VIA PRESS RELEASE | “At various points in the band’s four-decade career, the Fall might sound like punk, hard rock, psychedelia, funk, blues-rock, jazz-rock, electropop or sheer noise. “If it’s me and your granny on bongos, it’s the Fall,” Mr. Smith once declared. The BBC disc jockey John Peel, an early and steadfast supporter, said of the Fall that ‘they are always different, they are always the same.’” —The New York Times
The seventeen songs collected on 458489 A-Sides come from The Fall’s Brix Smith era, aka “the golden era of Fall releases.” This is a perfect introduction to the band, and as legendary critic Robert Christgau said, it’s “The only Fall record any normal person need own.” Originally released in 1990, this album has never been released on vinyl in the US, and isn’t easy to find elsewhere.
The band’s legendary and notorious frontman Mark E. Smith passed away earlier this year at the age of 60. The band’s output since they formed at the height of the punk rock movement in Manchester in 1976 was prolific to say the least. It’s hard to be exact, but in their four decades, The Fall released 31 studio albums, 5 part-studio/part live albums, 32 live albums, 40 compilations, and Mark E. Smith also released two spoken word albums. Another high number is that of former members of The Fall. There were over 60 different band members over the years. Their high volume of quality work over the last 40+ years had an enormous influence which was extolled greatly after his death.
TRACK LISTING
A1. Oh! Brother
A2. C.R.E.E.P.
A3. No Bulbs 3
A4. Rollin’ Dany
A5. Couldn’t Get Ahead
A6. Cruisers Creek
A7. L.A.
A8. Living Too Late
B1. Hit The North Part 1
B2. Mr. Pharmacist
B3. Hey! Luciani
B4. There’s A Ghost In My House
B5. Victoria
B6. Big New Prinz
B7. Wrong Place, Right Time No. 2
B8. Jerusalem
B9. Dead Beat Descendant
Track 1 is from the Oh! Brother single
Track 2 is from the C.R.E.E.P. single
Track 3 is from the Call For Escape Route single
Tracks 4-5 are from the Couldn’t Get Ahead/Rollin’ Dany double A-side single
Tracks 6-7 are from the Cruiser’s Creek single
Track 8 is from the Living Too Late single
Track 9 is from the Hit The North single
Track 10 is from the Mr. Pharmacist single
Track 11 is from the Hey! Luciani single
Track 12 is from the There’s A Ghost In My House single
Track 13 is from the Victoria single
Tracks 14-16 are from the double single Jerusalem/Big New Prin
Track 17 is from the Cab It Up single.
