''Welcome to the Beautiful South'' is the debut album by English band

The Beautiful South The Beautiful South were an English pop rock group formed in 1988 by Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway, two former members of the Hull group The Housemartins, both of whom performed lead and backing vocals. Other members throughout the band's exi ...

, released in October 1989 by

Go! Discs Go! Discs was a London-based record label, launched in 1983 from offices in Wendell Road, Shepherd's Bush, by Andy Macdonald and Lesley Symons. The pair founded the label after Macdonald left his job as press officer at Stiff Records, and Sym ...

and the next year in the United States by

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the 1 ...

. Three singles were released from the album, which became top 40 hits in the United Kingdom: " Song for Whoever" (#1), "

You Keep It All In "You Keep It All In" is the second single released from English pop rock group the Beautiful South's debut album, ''Welcome to the Beautiful South'' (1989). It reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently ti ...

" (#8) and "

I'll Sail This Ship Alone "I'll Sail This Ship Alone" was the third and final single to be taken from the Beautiful South's debut album, ''Welcome to the Beautiful South''. The single reached number 31 on the UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled O ...

" (#31). The original album cover depicted two pictures by

Jan Saudek Jan Saudek (born 13 May 1935) is an art photographer and painter. Jan Saudek's art work represents a unique technique combining photography and painting. In his country of origin, Czechoslovakia, Jan was considered a disturbed artist and oppres ...

, one of a woman with a gun in her mouth, and another with a man smoking.

Woolworths Woolworth, Woolworth's, or Woolworths may refer to: Businesses * F. W. Woolworth Company, the original US-based chain of "five and dime" (5¢ and 10¢) stores * Woolworths Group (United Kingdom), former operator of the Woolworths chain of shops ...

refused to stock the album, in the words of the band, to "prevent the hoards '' ic' of impressionable young fans from blowing their heads off in a gun-gobbling frenzy, or taking up smoking"; An alternative cover featuring a picture of a stuffed toy

rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...

and a

teddy bear A teddy bear is a stuffed toy in the form of a bear. Developed apparently simultaneously by toymakers Morris Michtom in the U.S. and Richard Steiff under his aunt Margarete Steiff's company in Germany in the early 20th century, the teddy bear, ...

was therefore made. A second alternative cover was also prepared for the Canadian edition of the album; this version omitted the picture of the woman, and featured only the smoking man. ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' included it in their "Top 100 Albums You've Never Heard" list in 2012.

Track listing

All songs written by

Paul Heaton Paul David Heaton (born 9 May 1962) is an English singer-songwriter. He was the frontman of the Housemartins, who had success with the singles " Happy Hour" and the UK number one "Caravan of Love" in 1986 before disbanding in 1988. He then forme ...

and

Dave Rotheray David Rotheray (born 9 February 1963, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England) is an English rock and pop musician, best known for being the lead guitarist for The Beautiful South. Rotheray was born the last of five children. His parents were ...

, except where noted. #" Song for Whoever" – 6:10 #"Have You Ever Been Away?" – 5:12 #"From Under the Covers" – 4:05 #"

" – 4:41 #"

Girlfriend A girlfriend is a female friend, acquaintance or partner, usually a female companion with whom one is platonically, romantically, or sexually involved. In a romantic context, this normally signifies a committed relationship where the indi ...

" – 2:54 #"Straight in at 37" – 4:29 (cassette and CD bonus track) #"

" – 2:54 #"Woman in the Wall" – 5:16 #"Oh Blackpool" – 3:01 #"Love Is..." – 7:04 #"I Love You (But You're Boring)" – 4:31 ;2004 Japanese reissue bonus tracks #"You and Your Big Ideas" #"You Just Can't Smile It Away" #"It's Instrumental" #"But 'Til Then" #"I'll Sail This Ship Alone" (Orchestral Mix)

Non-LP/CD B-Sides

As what was to become their usual modus operandi, ''Welcome to The Beautiful South'' included unreleased material on the B-sides of the singles taken from their albums. from the "Song for Whoever" 12" single and CDEP *"Song for Whoever" *"Straight in at 37" *"You and Your Big Ideas" from the "You Keep It All In" 12" single and CDEP *"You Keep It All In" *"You Just Can't Smile It Away" (

Bill Withers William Harrison Withers Jr. (July 4, 1938 – March 30, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He had several hits over a career spanning 18 years, including "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), "Grandma's Hands" (1971), " Use Me" (1972) ...

) *"I Love You (But You're Boring)" *"It's Instrumental" from the "I'll Sail This Ship Alone" 12" single and CDEP *"I'll Sail This Ship Alone" (single mix) *"I'll Sail This Ship Alone" (LP Mix ) *"But 'Til Then" *"I'll Sail This Ship Alone" (Orchestral Mix )

Personnel

;The Beautiful South *

– vocals *

Dave Hemingway Dave Hemingway (born David Robert Hemingway, 20 September 1960) is an English musician and songwriter, best known as a vocalist for the Hull-based band The Beautiful South until they disbanded in 2007. Previously he had been a member of The House ...

– vocals *

– guitar *

Sean Welch Sean Welch (born 12 April 1965, Enfield, England) was the bassist for The Beautiful South and previously roadie for The Housemartins The Housemartins were an English indie rock group formed in Hull who were active in the 1980s and chart ...

– bass *

Dave Stead David Stead (born 15 October 1966), is a drummer from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. Stead was the drummer for the alternate pop / rock band, The Beautiful South. After his parents separated, Stead moved with his mother and siblings to Co ...

– drums ;Additional personnel *

Briana Corrigan Briana Corrigan (born 30 May 1965) is a Northern Irish singer. She was the female singer for The Beautiful South from 1988 to 1992. Early life Corrigan was born in Northern Ireland. When she was 11 years old, her family moved from Belfast to Po ...

– vocals *

Pete Wingfield William Peter Wingfield (born 7 May 1948) is an English record producer, keyboard player, songwriter, singer and music journalist. Career Whilst at Sussex University Wingfield and three other students formed the group Jellybread. In 1969, he ...

– keyboards, piano *Mel Wesson – keyboards, drum programs *Martin Ditcham – percussion *Peter Thoms – trombone *

Gary Barnacle Gary Barnacle (born 1959 in Dover, England) is an English saxophonist, flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer, and producer. Barnacle is primarily noted for his session work and live work, including various Prince's Trust concerts at Wem ...

– saxophone, flute *

John Thirkell John Thirkell is a British trumpet and flugelhorn player, who has appeared on hundreds of pop, rock, and jazz recordings. Through the 1980s and early 1990s he was on at least one album in the UK Charts continuously, without a break, for over ...

– trumpet, fluglehorn ;Inside sleeve photography *John Woods

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Welcome To The Beautiful South 1989 debut albums The Beautiful South albums Albums produced by Mike Hedges Go! Discs albums