She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter


She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter is the third album by British pop band the Blow Monkeys, originally released in 1987.
The album's title is a reference to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher, whose Conservative government was unpopular with left wing, pro-Labour Party music acts of the 1980s, some of whom joined the Red Wedge movement as part of their political activism.
Some songs on the album reflect dissatisfaction with the political situation in the UK at the time. After a gradual shift towards a slicker, pop-oriented style, the Blow Monkeys also introduced a dance beat, which became a defining feature of the band's later releases.

History

The band's record label RCA invested heavily in the promotion of She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter by issuing it in several different editions.
She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter peaked at No. 20 in the UK Albums Chart in April 1987. It was the band's only album to spawn four UK top 75 singles. The opening track, "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way", proved to be their most successful single, reaching No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart.
The album's three other singles were: the suggestive ballad "Out with Her" ; " The Day After You" ; "Some Kind of Wonderful". " The Day After You" is a duet with Curtis Mayfield, which was remixed for the single version. The song was banned by the BBC as it was released during a general election and, as such, was deemed to be too political.

Track listing

Words and music by Dr. Robert.
  1. "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way" – 4:00
  2. "Some Kind of Wonderful" – 3:33
  3. "Out with Her" – 4:40
  4. "How Long Can a Bad Thing Last?" – 4:07
  5. "Man at the End of His Tether" – 4:00
  6. "Rise Above" – 4:53
  7. "The Day After You " – 5:00
  8. "Checking Out" – 4:58
  9. "Don't Give It Up" – 5:46
  10. "Cash" – 6:01
  11. "Beautiful Child" – 3:50
  12. "This Is the Way It Has to Be" – 6:05
  13. "The Grantham Grizzler" – 7:20

BMG">Bertelsmann Music Group">BMG / Camden 2002 re-release

  1. "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way"
  2. "Some Kind of Wonderful"
  3. "Out with Her"
  4. "How Long Can a Bad Thing Last?"
  5. "Man at the End of His Tether"
  6. "Rise Above"
  7. " The Day After You"
  8. "Checking Out"
  9. "Don't Give It Up"
  10. "Cash"
  11. "Beautiful Child"
  12. "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way"
  13. " The Day After You"
  14. "Smile on Her Face"
  15. "Grantham Grizzler"

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.

Musicians

The Blow Monkeys
Other musicians
  • Michael Baker – keyboards, string arrangements
  • The Borneo Horn Section – horns
  • Tim Bryant – backing vocals
  • Craig Derry – backing vocals
  • Will Downing – backing vocals
  • Grayson Hughes – backing vocals
  • Jimmy Jackson – backing vocals
  • Axel Kroel – keyboards, string arrangements
  • Sylvia Mason-James – backing vocals
  • John Mealing – string arrangements
  • Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals
  • Gary Rottger – keyboards
  • Phil Roy – backing vocals
  • Ira Siegel – guitar
  • Roger Stuart – backing vocals
  • Steve Sydelnick – additional percussion
  • Benita Turner – backing vocals
  • Marius de Vries – keyboards
  • Audrey Wheeler – backing vocals
  • Peter Wilson – string arrangements
  • Gavyn Wright – strings
  • Helen Wright – strings
  • Paula Yates – backing vocals

Technical

  • Produced by Michael Baker, with help from the Axeman
  • Recording engineer: Douglas Gramma
  • Mixed by Brian "Chuck" New, Bob Kraushaar, Douglas Gramma, Rafe McKenna
  • Recorded at D&D Studios, The Point Studios, Trident Studios, Swanyard Studios, Westside Studios
  • Programmed at Synthnett Studios, The Point Studios
  • Mixed at Battery Studios, Sarm West, Red Bus Studios
  • Nick Knight: photography
  • Sleeve design: Mainartery, London

Singles from the album

  • "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way"
  • "Out with Her"
  • " The Day After You"
  • "Some Kind of Wonderful"

Release details

RCA /Ariola
Cassette
1987