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The Lilac Time (album)

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The Lilac Time
Studio album by
The Lilac Time
Released2 November 1987
RecordedAugust 1986–August 1987
GenrePop rock, jangle pop,[1] folk-pop[2]
Length37:09
Label
Producer
  • The Lilac Time
  • Bob Lamb
The Lilac Time chronology
The Lilac Time
(1987) 		Paradise Circus
(1989)

The Lilac Time is the debut album by English band the Lilac Time and was released in 1987 by Swordfish Records. The album was partially remixed and re-released by Fontana Records in 1988.

Recording

In early 1987, singer-songwriter Stephen Duffy, who had previously established a career under both his own name and the moniker Tin Tin, was dropped by Virgin subsidiary 10 Records.[3][4] Duffy had already begun recording his fourth album with the label, which he envisaged as a folk-flavoured release, but his proposed new direction was met with disapproval by the record company, which played a part in his being let go.[4][nb 1]

For this new album, Duffy was joined by his multi-instrumentalist brother Nick and his girlfriend's best friend Michael Weston on keyboards.[5][6] Christening themselves the Lilac Time (a name taken from the lyrics of Nick Drake's song "River Man"),[5] the band began recording at producer Bob Lamb's Kings Heath studio in south Birmingham on 26th August, 1986, recording five tracks, of which "Rockland", "And the Ship Sails On", and "Return to Yesterday" ended up on the album.[6] In summer 1987, the band relocated to Searles Cottage, an old dairy, to rehearse and record demos of new material.[6][nb 2] Duffy used what remained of the money he had received as royalties from his hit single "Kiss Me" to complete the album,[4] with sessions finishing at Lamb's in late summer 1987.[6]

The songs that Duffy and the band recorded for the album blended pop music and folk instrumentation, with the lyrics leaning towards nature imagery on occasion, expressed mainly as metaphor.[1] The uptempo song "Return to Yesterday" has lyrics that reminisce about England's past, while wondering about its future, and has been described by critic Tim DiGravina as "evocative of a vintage 1800s steam train roaring through green pastures and lush vineyards".[1] DiGravina also called the songs "And the Ship Sails On" and "Love Becomes a Savage" "dark and moody".[1]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Trouser Pressfavourable[2]

The Lilac Time was released by Swordfish Records on 2 November, 1987. Four of its tracks were remixed when it was re-released by major label Fontana Records in 1988.[7]

Tim DiGravina, writing for the AllMusic website, described the album as "a fascinating debut", "a minimasterpiece", and "the start of a perfect career". He went on to say, "Right off the bat, Stephen Duffy and company mix poetry, pop melodies, and folk instrumentation to create songs of endless charm, mesmerizing passion, and tantalizing atmosphere."[1] Trouser Press described the album as "unfailingly delightful".[2]

Track listing

Track listing is for the original 1987 Swordfish Records' release; the 1988 Fontana Records re-release places "Return to Yesterday" and "Rockland" in reverse order.

All songs written and arranged by the Lilac Time.

Side one

  1. "Black Velvet" – 3:21
  2. "Rockland" – 4:06
  3. "Return to Yesterday" – 3:43
  4. "You've Got to Love" – 4:36
  5. "Love Becomes a Savage" – 3:50

Side two

  1. "Together" – 2:53
  2. "The Road to Happiness" – 3:59
  3. "Too Sooner Late than Better" – 3:39
  4. "And the Ship Sails On" – 3:01
  5. "Trumpets from Montparnasse" – 3:45

Notes

  1. ^ According to Duffy, 10 Records wanted him to find a female singer and record a dance music album.[4]
  2. ^ Searles is pictured on the album's front cover.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f DiGravina, Tim. "The Lilac Time album review". AllMusic. Rovi Corp. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  2. ^ a b c Sheridan, David; Robbins, Ira; Partsch, Bill. "TrouserPress.com :: Lilac Time". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  3. ^ Donelson, Marcy. "The Lilac Time biography". AllMusic. Rovi Corp. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  4. ^ a b c d Duffy, Stephen (1998). The Called Him Tintin (CD booklet). Stephen Duffy. Virgin Records. p. 2.
  5. ^ a b "The Lilac Time artist overview". AAE Music. All American Entertainment. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  6. ^ a b c d e Squires, Chris. "The Lilac Time - The Lilac Time discography entry [click relevant link to view]". Duffypedia. Archived from the original on 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2021-03-05. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2007-04-01 suggested (help)
  7. ^ "Fontana trade advertisement for The Lilac Time album". Post Images. Retrieved 2021-03-05.


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