Expecting to Fly (album)

Expecting to Fly is the debut studio album by the Bluetones. It was released on 12 February 1996, knocking Oasis's (What's the Story) Morning Glory? off the number-one spot in the UK Albums Chart for a week. The album is certified Platinum by the BPI. Its singles were "Bluetonic", "Slight Return" and "Cut Some Rug".

A 2 CD Expanded Edition of the album was released on 9 March 2009.

Production

The majority of Expecting to Fly was recorded at Ridge Farm Studios in mid 1995, except for "Talking to Clarry", which was done in late 1995. Hugh Jones produced the sessions, and mixed the recordings with engineer Helen Woodward. The album was later mastered by Geoff Pesche.

Reception

Sam Taylor in Q wrote, "Perhaps the most accomplished rock debut album since The Stone Roses in 1989, Expecting to Fly avoids the usual primitive drive of first recordings, in favour of technical brilliance and adventurous songwriting... a classic rock album." List journalist Brian Donaldson likened The Bluetones to "a Squeeze for the 90s", and noted that the record has "excellence exhibited throughout". David Sinclair of Rolling Stone called the album "an accomplished and varied collection of guitar-based tunes with a solid charm rooted in the best traditions of English alternative pop—no more, but certainly no less."

Melody Maker placed it at no. 19 on their list of 1996's Albums of the Year. NME ranked the LP at no. 11 in their 1996 critic poll.

Commercial performance

Expecting to Fly entered the UK Albums Chart at number one on first-week sales of 82,000. The album was certified platinum by the BPI in March 1998 for sales of 300,000.

Track listing

All tracks written by Morriss, Chesters, Devlin, Morriss, except where noted.

1. "Talking to Clarry" – 6:52
2. "Bluetonic" – 4:08 (Morriss, Chesters, Devlin, Morriss, Mitchell)
3. "Cut Some Rug" – 4:32
4. "Things Change" – 5:38
5. "The Fountainhead" – 4:35
6. "Carnt Be Trusted" – 3:50
7. "Slight Return" – 3:21
8. "Putting Out Fires" – 6:22
9. "Vampire" – 4:32
10. "A Parting Gesture" – 4:40
11. "Time & Again" – 5:09

Collector's edition disc 2

1. "A Parting Guesture" (R1 The John Peel Show, 1994)
2. "Cut Some Rug" (R1 The John Peel Show, 1994)
3. "Bluetonic" (R1 The Mark Radcliffe Show, May 1995)
4. "Are You Blue or Are You Blind?" (R1 The Mark Radcliffe Show, May 1995)
5. "Fountainhead" (R1 The Mark Radcliffe Show, May 1995)
6. "Time & Again" (R1 The Mark Radcliffe Show, May 1995)
7. "Driftwood" (R1 The Evening Session, July 1995)
8. "Can't Be Trusted" (R1 The Evening Session, July 1995)
9. "Are You Blue or Are You Blind?" (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
10. "Cut Some Rug" (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
11. "Can't Be Trusted" (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
12. "Bluetonic" (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
13. "Time & Again" (Sound City 1995 Bristol)

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.

The Bluetones

• Scott Morriss – bass, backing vocals
• Adam Devlin – guitar, 12 string guitar
• Mark Morriss – vocals
• Eds Chesters – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Caroline LaVelle – cello (track 8)
• Dan Crompton – blues harp (track 10)
• Mac McEldon – clavinet (track 4)

Production

• Hugh Jones – producer, mixing
• Helen Woodward – mixing engineer
• Geoff Pesche – mastering

Design

• Superstock – front cover photography
• Marc Newman – front cover photography
• Roger Sargent – band photography
• Scott Morriss – additional photography
• Trevor Ray Hart – additional photography
• The Bluetones – artwork concept

Charts

Weekly charts

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Chart (1996)	Peak position

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
UK Albums (OCC)	44