Description
MANSUN Wide Open Space cd1
Mansun Wide Open Space
Label: Parlophone 7243 8 83495 2 8, Parlophone CDR 6453
Series: Mansun EPs 4
Format: CD, EP, CD1, Digipak
Country: UK
Released: 25 Nov 1996
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Brit Pop
Tracklist:
1 Wide Open Space 4:32
Engineer Ian Caple, Mike Hunter
Mixed By Mark Stent
2 Rebel Without A Quilt 4:09
Engineer Mike Hunter
3 Vision Impaired 2:39
Engineer Nick Griffiths
4 Skin Up Pin Up 3:41
Engineer Ronnie Stone
Written-By Paul Draper
Four EP
Disc 1 of a 2 CD set.
Barcode (Text): 7 24388 34952 9
“Wide Open Space” is a song by Chester rock band Mansun, released as a single on 25 November 1996. The song was the lead track of Four EP. The single’s success led to alternate versions appearing on four of the next five Mansun singles. These versions were one live, one acoustic, and two remixes, the first and most popular by Perfecto and a NRG version by The Trouser Enthusiasts. A completely different version credited to longtime engineer Mike Hunter was included as a hidden bonus track on their compilation Kleptomania. The song also appears on The Sound of Gran Turismo, a soundtrack album based on Gran Turismo.
History:
“Wide Open Space” was not the group’s most successful single in terms of sales or UK chart position – reaching number 15 in the UK Singles Chart – but propelled the group’s career and is their best-known song. It was also the only single that gained significant exposure in the US, reaching number 25 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1997. Paul Draper later wrote that he was the sole writer and performer of the song. In the liner notes of Legacy: Best Of, Draper explained having recorded the entire song sans the vocals six months before he wrote the lyrics.
Two videos were filmed to promote the single. The first, directed by Paul Cunningham, features the band playing in a small dilapidated room while Martino Lazzeri (Joe Williams from BBC‘s Grange Hill) walks around a city, alienated and paranoid, amid vampiresque overtones. A second, simpler video was recorded for the US market, directed by Nigel Dick.
“Wide Open Space” became a dance anthem after being remixed by DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold (under the production alias Perfecto). This remix was included on Oakenfold’s compilation Resident: Two Years of Oakenfold at Cream, sealing its status as one of the most played songs at major UK nightclub Cream, as well as in nightclubs around the world, over the 1997–1999 period.
“I thought ‘Wide Open Space’ was in the running for best single of last year,” remarked Radiohead‘s Ed O’Brien in 1997. “They’ve got loads of ideas and they don’t sound like us at all. They’re supposed to be part of that ‘New Grave’ thing with us and the Manics, aren’t they? Everything that article said was true: we all did have long overcoats and dodgy haircuts in the ’80s.”
B-sides:
“Vision Impaired” began life as a demo for Draper’s previous group; Grind. The Glam infused track was initially called “I Lust You”. It was an electronic composition with a heavy synth bass. The lyrics are mostly unchanged, apart from the chorus which emphasises the refrain ‘I Lust You’.
“Skin Up Pin Up” was the group’s first single for a proper label. It was originally released as a double ‘A’ side with “Flourella“. The latter song was rerecorded for the “She Makes My Nose Bleed” single release. The version of “Skin Up Pin Up” is unchanged. A remixed version was created for the film Spawn: The Soundtrack. The remix was produced by 808 State.
Paul Drapers song writing is very innovative, and he has a very good voice. This song starts off with acoustic guitar, and explodes into an orgy of electric guitar after the first two bars.The video is cool as well and the sound is amazing. UnLike Oasis,The Manics and other 90s bands, Mansun always sound innovative and will always impress, through a variety of instruments and the genius of Paul Draper. Genius.
“Wide Open Space” is a song by Chester rock band Mansun, released as a single on 25 November 1996. The song was the lead track of Four EP. The singles success led to alternate versions appearing on four of the next five Mansun singles. These versions were one live, one acoustic, and two remixes, the first and most popular by Perfecto and a NRG version by The Trouser Enthusiasts. A completely different version credited to longtime engineer Mike Hunter was included as a hidden bonus track on their compilation Kleptomania. The song also appears on The Sound of Gran Turismo, a soundtrack album based on Gran Turismo.
“Wide Open Space” was not the groups most successful single in terms of sales or UK chart position only reaching number 15 in the UK Singles Chart but it propelled the groups career and is their most well known song. It was also the only single that gained significant exposure in the US, and reached number 25 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1997. Paul Draper later wrote that he was the sole writer and performer of the song. In the liner notes of Legacy: Best Of, Draper explained having recorded the entire song sans the vocals six months before he wrote the lyrics.
Two promo videos were filmed to promote the single. The first was directed by Paul Cunningham and featured the band playing in a small dilapidated room while Martino Lazzeri (Joe Williams from BBCs Grange Hill) walks around a city alienated and paranoid amidst vampiresque overtones. A second, simpler video was recorded for the US market, directed by Nigel Dick.
“Wide Open Space” became a dance anthem after being remixed by DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold (under the production alias Perfecto). This remix was included on Oakenfolds compilation Resident: Two Years of Oakenfold at Cream, as an indicator of being one of the most played songs at major UK nightclub Cream, as well as in nightclubs around the world, over the 19971999 period.
CD1 Limited Edition
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this absolutely kicked my musical/emotional arse. This was my Twin Peaks? of the music world, a real piece of art meets music and still makes fabulous sense. Most missed band for me, having seen them twice and never left disappointed. My favourite band of all time. As much as I like Oasis, Blur, Kula Shaker etc etc? Mansun were the GREATEST band of the nineties. They have a great sound, write great songs, they look good, yet they were sidelined. Maybe it was a record company thing… ‘what demographic do they fit in?’ kinda thing, ‘will it appeal to the 12-20 set? or are they more 18-35? lyrics are too risqué for the 12-18 set so… ya know, the usual claptrap that can undermine a bands rep/credibility.
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