Foxbase Alpha is the debut album by British band Saint Etienne, released in 1991.
The album was recorded in a style which is close to the house music sound of the time, but songs like "Nothing Can Stop Us" and "Wilson" display the group's characteristic love of '60s pop and several samples. Longer songs like "Stoned to Say the Least" and "Like the Swallow" are reminiscent of ambient house akin to The Orb. Like its follow-up So Tough, Foxbase Alpha's songs are bridged by samples from films or by short songs. At the time of recording, Sarah Cracknell was not fully part of group, and as a result she does not sing on "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", which is sung by Moira Lambert.
Foxbase Alpha was shortlisted for the inaugural Mercury Music Prize.
Singles
The album includes one of the group's best-known songs: a cover of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart". The cover is relatively faithful to the original but is arranged in 4/4 (as opposed to the original's waltz time), with a driving piano-bass-drum section. Andrew Weatherall later remixed the song to further emphasise the dub bassline; this remix was featured on both releases of the single and on the compilation Casino Classics. The follow-up single "Kiss and Make Up" is also a (comparatively obscure) cover version of a song written and originally recorded by The Field Mice. Ian Catt was the engineer/co-producer on both versions. "Carnt Sleep" is based on the Youthman riddim, a backing track that reggae producer Glen Brown has used on dozens of records since the late seventies. "Nothing Can Stop Us", one of the group's most famous singles, features a very prominent sample of Dusty Springfield's track, "I Can't Wait to See My Baby's Face", from her 1967 album Where Am I Going?. Saint Etienne later recorded a version of "Nothing Can Stop Us" with vocals by Kylie Minogue.
Different versions
The UK release omits "People Get Real" and "Kiss and Make Up", both of which later appeared on the collection You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone. By the time of the U.S. release of the album, the group had rerecorded "Kiss and Make Up" with Cracknell, and thus included it on the album.
The album was re-released in May 2009 as part of the Universal Music Deluxe Edition re-issue program. The album has been remastered, and is accompanied by a second disc featuring b-sides, mixes and five previously unreleased tracks. The CD booklet features new sleeve notes, images and memorabilia.
Saint Etienne played Foxbase Alpha live in its entirety for the first time ever during May 2009.
Track listing
- 1991 releases
CD: Heavenly / HVNLP1CD
| 1. |
"This is Radio Etienne" |
0:42 |
| 2. |
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" |
4:29 |
| 3. |
"Wilson" |
1:59 |
| 4. |
"Carnt Sleep" |
4:43 |
| 5. |
"Girl VII" |
3:46 |
| 6. |
"Spring" |
3:43 |
| 7. |
"She's the One" |
3:09 |
| 8. |
"Stoned to Say the Least" |
7:42 |
| 9. |
"Nothing Can Stop Us" |
4:21 |
| 10. |
"Etienne Gonna Die" |
1:32 |
| 11. |
"London Belongs to Me" |
3:57 |
| 12. |
"Like the Swallow" |
7:41 |
| 13. |
"Dilworth's Theme" |
0:38 |
CD: Warner / 9-26793-2
| 1. |
"This is Radio Etienne" |
0:42 |
| 2. |
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" |
4:29 |
| 3. |
"Wilson" |
1:59 |
| 4. |
"Carnt Sleep" |
4:43 |
| 5. |
"Girl VII" |
3:46 |
| 6. |
"Spring" |
3:43 |
| 7. |
"She's the One" |
3:09 |
| 8. |
"People Get Real" |
4:44 |
| 9. |
"Stoned to Say the Least" |
7:42 |
| 10. |
"Nothing Can Stop Us" |
4:21 |
| 11. |
"Etienne Gonna Die" |
1:32 |
| 12. |
"London Belongs to Me" |
3:57 |
| 13. |
"Kiss and Make Up" |
5:14 |
| 14. |
"Like the Swallow" |
