Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 248 - Sugar

Copper Blue - Sugar

Creation / Rykodisc

Produced by Bob Mould and Lou Giordano

Released 4th September 1992

UK Chart #10

 Tracklist
The Act We Act
A Good Idea
Changes
Helpless
Hoover Dam
The Slim
If I Can't Change Your Mind
Fortune Teller
Slick
Man On The Moon

Personnel
    Bob Mould - guitars, vocals, keyboards, percussion
    David Barbe - bass
    Malcolm Travis - drums, percussion

Singles from Copper Blue

 Changes / Needle Hits E / If I Can't Change Your Mind (Solo Mix) / Try Again

Creation 12" UK

Did Not Chart

The Act We Act / Where Diamonds Are Halos / Slick  / Armenia City in the Sky 

Creation 12" UK

UK Chart #65

If I Can't Change Your Mind / Clownmaster / Anyone (Live) / Hoover Dam (Live)

Creation 12" UK

UK Chart #30

*******************

Back last year I included Copper Blue in the occasional series The Best Debut Albums and rightly so. Twenty Four years on from its release it is still an album that is captivating from start to finish.

NME named it as their Album of the Year in 1992 and it was then and still is the most successful of all the projects that Bob Mould has been involved in (including hiw work with Hüsker Dü and his various Solo albums).

After two Solo albums, Workbook (1989) - which had been a quieter affair than anything he done previously with  Hüsker Dü - and Black Sheets of Rain (1990) - which was a bit of a return to the heavier sound - Bob Mould took a short detour from his solo career and put together a new band called Sugar.

On the 20th anniversary of the album The Quietus posted a great assessment of the album and an interview with Bob Mould discussing Copper Blue. Part of their conclusion regarding the album then I would be in hearty agreement with today:

"Revisiting Copper Blue is to find an album that hasn’t dated in the slightest. It deals with the kind of universal truths that aren’t time bound and its animalistic sonic power remains undiminished. Indeed, listening to the newly re-mastered version of this masterpiece is to be introduced to even more strength and energy than one had expected. Ultimately, Copper Blue is an album that not only sounds as good now as it did twenty years ago, but also one that’ll still blow cobwebs away two decades hence."

Read The Quietus Interview Here.

Whilst recording Copper Blue they also managed to record enough songs to make the follow up, Beaster. I have a few friends who seem to prefer that to the debut, but for me Copper Blue remains one of my most favourite albums ever and I have lost count as to how many times I've played it in the 24 years since its release (easily into four figures now I reckon).

In 2012 Bob Mould toured all over the place playing the album from start to finish and to this day many of the songs from it still feature in his live set.

Songs From Copper Blue Live

Bob Mould

The Act We Act.

A Good Idea.

Changes.

Helpless.

Hoover Dam.

The Slim.

If I Can't Change Your Mind.

Fortune Teller.

Slick.

Man On The Moon.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

S4L Presents: The Best Debut Albums #21 - Sugar

Copper Blue is the debut album of the U.S. alternative rock band Sugar. It was voted 1992 Album of the Year by the NME. All of the songs were written by guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, who also co-produced with Lou Giordano.  Musically, the band continues the thick punk guitar of Mould's previous band, Hüsker Dü, while slowing the tempo and emphasizing melody even more.

I never tire of hearing this album, it is one of my favourites of all-time.

Bob Mould Interview from 2012 talking about Copper Blue.

Copper Blue - Sugar

Creation

Produced by Bob Mould and Lou Giordano

Released 4th September 1992

UK Album Chart #10

Track listing
All songs written and composed by Bob Mould.
   
1.     "The Act We Act"       5:10
2.     "A Good Idea"       3:47
3.     "Changes"       5:01
4.     "Helpless"       3:05
5.     "Hoover Dam"       5:28
6.     "The Slim"       5:14
7.     "If I Can't Change Your Mind"       3:18
8.     "Fortune Teller"       4:28
9.     "Slick"       4:59
10.     "Man On The Moon"       4:42

The August Album Challenge: 17. Final Album From A Band

A final album from a band? Wow, that's a tough challenge for today, but one, my fellow lovers of all things musical, that I am perfectly willing to rise to.

