The Housemartins burst on to mine, and the nation's, consciousness when their third single "Happy Hour" became a top three smash hit. A jangly indie-pop song supported by a great video featuring animated plasticine figures, which were popular at the time, with four geeky looking blokes performing dance routines to the song. Many people at the time misunderstood the lyrics of the song. Rather than being a celebration of after work drinking it was a sobering critique of the misoginistic views of city trader types.
The title of their first album underlined their modest statement that they were only the fourth best band in Hull, after Red Guitars, Everything But The Girl and The Gargoyles, and there were no decent bands from London. At the time I had only heard of Everything But The Girl, and that is still the case !
I thought the album was terrific, with mostly, simple, breezy fun pop songs, strong harmonies with clever lyrics
displaying a mixture of angst, frustration and wit. There were many sharp observations in amongst the unusual mix of Christianity and Marxism
"Paupers will be paupers, bankers will be bankers
Some own pennies in a jar, some own oil tankers
What may sound like tomorrow could be ours today
There's no more need for sorrow if we get off our knees to pray, off our knees to pray"
There is a change of pace with "Flag Day", a slow piano ballad that's over 5 minutes long and perhaps a little too earnest for its own good.
The upbeat tempo returns with "Anxious", with a 1960s skiffle riff and the rest of the band sing the chorus.
"Reverends Revenge" is a short harmonica dominated instrumental, only one minute 28 long. Its a lively toe-tapper although the guitar riff is similar to that in "Happy Hour".
Side One ends with "Sitting On A Fence" another jangly pop song, with a high pitched vocal for chorus.
With a sigh to begin with "Sheep" starts Side Two. Another simple, strong pop song with a nice bass line and great backing vocals. With a short staccato guitar solo, it's a killer pop song and a surprise it wasn't a monster hit.
"And when you see a cane, I see a crock
And when you see a crowd, I see a flock
It's sheep we're up against"
"Over There" is another tuneful pop song and I love the pre-chorus :
"Every hour I have to count to ten
And a thousand times I've thought again
But it seems I've given all that I can give"
"Think For A Minute" is the second slower paced number, and another with a high pitched vocal from Paul Heaton. For me, it was an odd choice for the final single from the album.
"We're Not Deep" has some catchy singalong "ba ba baba baba ba" do-wop singing, and there is more nice bass from Norman Cook.
"I open my curtains at 7am
Just so you think I'm up with the rest of the men"
The gospel influenced "Lean On Me" is the final ballad, featuring just piano and voice. It's not to be confused with the Bill Withers song of the same name !
The album finishes with "Freedom", a standard R&B offering.
London 0 Hull 4 remains an enjoyable album to listen to despite some of its politics. It's hard to think that Paul Heaton went on to form the Beautiful South whilst Norman Cook became Beats International and Fat Boy Slim !
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Happy Hour
2. Get Up Off Our Knees
3. Flag Day
4. Anxious
5. Reverends Revenge
6. Sitting On A Fence
1. Sheep
2. Over There
3. Think For A Minute
4. We're Not Deep
5. Lean On Me
6. Freedom
Released 1986
UK Chart Position : 3
Flag Day ( - 1985 )
Sheep ( No 56 - 1986 )
Happy Hour ( No 3 - 1986 )
Think For A Minute ( No 18 - 1986 )
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