.
The cover photograph was taken in May 1954[1][2] by Charles Hewitt, for a Picture Post fashion feature on bathing hats, “Glamour In The Swim.”[3]
Release[edit]
The album was released on 26 August 1991 in the United Kingdom by record label Food. It was released in the US a month later with a different track listing: this version is frontloaded with Blur’s three UK singles, and the song “Sing” was replaced by “I Know”, previously an A-side with “She’s So High” (see track listings for exact changes). The Canadian version has the same track listing as the UK version.
Leisure peaked at number 7 in the UK Albums Chart.[4] The album was certified Gold in the UK.[citation needed]
As part of the album’s 21st anniversary, Leisure was remastered and reissued along with the band’s other studio albums on 30 July 2012.[5] The album was reissued a second time, on vinyl, on August 26, 2016.[6]
Reception and legacy[edit]
Leisure received mixed reviews from the British music press.[15] A highly enthusiastic David Cavanagh wrote in Select magazine that “The four Blur boys have guaranteed themselves a hefty leg-up in the being-taken-seriously stakes with the thrills they’ve carved into the grooves of Leisure.” He concluded that “Leisure, in short, is one of those happy occasions when the hype is dead right.”[14] Q magazine’s Paul Davies rated the album four out of five stars, and felt it fulfilled the early promise Blur showcased: “This latest bunch of floppy-fringed pop cadets in baggy clothing should consummate their burgeoning pop romance in fine style”, Davies elaborated, “for Leisure is a substantially stocked treasure-chest of hit singles just waiting to happen.”[12] Alexis Petridis however, stated that “on the evidence of this album, they don’t appear to know what they’re doing and as a result make appalling mistakes all over the place”. He also described the lyrics as “bad”.[16]
In 2007, lead singer Damon Albarn considered Leisure to be one of two bad records he had made in his career, the other being The Great Escape.[17]
“Sing” was included on the Trainspotting soundtrack in 1996. In 2008, Coldplay announced upon the release of Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends that “Sing” provided a starting point for “Lost!”.[18]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks written and composed by Blur (Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree).
- Note: The US and Japan editions of the album have different track listings.
Personnel[edit]
- Damon Albarn – lead vocals, keyboards, production on “Sing”, “Inertia” and “Mr. Briggs”
- Graham Coxon – guitars, backing vocals, production on “Sing”, “Inertia” and “Mr. Briggs”
- Alex James – bass, production on “Sing”, “Inertia” and “Mr. Briggs”
- Dave Rowntree – drums, percussion, production on “Sing”, “Inertia” and “Mr. Briggs”
- Steve Lovell – production on “She’s So High” and “I Know”
- Steve Power – production on “She’s So High” and “I Know”
- Mike Thorne – production on “Fool”, “Birthday” and “Wear Me Down”
- Stephen Street – production on “There’s No Other Way”, “Bang”, “Slow Down”, “Repetition”, “Bad Day”, “High Cool” and “Come Together”
Charts and certifications[edit]
Certifications[edit]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
- Leisure at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