Sometimes Final albums can be a bit disappointing, not only the fact that the band you like is going to be no more but sometimes they just sound tired and patchy. Our choice today is neither of those!

So, how do you follow an album like Copper Blue, or even the Mini-Album/EP Beaster? Both had been recorded at the same time but released 6 months apart but they had broke the Top Ten in the UK. Copper Blue stalled at #10 whilst it's baby brother Beaster reached #3! For their final hurrah, after a false start, they released File Under Easy Listening, it reached #7 in the UK Album Chart.

It would have been hard to beat Copper Blue, which I still think sounds incredible, but F.U.E.L. came close.

The band wrapped up as David Barbe wanted to spend more time with his family and Bob Mould wanted to expand his solo career (he's still out there blasting out fantastic music). Drummer Malcom Travis moved on to other projects as well.


Lots of links below, click to enjoy more Sugar.

File Under Easy Listening - Sugar

Creation Records

Produced by Bob Mould

Released 6th September 1994

UK Album Chart #7

US Album Chart #50

Original Tracklist

All Songs Written By Bob Mould unless otherwise noted.

1. "Gift"
2. "Company Book" (David Barbe)
3. "Your Favorite Thing"
4. "What You Want It to Be"
5. "Gee Angel"
6. "Panama City Motel"
7. "Can't Help You Anymore"
8. "Granny Cool"
9. "Believe What You're Saying"
10. "Explode and Make Up".

Singles From F.U.E.L.

Your Favorite Thing

UK #48

Believe What You're Saying

UK #73

Promo Videos

Your Favorite Thing.

Believe What You're Saying.

 Gee Angel.

F.U.E.L. Live
1. "Gift"
2. "Company Book" 
3. "Your Favorite Thing" (Bob Mould 2013)
4. "What You Want It to Be"
5. "Gee Angel"
6. "Panama City Motel"
7. "Can't Help You Anymore"
8. "Granny Cool"
9. "Believe What You're Saying" (Bob Mould and Lou Barlow)
10. "Explode and Make Up".

Tidy Tune #248: The Slim - Sugar

Rewind: 1992: Sugar Release Their Debut Album 'Copper Blue'

On this day in musical history one of The Most Epic Indie Albums Ever was released on Creation Records.

No more words need to be uttered as the music speaks for itself. This is Bob Mould at his mighty best.

Soundtrac4Life Best of 2012 Part Two Single of the Year and other winners

Unlike the Album of the Year which hasn't been decided the following have been declared winners.

A bit like last year when we had joint winners of the Single of the Year it's pretty much the same again. Not really into buying singles so it's always nice when a couple of things creep up and surprise!

Single of the Year Joint Winners

Honest John Plain - Never Listen to Rumours

He could have won it all on his own for this fabulous slice of rock and roll (and surely one of the best backing bands of the year!)

But Wendy James came along with an exceptional Double A-Side of cover versions originally released by The Sonic Rendezvous Band and Bob Dylan. Also supporting a great cast in James Williamson (The Stooges) and James Sclavunos (The Bad Seeds) 

Wendy James, James Williamson and James Sclavunos - You're So Great

 It's Alright Ma'

Reissue of the Year

Sugar - Copper Blue

There has actually been a vast array of reissues this year and so the decision to give it to Sugar was not an easy one. Twenty years after it's first release it still sounds great. It remains one of the standout albums in Indie Music History.

Honourable mentions go to the Aztec Camera and Kirsty MacColl albums that were reissued as well.

BEST BOX SET OF THE YEAR

Blur - 21

 
The career spanning boxset that basically has everything a Blur fan might ever want and more! A fantastic audio and visual experience.

The Please Don't Ever Make An Album Like That Again Award!

Meat Loaf - Hell In A Handbasket

This album came out in December 2011 and so missed out on being included in last years awards and so it has the mispleasure of being the first ever recipient of The Please Don't Ever Make An Album Like That Award!  

After absolutely wrecking one of the best songs to come out of the 1960's (California Dreaming) Mr Loaf just goes from bad to worse. It's that bad that even One Direction's album couldn't win this award!

