The Verve compilation album reissued on vinyl
By Dan Biggane | November 12, 2024
The Verve compilation album, This Is Music: The Singles, is to be released on vinyl for the very first time.
Originally released on CD only in November 2004, this 20th anniversary reissue has been updated to a more definitive tracklisting. The two tracks pulled from the sessions for their third album, Urban Hymns, This Could Be My Moment and Monte Carlo, have been replaced by the powerful singles from the band’s 2008 reunion album, Forth – Love is Noise and Rather Be.
In addition, their second single She’s A Superstar (1992) is included in its original, full- length, eight-and-a-half-minute glory (rather than the five-minute edit that featured on the first edition of this compilation). As such, the album now represents the complete story of The Verve’s singles.
And what a compelling saga it is, comprehensively documenting the potency of The Verve’s epoch-making journey through the musical cosmos. On their emergence in the early 90s (when they were known simply as Verve), their output was expansive, cinematic and genuinely psychedelic.
Compelling Saga
Their early 45s – All In The Mind, She’s A Superstar, Gravity Grave, Blue and Slide Away – all topped the UK independent chart. 1995’s A Northern Soul album saw the band develop their sound even further and spawned three truly memorable singles: This Is Music, On Your Own and History. The LP was issued as the band splintered for the first time.
The band reconvened to reach their commercial peak with Urban Hymns in 1997. Featuring the worldwide smash Bitter Sweet Symphony, the UK No.1 The Drugs Don’t Work, the majestic Lucky Man and fourth single Sonnet, which recently introduced to a new generation by its use in the popular TV series One Day earlier this year.
After the success of Urban Hymns, the band split again before they came back together (with their original four-piece line-up – Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Jones and Peter Salisbury) for 2008’s Forth LP, another international success and a campaign that culminated in a triumphant headline slot at Glastonbury in 2008.
Listening back to these singles, what’s immediately apparent is just how mighty a musical force The Verve were. Many of these songs are more than just great singles, they are anthems that resonate with millions of people, the soundtrack to a generation.
LP Tracklisting
Side A
This Is Music
Slide Away
Lucky Man
History
Side B
She’s A Superstar
On Your Own
Blue
Sonnet
Side C
All In The Mind
The Drugs Don’t Work
Gravity Grave
Side D
Bitter Sweet Symphony
Love Is Noise
Rather Be
The black and light blue/red vinyl editions will be released on 24 January 2025. Order, alongside a new range of band merchandise, from the recently launched official The Verve online store here
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