VIA PRESS RELEASE | On November 8th, Beggars Arkive will release a 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition of The Charlatans third album Up To Our Hips. The edition features the original album in addition to 10 bonus tracks, all lovingly curated by Tim Burgess.
One of the truly special bonus tracks is “Don’t Let It Stand AKA Can’t Get Out of Bed (demo version)” released digitally. This version was recorded by Tim Burgess and Rob Collins when the rest of the band had the weekend off from the studio. They transformed what began as an instrumental into the classic which is known and loved today. Originally called “Don’t Let It Stand”, this was the version they presented to Jon, Mark and Martin whilst telling them it was the best thing they had ever done. They then recorded the song again with the full band for the album version. “Can’t Get Out Of Bed,” ended up being the first single from Up To Our Hips and remains a Charlatans’ classic to this day.
The Charlatans—easily recognized by their hallmark sound of driving Hammond organs, northern UK soul and house-influenced rhythms, swaggering guitars, and Tim Burgess’ sunny yet yearning vocals—are one of the most consistent Britpop bands of the past three decades. They’ve released an album every few years since 1989, each of which landed in the top half of the UK music charts, three of them hitting #1 and spawning 22 top 40 singles. The band have overcome obstacles from nervous breakdowns to addiction to victims of accountancy fraud to the heartbreaking deaths of two founding members, all the while adapting, transforming and producing new music in spite of it all.
Released in 1994 on Beggars Banquet, 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 of 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.” To produce, The Charlatans pegged U.K, icon Steve Hillage, former avant/hippie rock pioneer (Gong)/ambient-house mogul (System 7). Working with engineer Dave Charles, Hillage and the band took pains to maintain a spontaneous vibe throughout the recording and mixing process.