Bob Mould - Tavastia Helsinki 6th August 2012

Live Footage from Tavastia Set


A Good Idea
Helpless
The Slim
If I Can't Change Your Mind
Fortune Teller
Slick
Man On The Moon

Three of the Seven Husker Du tracks Bob played

Hardly Getting Over It

I Apologize

Chartered Trips

Sugar Reissues

I have to admit that 'Copper Blue' is one album that has never been off my radar since it's release 20 years ago. It's actually hard to believe that it is actually that old because to my ears it doesn't sound dated at all. I consider the album to be so good that it has never been out of my Top Ten Favourite Albums of All Time.

The news that all three Sugar albums are to be released as Deluxe Editions is excellent and here's the tracklist for 'Copper Blue'

Disc 1

1. The Act We Act
2. A Good Idea
3. Changes
4. Helpless
5. Hoover Dam
6. The Slim
7. If I Can't Change Your Mind
8. Fortune Teller
9. Slick
10. Man On The Moon
11. Needle Hits E (B-side of "Helpless" in US or "Changes" in UK)
12. If I Can't Change Your Mind (Solo Mix) (B-side of "Helpless" in US or "Changes" in UK)
13. Try Again (B-side of "Helpless" in US or "Changes" in UK)
14. Clownmaster (B-side of "If I Can't Change Your Mind")
15. If I Can't Change Your Mind (BBC radio session)
16. Hoover Dam (BBC radio session)
17. Try Again (BBC radio session)
18. Clownmaster (BBC radio session)

Disc 2

Live At The Cabaret Metro, Chicago, Illinois, 22nd July 1992

1. The Act We Act
2. A Good Idea
3. Changes
4. Running Out Of Time
5. Helpless (B-side of "A Good Idea" except in UK)
6. If I Can't Change Your Mind
7. Where Diamonds Are Halos (B-side of "A Good Idea")
8. Hoover Dam (B-side of "If I Can't Change Your Mind")
9. Beer Commercial
10. Slick (B-side of "A Good Idea")
11. Anyone (B-side of "If I Can't Change Your Mind")
12. Clownmaster
13. Tilted
14. Armenia City In The Sky (B-side of "A Good Idea")
15. JC Auto (B-side of "JC Auto")
16. The Slim
17. Dum Dum Boys
18. Man On The Moon 

Disc3 DVD

1. Helpless (Promo video)
2. Changes (Promo video)
3. If I Can't Change Your Mind (Promo video)
4. Helpless (Live On The Late Show UK)
5. Interview (MTV UK)
6. Interview (MTV US 120 Minutes)

Disc 1 (CD):
"BEASTER"
1. Come Around/2. Tilted.
3. Judas Cradle.
4. JC Auto.
5. Feeling Better.
6. Walking Away.

Disc 2 (DVD):
"PROMO VIDEO"
1. Tilted

"LIVE AT FINSBURY PARK 13TH JUNE 1993"
2. The Act We Act
3. A Good Idea
4. Changes
5. Beer Commercial 

Listen to Full Album Here.

Disc: 1
1. Gift
2. Company Book
3. Your Favorite Thing
4. What You Want It To Be
5. Gee Angel
6. Panama City Motel
7. Can't Help You Anymore
8. Granny Cool
9. Believe What You're Saying
10. Explode And Make Up
11. Mind Is An Island
12. Frustration
13. Going Home
14. In The Eyes Of My Friends
15. And You Tell Me
16. Believe What You're Saying [Campfire Mix]
Disc: 2
1. Gift
2. Company Book
3. Hoover Dam
4. After All The Roads Have Led To Nowhere
5. Where Diamonds Are Halos
6. Slick
7. Going Home
8. Running Out Of Time
9. Frustration
10. Changes
11. Can't Help You Any More
12. Helpless
13. If I Can't Change Your Mind
14. In The Eyes Of My Friends
15. Clownmaster
16. Gee Angel
17. Explode And Make Up
18. The Slim
Disc: 3 DVD
1. Your Favourite Thing
2. Believe What You're Saying
3. Gee Angel
4. MTV Sugar Feature
5. Bob Mould and Lou Barlow: Believe What You're Saying (live on MTV 120 Minutes)