Colossal Youth

For the 2006 Portuguese film, see Colossal Youth (film).

Colossal Youth
Studio album by Young Marble Giants
Released	February 1980
Recorded	1979, Foel Studios, North Wales
Genre	Post-punk
Length	40:40
Label	Rough Trade (original release) Domino (2007 reissue)
Producer	Young Marble Giants
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Colossal Youth is the first and only LP by Young Marble Giants, released in 1980 on Rough Trade Records. Young Marble Giants were offered the opportunity to record the album after Rough Trade heard just two songs by the band on the local Cardiff music compilation, Is The War Over?.

Recording

The album was recorded in three and half days at Foel Studios [1] near Welshpool in North Wales for £1000. The band was able to record fast and cheaply by using many of their first takes on the record in a deliberate attempt to keep the music 'alive'. The only overdubbing on the record is a slide guitar on "Include Me Out" and distorted vocals on "Eating Noddemix".

Influence

Nirvana singer-songwriter Kurt Cobain said in a 1992 Melody Maker interview that Colossal Youth was one of the five most influential records he had ever heard.

"This music relaxes you, it's total atmospherics. It's just nice, pleasant music. I love it. The drum machine has to have the cheesiest sound ever. We're going to be on a Young Marble Giants compilation, doing 'Credit in the Straight World'. I had a crush on the singer for a while—didn't everyone?

"I didn't know much about them—the Moxham brothers, right? I heard they might be getting back together again recently. (NB: Stuart Moxham just produced one side of the new Beat Happening album [You Turn Me On, 1992], another of Kurt's favorite bands). Isn't it weird how, when you hear something like that, you still get excited, even though you know you shouldn't?

"I first heard Colossal Youth on the radio, after I started getting into K music when I lived in Olympia. It was a year before I put out the Bleach album."

—Kurt Cobain

In May 2009 the album was performed live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series.

Track listing

1. "Searching for Mr. Right"
2. "Include Me Out"
3. "The Taxi"
4. "Eating Noddemix"
5. "Constantly Changing"
6. "N.I.T.A."
7. "Colossal Youth"
8. "Music for Evenings"
9. "The Man Amplifier"
10. "Choci Loni"
11. "Wurlitzer Jukebox"
12. "Salad Days"
13. "Credit in the Straight World"
14. "Brand - New - Life"
15. "Wind in the Rigging"

The re-release including the following bonus tracks, taken from the Final Day single, Testcard EP, and some B-sides:

16. "This Way"
17. "Posed by Models"
18. "Clock"
19. "Clicktalk"
20. "Zebra Trucks"
21. "Sporting Life"
22. "Final Day"
23. "Radio Silents"
24. "Cake Walking"
25. "Ode to Booker T"

Personnel

• Stuart Moxham - guitar and organ
• Alison Statton - vocals
• Philip Moxham - bass

Cover Versions

• "Final Day" by Speed The Plough on Wonder Wheel (1991, East Side Digital)
• "Credit in the Straight World" by Hole on Live Through This (1994)
• "Eating Noddemix" by Adam Green on Stop Me If You Think You´ve Heard This One Before (2003, Rough Trade Records)
• "Final Day" by Belle & Sebastian on Stop Me If You Think You´ve Heard This One Before (2003, Rough Trade Records)
• "Searching for Mr. Right" by Supercar on Fine Time: A Tribute to New Wave (2004, Ki/oon Records)
• "Final Day" by Galaxie 500 on Peel Sessions (2005, 20/20/20)

External links

• Cardiffians: The Young Marble Giants Web Archive