7:41 |
| 15. |
"Dilworth's Theme" |
0:38 |
- 2009 release
CD: Heavenly / HVNLP1CDDE
| 1. |
"This is Radio Etienne" |
0:42 |
| 2. |
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" |
4:29 |
| 3. |
"Wilson" |
1:59 |
| 4. |
"Carnt Sleep" |
4:43 |
| 5. |
"Girl VII" |
3:46 |
| 6. |
"Spring" |
3:43 |
| 7. |
"She's the One" |
3:09 |
| 8. |
"Stoned to Say the Least" |
7:42 |
| 9. |
"Nothing Can Stop Us" |
4:21 |
| 10. |
"Etienne Gonna Die" |
1:32 |
| 11. |
"London Belongs to Me" |
3:57 |
| 12. |
"Like the Swallow" |
7:41 |
| 13. |
"Dilworth's Theme" |
0:38 |
| 1. |
"Kiss And Make Up (Extended Version)" |
6:19 |
| 2. |
"Filthy" |
5:33 |
| 3. |
"Chase HQ" |
3:30 |
| 4. |
"Sally Space" |
5:02 |
| 5. |
"The Reckoning" |
1:28 |
| 6. |
"Speedwell" |
6:31 |
| 7. |
"Parliament Hill" |
2:35 |
| 8. |
"People Get Real" |
4:43 |
| 9. |
"Sweet Pea" |
4:46 |
| 10. |
"Winter In America" |
5:53 |
| 11. |
"Fake 88" |
5:02 |
| 12. |
"Studio Kinda Filthy" |
4:57 |
| 13. |
"Kiss And Make Up (Sarah Cracknell Version)" |
5:13 |
| 14. |
"Sky's Dead" |
7:26 |
Credits
- Sarah Cracknell - Vocals.
- Bob Stanley - Roland Jupiter 4, Korg M1, Tambourine.
- Pete Wiggs - SCI Prophet 5, Emax sampler, Bongos.
- Ian Catt - Guitars, Keyboard Programming.
- Moira Lambert - Vocals on "Only Love Can Break Your Heart".
- Harvey Williams - Bass on "Only Love Can Break Your Heart".
- Pete Heller - Additional programming on "Kiss and Make Up".
Miscellanea
The young woman on the cover of Foxbase Alpha, Celina Nash, also turns up in Saint Etienne's 1993 album So Tough; she is the waitress that can be heard on "Chicken Soup". She is also in the video for the Pulp song "Babies".
The dialogue heard in the track "Etienne Gonna Die" is from the movie House of Games.
Singles
Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Neil Young cover) May 1990
|
7"
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart – 4:29
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Version) – 3:41
12"
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart – 4:29
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Version) – 4:41
|
Remix 12"
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix of Two Halves) – 8:49
- The Official Saint Etienne World Cup Theme
|
Kiss and Make Up September 1990
|
7"
- Kiss and Make Up
- Sky's Dead
12"
- Kiss and Make Up (Extended Version)
- Sky's Dead
|
Remix 12"
- Kiss and Make Up (Midsummer Madness Mix)
- Kiss and Make (Midsummer Dubness Mix)
CD
- Kiss and Make Up
- Kiss and Make (Extended Version)
- Sky's Dead
|
Nothing Can Stop Us (Double A-Side with Speedwell) May 1991
|
7"/12"
- Nothing Can Stop Us – 3:58
- Speedwell – 6:31
Remix 12"
- Speedwell (Flying Mix)
- Speedwell (Project Mix)
- Nothing Can Stop Us (Instrumental)
- 3D Tiger
|
CD
- Nothing Can Stop Us – 4:22
- Speedwell – 6:31
- Nothing Can Stop Us (Instrumental) – 4:16
|
Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Re-release) August 1991
|
7"/12"/Cassette
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart – 4:29
- Filthy – 5:33
CD
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart – 4:29
- Filthy – 5:33
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix of Two Halves) – 8:49
|
CD (Warner Bros. 40196-2)
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Single Remix) – 3:48
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Kenlou B-Boy Mix) – 6:53
- Stoned to Say the Least (Album Version) - 7:42
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix in Two Halves) – 6:19
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Masters at Work Dub) – 7:38
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Single-Album Version) – 4:29
|
