History - The Singles 85–91

Infobox Album |
Name = History - The Singles 85-91
Type = Compilation album
Artist = New Model Army (band)


Released = 1992
Recorded =
Genre = Rock, Post-punk, Folk rock
Length = 53:49
Label = EMI
Producer = Mark Freegard, Glyn Johns, Justin Sullivan, Robert Heaton, Tom Dowd
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kzfixq9hldde link]
Last album = "Raw Melody Men"
(1991)
This album = "History - The Singles 85-91"
(1992)
Next album = "The Love of Hopeless Causes"
(1993)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate Cover
Type = Compilation album


Lower caption = 2001 reissue cover

"History - The Singles 85-91" is a compilation album by the British rock group, New Model Army, released by EMI in 1992.

The band later described the release as "a 'cashing in on the catalogue' exercise by EMI", and referred to the playlist as "an unremarkable collection of singles made 'desirable' by the inclusion of "Far Better Thing" and "Higher Wall"", "tacked on the end to make you buy all the songs you already had all over again". [http://www.newmodelarmy.org/FHOME.HTM] The liner notes to the album "Lost Songs" (2001) indicate that "Far Better Thing" and probably "Higher Wall" were released without the band's consent.

"Great Expectations - The Singles Collection" was released in 2003 with the band's permission, and covers all stages of the band's career. It is considered a better representation of the group's history.

Completists may note that most tracks on the "History - The Singles" are single versions, and in some cases differ from the album versions.

In 2001 EMI repackaged and reissued the album as "History - The Best of New Model Army".

Track listing

#"No Rest" (Justin Sullivan, Stuart Morrow, Robert Heaton) – 3:52
#"Better Than Them" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:11
#"Brave New World" (Sullivan, Heaton, Jason Harris, Joolz Denby) – 3:26
#"51st State" (Ashley Cartwright, New Model Army) – 2:36
#"Poison Street" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:04
#"White Coats" (Sullivan, Heaton, Harris) – 4:18
#"Stupid Questions" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:30
#"Vagabonds" (Sullivan) – 4:21
#"Green and Grey" (Heaton, Sullivan) – 4:56
#"Get Me Out" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:19
#"Purity" (Sullivan) – 3:55
#"Space" (live) (Sullivan, Heaton, Nelson) – 3:42
#"Far Better Thing" (Sullivan) – 5:17
#"Higher Wall" (Sullivan, Harris) – 4:22

The album versions of "No Rest" and "Better Than Them" appear on "No Rest for the Wicked" (1985). "Brave New World" was released on the "Brave New World" EP (1985). "51st State" and "Poison Street" appear on the album "The Ghost of Cain" (1986). "White Coats" appears on the "White Coats" EP (1987). "Stupid Questions", "Vagabonds" and "Green and Grey" appear on "Thunder and Consolation" (1989). "Get Me Out", "Purity" and "Space" appear on "Impurity" (1990).

Personnel

Production

*Mark Freegard – producer ("No Rest", "Better Than Them")
*Glyn Johns – producer ("51st State", "Poison Street")
*Justin Sullivan – producer ("White Coats")
*Robert Heaton – producer ("White Coats")
*Tom Dowd – producer ("Stupid Questions", "Green and Grey", "Higher Wall")
*Andy Wallace – mixed by ("Poison Street")
*Nick Davis – mixed by ("White Coats")
*John Cornfield – mixed by ("Space" (live))
*John Kelly – mixed by ("Stupid Questions", "Vagabonds", "Green and Grey")

Musicians

*Justin Sullivan – vocals, guitar
*Stuart Morrow – bass ("No Rest", "Better Than Them")
*Jason Harris – bass ("Brave New World", "51st State", "Poison Street", "White Coats", "Stupid Questions", "Vagabonds", "Green and Grey", "Higher Wall")
*Nelson – bass ("Get Me Out", "Purity", "Space" (live), "Far Better Thing")
*Robert Heaton – drums

References

* [http://www.discogs.com Discogs.com]
* [http://www.newmodelarmy.org The official NMA website]
*The album liner notes