The Bartender and the Thief

"The Bartender and the Thief" is a song by Welsh rock band Stereophonics, written by the band in April 1998. The song is the second track on their second album, Performance and Cocktails (1999). "Bartender" was the first single taken from Performance and Cocktails and was released on 9 November 1998, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. The music video features the band playing at Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, and is based on the Francis Ford Coppola movie Apocalypse Now.

"The Bartender and the Thief"
Single by Stereophonics
from the album Performance and Cocktails
B-side"She Takes Her Clothes Off"
WrittenApril 1998
Released9 November 1998 (1998-11-09)[1]
StudioReal World (Bath, Somerset, England)
Length
  • 2:54 (album version)
  • 3:09 (single version)
LabelV2
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Kelly Jones
Producer(s)Bird & Bush
Stereophonics singles chronology
"Local Boy in the Photograph"
(1998)		 "The Bartender and the Thief"
(1998)		 "Just Looking"
(1999)
Music video
"The Bartender and the Thief" on YouTube

Versions

The track's full-length intro is only included on the CD1 single and in the music video but was edited off the album. A live version from Cardiff Castle is available on CD2 of the single. Another live version from Sheffield Arena is on the "Moviestar" single. A bar version of the song is on CD 1 of the "I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio" single.[2]

Live performances

The song, which is one of Stereophonics' heavier tracks, is frequently played amongst their live sets. During live performances, vocalist Kelly Jones has been known to use the two bars without vocals before the final chorus to reference the Motörhead song "Ace of Spades". The lyrics therefore are "The ace of spades, the ace of spades. The bartender and the thief were lovers..."

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Performance and Cocktails album booklet.[8]

Recording

Personnel

  • Kelly Jones – music, lyrics, vocals, guitar
  • Richard Jones – music, bass
  • Stuart Cable – music, drums
  • Marshall Bird – keyboards
  • Bird & Bush – production
  • Al Clay – mixing
  • Ian Cooper – mastering

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 November 1998. p. 33. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  2. I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio (UK CD1 liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 1999. VVR5008823.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. The Bartender and the Thief (UK CD1 liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 1998. VVR5004653.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. The Bartender and the Thief (UK CD2 liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 1998. VVR5004663.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. The Bartender and the Thief (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 1998. VVR5004677.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. The Bartender and the Thief (UK cassette single sleeve). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 1998. VVR5004675.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. The Bartender and the Thief (European & Australian CD single liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 1998. VVR5004913.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Performance and Cocktails (UK CD album booklet). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 1999. VVR1004492.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 48. 28 November 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Bartender and the Thief". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
  14. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  15. "British single certifications – Stereophonics – The Bartender and the Thief". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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