Beggars Arkive – The Charlatans – Up To Our Hips 30th Anniversary reissue

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Charlatans’ third album Up To Our Hips, Beggars Arkive have today (25 Sept) announced the release of an expanded edition of the album. The 2XLP/CD/DIGITAL set will feature the original album, plus 10 bonus tracks, all curated by Tim Burgess. The special package has brand new re-imagined artwork by Nik Void and the LP is pressed on petrol blue bio-vinyl.

The bonus tracks that have been added to the release include two BBC live session songs recorded for the Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley Show, plus B-sides, alternate mixes and outtakes.

Speaking on the upcoming reissue, Tim Burgess says:

“Obviously this record is dedicated to both Rob and Jon and I hope the expanded edition allows the listener a never before sneak peek behind the curtain at a record being made by a band in crisis”

Released in 1994 on the Beggars Banquet label, Up To Our Hips marked a new direction for the band. It leaned away from the lighter pop songs of their previous two albums and is darker, heavier and organ led. At the time, the band were listening to a lot of Small Faces, Beatles and Bob Dylan, as well as watching lots of David Lynch films. Up To Our Hips was recorded by a band under pressure, as keys player Rob Collins was embroiled in a legal case, accused as acting as the getaway driver in an armed robbery. Charges of armed robbery with lengthy sentences were eventually dropped in court, but the band feared Rob would be sent to prison for years – many of the lyrics on the album reflect the stress of the band at the time.

The album contains classic Charlatans tracks ‘Can’t Get Out Of Bed’, the lead single from the album, as well as fan favourites ‘I Never Want An Easy Life If Me And He Were Ever To Get There’ and ‘Jesus Hairdo’.

Up To Our Hips was recorded at Monnow Valley Studios in Monmouth, South Wales over the course of a year. “It was miles from anywhere,” noted Burgess, “we had to make our own fires for heat.” The Charlatans enlisted U.K, avant/hippie rock pioneer  Steve Hillage to produce, a former member of Gong, System 7, Khan and more. Working with engineer Dave Charles, Hillage and the band took pains to maintain a spontaneous vibe throughout the recording and mixing process.

The Charlatans at the time of the album were:

Martin Blunt – bass guitar

Tim Burgess – lead vocals

Mark Collins – guitar

Rob Collins – organ, pianos, vocals

Jon Brookes – drums

Vinyl version of the reissue, featuring redesigned artwork by Nik Void.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Come In Number 21

A2. I Never Want an Easy Life If Me and He Were Ever to Get There

A3. Can’t Get Out of Bed

A4. Feel Flows

A5. Autograph

B1. Jesus Hairdo

B2. Up to Our Hips

B3. Patrol

B4. Another Rider Up in Flames

B5. Inside-looking Out

BONUS TRACKS:

C1. Subterranean (B-Side)

C2. Full of Culture (Out-take)

C3. Out (B-Side)

C4. Up to Our Hips (Recorded Live For The Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley Show)

C5. Stir It Up (Alternate Instrumental Mix)

D1. Withdrawn (B-Side)

D2. Feel Flows (Alternate Mix)

D3. You & Everybody (Out-take)

D4. Don’t Let It Stand AKA Can’t Get Out of Bed (demo version)

D5. Another Rider Up In Flames (Recorded Live For The Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley Show)

Beggars Arkive is the catalogue and archive department for past and present Beggars Group labels and artists. Beggars labels include 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade, XL Recordings and Young, they also handle legacy labels including Beggars Banquet, too pure, Wiiija, Situation Two and more. Beggars began in 1977 and has over 40 years of catalogue to work with. The utmost care is given to sound quality, artwork and occasionally some very fancy packaging.

Over the last ten years, Beggars Arkive have reissued albums by Bauhaus, Gary Numan, The Cult, The Fall, Pixies, Cocteau Twins, The Mortal Coil, Freeez, Buffalo Tom, The Charlatans and many, many more. Beggars Arkive releases are done in full cooperation with the artists, oftentimes with them leading the charge. The Arkive itself is also a physical archive space, containing a wealth of Beggars Group musical and visual history. The Arkive as a label are continually working on maintaining, growing and cataloguing the archive, now a great source of materials and a perfect space for research.