Dizzy Heights

Running Time: 43.00
Release date: 11th November 1996
Date first charted: 23rd November 1996
Highest UK chart position: 11
Weeks on chart: 31
Label: Epic
Catalogue number: 486640
Formats: CD, Cassette, Minidisc

Personnel credits:
– Drums: Chris Sharrock
– Guitars: Ian Broudie
– Bass: Martyn Campbell
– Programming and keyboards: Simon Rogers
– Hammond and piano: Clive Layton
– Backing vocals: Terry Hall, Martyn Campbell, Angie Pollock, Carl Brown, Paul Roberts

Produced by Ian Broudie, Dave Bascombe & Simon Rogers.
Mixed by Dave Bascombe.
Engineered by Cenzo Townshend, John Grey, Kenny Patterson

Running order and writing credits:

1. Imaginary Friends (Ian Broudie / Terry Hall)
2. You Bet Your Life (Ian Broudie)
3. Waiting For Today To Happen (Ian Broudie / Nicky Jones)
4. What If… (Ian Broudie / Terry Hall)
5. Sugar Coated Iceberg (Ian Broudie / Steven Jones)
6. Touch and Go (Ian Broudie)
7. Like You Do (Ian Broudie / Terry Hall)
8. Wishaway (Ian Broudie)
9. Fingers And Thumbs (Ian Broudie)
10. You Showed Me (Gene Clark / Roger McGuinn)
11. Ready Or Not (Ian Broudie)
12. Fishes On The Line (Ian Broudie)

My Notes:

The fourth album and the first to feature members of the live touring band. A taster of what was to come was demonstrated brilliantly on the Ready Or Not singles. On the single mix of Ready Or Not, the band sound revitalised, and B-sides that consisted of a heavier re-recording of Punch & Judy and covers of punk classics Another Girl, Another Planet (The Only Ones), Whole Wide World (Wreckless Eric) and Outdoor Miner (Wire). Ready Or Not was released in February 1996, then the course was changed by a phone call from the Football Association and everything was put on hold. Fast forward many months to October and the next single What If… (co-written with Terry Hall) was released, as was Dizzy Heights a couple of weeks. It’s an album of two halves – one half heavily featuring the live band, the other half predominantly using samples, loops and programming. It still sounds like the Lightning Seeds but thankfully isn’t Jollification Mk2.

As far as the live band goes, the only change made was Ali Kane was replaced by Angie Pollock, and excellent keyboardist and cracking vocalist. She’d worked alongside Ian before on Terry Hall’s album Home. She would remain with the band until the split in 2000, and has played sporadically with them ever since. Angie contributes vocals to the latest album See You In The Stars. Collaborations include three songs written with Terry Hall, Waiting For Today To Happen with Nicky Wire (the eagle eyed of you will notice in the writing credits I wrote Nicky Jones – that’s his real name – Wire was his nickname due to his wiry frame) from the Manic Street Preachers and Stephen Jones – he of Babybird. There’s a cover, too. You Showed Me was originally a song by The Byrds and was written by Gene Clark and Roger McGuinn. The Turtles covered it, and the Lightning Seeds version uses a sample of The Turtles cover. Initially recorded for a B-side, it was deemed too good and kept for the album and eventual single release.

On first glance at least, Dizzy Heights seemed to do better than Jollification. Sure, it made 11 in the UK album charts but only spent half as long there. Didn’t sell anywhere near as much, either, though it did make Gold status. What did help the album was a top 10 single (You Showed Me) and a fantastic collection of B-sides. As mentioned above are the covers on the Ready Or Not singles set, What If… gained Never (Yay!), The Crunch (oh bollocks!) and the Mix & Match that featured football commentary over backing tracks (originally Radio Goal). You Showed Me had a million and six remixes, but never mind, it had some great artwork. The jewel in the crown was the Sugar Coated Iceberg set. Consisting of two covers – a superb version of The Pretty Things’ classic “SF Sorrow Is Born”, and a brilliant rendition of “The Porpoise Song”, which is just as dreamy and psychedelic as the original by The Monkees. Original composition, the feisty little number “This Power” sounds great and two more re-workings of Jollification tracks. Telling Tales (97 Version) is an acoustic rendition, and Why Why Why (97 Version) features the band and a drumming masterclass from Chris Sharrock.