45 RPM (song)

"45 RPM" is a song written by Mike Peters and Steve Grantley.

"45 RPM"
Single by The Poppy Fields (The Alarm)
from the album In The Poppy Fields
B-side"Statue of Liberty"
Released2004
Recorded2004
GenrePop rock
Length3:10
LabelSnapper Music
Songwriter(s)Mike Peters, Steve Grantley
Producer(s)Steve Brown
The Poppy Fields (The Alarm) singles chronology
"'"Raw"'"
(1991)
"45 RPM"
(2004)
"New Home New Life"
(2004)

Background and writing

The song was the first official release by the Alarm since 1991, although it was originally credited as a recording by the Poppy Fields.

The single was released on 7" vinyl and two CD editions.

It was billed as an advance release from the album In the Poppy Fields.

Chart performance

The song reached No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart,[1] and No. 6 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Mike Peters unless otherwise indicated.

45 RPM CD1 release.

UK 7" single

  1. "45 RPM" (Peters/Grantley) - 2:47
  2. "It's Not Unusual" (Reed/Mills)

UK CD maxi-single 1

  1. "45 RPM (edit)" (Peters/Grantley) - 2:59
  2. "Contientious Objector" - 4:09
  3. "68 Guns (Live Session Nov 4, 2003)" - 4:53

UK CD maxi-single 2

  1. "45 RPM (album version)" (Peters/Grantley) - 3:10
  2. "Spirit of '76 (Live Session Nov 4, 2003)" - 7:10
  3. "Statue of Liberty" - 5:52

Credits

  • Bass, backing vocals - Craig Adams
  • Drums, percussion, backing vocals - Steve Grantley
  • Guitar [6 & 12 string], backing vocals - James Stevenson
  • Vocals, guitar, harmonica - Mike Peters
  • Artwork - Karl Parsons

Recorded at Foel Studios, Llanfair Caereinion, Wales.[3]

Promotional release

45 RPM promotion disc.

A promotional CD was released with one track only, "45 RPM" (2:47).

Pseudonym

The single was released under the pseudonym band name the Poppy Fields.[4] Radio 1 DJs such as Mark and Lard and Steve Lamacq were taken in by the stunt. Music reviewers were raving about the Poppy Fields based on them being a bunch of punky teenagers. Record company executives desperately wanted to find out more about the unheard band. Music channels played a video of a fictional group.

Leader singer Mike Peters explained:

"We thought we had nothing to lose," said Peters. "If we had put out a single by The Alarm, there would have been a negative feeling, because whether record company executives and music journalists admit it or not image is rated far higher than the music nowadays.

"I hope we've proved a valid point. Why must new music necessarily have to be made by new bands. I'm 44 but I'm writing new songs as fresh and as vibrant as anything I've ever done. In Britain we're too quick to want to find the next big thing. If you're over 35 you're dismissed as over-the-hill.[4]

References

  1. "POPPYFIELDS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  2. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  3. The Poppy Fields: 45 RPM at Discogs
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-06-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.