The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death
by The Housemartins
- Type: Album
- Released: September 1987
- Label: Go! Discs
- Country: United Kingdom
- Length: 37:48
- Community rating: 3.93/5 from 4 ratings
Artists on this release: Norman Cook, David Hemingway, Paul Heaton, St. Winifred's School Choir, Sandy Blair, Guy Barker, Pete Wingfield, Stan Cullimore
Album Notes & Community Reviews
The Housemartins’ final album perfectly contrasts bouncy, hyper-melodic jangle pop with fiercely cynical, Marxist political lyricism. Paul Heaton's soaring vocals deliver biting, sarcastic critiques of the British monarchy, capitalism, and societal apathy over bright, upbeat acoustic guitar lines. The record remains a remarkably witty, bittersweet triumph of left-wing indie pop.
Genres
Descriptors: melodic, political, conscious, protest, jangly
Tracklist
- The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death (3:34)
- I Can't Put My Finger On It (2:27)
- The Light Is Always Green (3:58)
- The World's On Fire (3:15)
- Pirate Aggro (1:50)
- We're Not Going Back (2:51)
- Me And The Farmer (2:53)
- Five Get Over Excited (2:41)
- Johannesburg (3:55)
- Bow Down (3:02)
- You Better Be Doubtful (2:31)
- Build (4:47)
Credits
- The Housemartins - primary artist, producer [produced by]
- Norman Cook - bass, vocals
- Paul Heaton - composed by, vocals, guitar, trombone
- Stan Cullimore - composed by, guitar, vocals
- David Storey - design [sleeve design]
- John Sims - design [sleeve design]
- David Hemingway - drums, vocals
- Phil Bodger - engineer [engineered by]
- Pete Wingfield - keyboards, piano
- Gino Sprio - photography by [back cover (norman)]
- John Woods - photography by [back cover (p.d)]
- H. Photographic - photography by [back cover (stan & dave)]
- Phil Rainey - photography by [front cover]
- Derek Ridgers - photography by [inner sleeve]
- John Williams - producer [produced by]
- Guy Barker - trumpet
- Sandy Blair - tuba
- St. Winifred's School Choir - backing vocals