'Common People. Britpop: The Story' Album Released

2009 marks the 15th anniversary of the beginnings of a scene which would become, in time, labelled Brit Pop – 1994, saw the release of Blur’s Parklife, Suede’s Dog Man Star and Pulp’s His ‘n’ Hers and to celebrate, on June 8th 2009, Universal releases Common People, The Brit Pop Story a 3-CD box set that captures the great and good of British music of the time.

Arguably a reaction to the dominance of U.S. bands in the early 1990’s, the uniquely British sound and attitude of bands such as Suede, Blur and Pulp was at odds with prevailing trend at the time for all things ‘grunge’.

By the spring of 1993 sufficient momentum had been achieved to warrant Select magazine running a cover featuring Suede’s Brett Anderson in front of a Union flag underneath the headline ‘yanks go home’.

Throughout 1994 and 1995 a whole wave of bands came through, that although never completely unified by sound, did share a common and identifiable sense of cultural identity that helped define ‘Brit Pop’.

By 1997 the ‘scene’ had all but fizzled out, but for a few years in the mid-90’s British bands achieved an amazing run of success and wrote some truly era-defining songs that would live on and be remembered fondly.

Always much more than just the pantomime battle between Oasis and Blur, Common People, The Brit Pop Story charts the real story that lay beyond and celebrates the great singles and tracks that helped define the era.

The beautifully art-worked box-set features 54-tracks, comprehensive sleeve notes from St Etienne’s Bob Stanley (also a Melody maker journalist at the time) and a lavish 24-page booklet in the style of the classic Select issue in April 1993 which heralded the beginnings of Britpop.

The full track listing for the box-set is as follows:

DISC 1
1. The Auteurs – Lenny Valentino
2. Elastica – Stutter
3. Gene – Be My Light Be My Guide
4. Stone Roses – Love Spreads
5. James – Laid
6. Dodgy – Staying Out For The Summer
7. Saint Etienne – You’re In A Bad Way
8. Dubstar – Stars
9. Blake Grape – In The Name Of The Father
10. Duffy – London Girls
11. Marion – Sleep
12. These Animal Men – Speeed King
13. S*M*A*S*H – Shame
14. Cast – Alright
15. The Bluetones – Slight Return
16. Perfume – Lover
17. Boo Radleys – Wake Up Boo
18. Menswear – Daydreamer

DISC 2
1. Pulp – Common People
2. Supergrass – Alright
3. Sleeper – Inbetweener
4. Echobelly – Great Things
5. Powder – Afrodisiac
6. Northern Uproar – Rollercoaster
7. Paul Weller – Thechangingman
8. Divine Comedy – Something For The Weekend
9. Babybird – You’re Gorgeous
10. My Life Story – 12 Reasons Why
11. Denim – It Fell Off The Back Of A Lorry
12. Kula Shaker – Tattva
13. Mansun – Wide Open Space
14. Salad – Drink The Elixir
15. Placebo – Nancy Boy
16. Longpigs – She Said
17. Ocean Colour Scene – Riverboat Song
18. Shed Seven – Chasing Rainbows

DISC 3
1. Super Furry Animals – God! Show Me Magic
2. Suede – Trash
3. Kenickie – In Your Car
4. theaudience – A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed
5. Catatonia – Mulder & Scully
6. Space – Female Of The Species
7. Embrace – All You Good Good People
8. Gomez – Whippin’ Piccadilly
9. Geneva – Into the Blue
10. Rialto – Monday Morning 5:19
11. The Seahorses – Love Is The Law
12. Hurricane #1 – Step Into My World
13. Monaco – What Do You Want From Me
14. Spearmint – Sweeping The Nation
15. Lodger – Always Round Here
16. Earl Brutus – SAS And The Glam That Goes With It
17. Stereophonics – The Bartender & The Thief
18. Gay Dad – Oh Jim

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