Best Of The Housemartins, The - Housemartins > Reviews > Happy Hour again

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	witty political pop, a blast from the eighties
Disadvantages:	most of the songs are short

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

In the summer of 1986 british pop was hit by a style of new music, it was dance friendly, comical to listen to and had political messages laid out in a sing-song way. The Housemartins had been born. Proud of the fact that they were from Hull, where unemployment was high and public opinion was low, these four boys had something to say and Britain was prepared to listen.

HAPPY HOUR 2:17
The unexpected summertime hit of 1986. This song enveloped us in it's catchy rhythm, we couldn't help but dance and sing along to the factual lyrics. How many of us would be spending a friday night drink with our boss, in the hope it would further our career but in the knowledge that he would be calling all the shots. Paul Heaton's distinct vocals with Stan Cullimore's enthusiastic guitar playing bring you to your feet and even if your not much of one for dancing this is sure to have you tapping your feet.

FIVE GET OVER EXCITED 2:39
Released in 1987 this song takes a poke at the stereo typical yuppie londoner. Starting with the lyrics FUN FUN FUN, it's the story of a young londoner and the reasons he feels makes him fun, eg: he drinks daddy's home brew and calms his curly hair with gel,he wears black but his bread is brown. A dig at the middle class from these working class northern lads. Classic.

CARAVAN OF LOVE 3:39
Wonderfull acapella released at christmas time. Originally written by E.Isley/M.Isley/Jasper, the Housemartin's did this one proud. Proving to us that they really all could sing, you can't help but enjoy this tune. Hugh's bass vocal and Paul's nasally lead are fantastic. A feel good song that is telling us all to unite in love, and to love one another like brother's. It was interesting that at the time of this release the Hull boys had crucifixes shaved into the side of their hair. This song certainly wouldn't be out of place in a gospel church.

THINK FOR A MINUTE 3:28
Album version of this 1986 song. A whimsical start with acoustic guitar and Heaton's vocal. Nice trumpet solo half way through building to the chorus. The message is that we don't stop and think about our neighbours and community, if we worked together the world would be a better place. Nice song.

ME AND THE FARMER 2:52
Starting with Cullimore's frantic guitar playing, this is similar in structure to Happy Hour. Foot tappingly good, with a strong message about how hard our farmers work without getting recognition, a message that is perhaps more significant today than when it was when penned in 1987. Nice clean ending from Norman on bass.

FLAG DAY 3:32
A moody tune starting with the lyrics: "Too many Florence Nightingales, not enough Robin Hoods. A look at how it perhaps doesn't matter how many charity workers we have, there will never be enough charity to go round to everyone who needs it. My favourite lyric is "try shaking a box in front of the Queen" a worthwhile message that the rich could do a damn site more for the poor than they do.

SHEEP 2:16
First played on Radio One by Simon Bates in 1986, another catchy ditty, that has you jiggling in your seat. Nice backing vocals. Again conveying the message of the difference between working class and middle/upper classes. Stan Cullimore's guitar solo is perfectly simple and unassuming.

BUILD 4:43
Lovely piano intro, Heaton's vocals flow effortlessly, this could almost be a lazy sunday morning song. Dave Hemingway's backing vocals compliment beautifully ( Dave replaced Hugh Whitaker in 1987). A story about urban development and how rapidly our green space is being eaten away, this song only reached number 15 in the charts but in 1987 higher numbers of singles were sold so it was harder to get a number 1, today it would probably have sat at the top of the charts.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME 3:30
This is a recording from the John Peel Show in November 1987.
A bounding yarn about school life, making bombs in chemistry and catapults, sounds quite tame compared to school life nowadays. This was the last single, not my favourite but still catchy, lacks the oomph of earlier songs.

ANXIOUS 2:18
An extremely fast beat, how Heaton manages to get all the lryics out is astounding. True Housemartins, penned in 1986 with a nice bass line from Norman Cook. A political ditty about the government messing up our country, but not having the voice power to put things right. "Don't they know it is wrong, it makes me anxious", quite apt in todays political failings. The whole country feels anxious.

HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO THEM 2:11
A tune about the monotony of being in a hum drum job day in day out. Nice harmonica solo, good beat. Kind of rock and roll feel to it. Again a foot tapping experience although somewhat short. Anyone bored with their day to day working life will understand these lyrics perfectly.

I SMELL WINTER 3:23
I was unfamiliar with this song as it was a b-side of Think for a Minute. Great bass line from Norman Cook makes this memorable with exellant drumming from Hugh. Not absolutely sure what this is about but get the feeling its to do with homelessness, and the struggle people on the streets face in wintertime. Good job it was a b-side as it hasn't got the star quality of an a-side.

THE PEOPLE WHO GRINNED THEMSELVES TO DEATH 3:30
From the album of the same name, a typical Housemartin tune. Lots of ferocious drumming and nice trumpet playing. A break for a harmonica solo halts this upbeat tempo for a brief moment.
Another political gem digging at the government attitude to the poor, how could politicians keep grinning when half the country was living below the breadline. This song sounds slightly more like commercialised pop although still good.

I'LL BE YOUR SHELTER (JUST LIKE A SHELTER) 4.51
Cover of Luther Ingram's 'Shelter', this song is haunting. Wonderful piano against Heaton's throaty vocals. One moment calm, the next tempestuous. Very much a gospel feel to this tune. Heaton belts it out, hitting every high note with perfection, you can tell he's loving every minute of it. A song about looking out for each other and standing by your loved ones no matter what. Fantastic!

The Housemartins changed the attitude of political pop and got the message across to the youth of the eighties. All songs were written by Paul Heaton and Stan Cullimore, with the exception of Caravan of Love and I'll Be Your Shelter. Paul went on to form The Beautiful South along with fellow bandmate Dave Hemingway and they have enjoyed much chart success.
Norman Cook furthered his career in the guise of Fat Boy Slim, taking a different angle to his music, with great success.
Stan Cullimore is now an accomplished children's author.
Hugh Whitaker spent some time at her majesty's pleasure, but has been unheard of since.

The cover design is good, with a nice picture of these four cheeky chappies on the front and Dave Hemingway on the back. Inside is a nice selection of pictures taken from the record sleeves of the songs featured. Each song has a note by Phil Jupitus who was fortunate enough to spend two months on the road with the Housemartins in 1986.

A must for Housemartins fans, a must for eighties fans, and a must for anyone who likes to jiggle their feet in time to music.