STEREOPHONICS DISCOGRAPHY & VIDEOS

1.Word Gets Around (1997); 2.Performance and Cocktails (1999); 3.Just Enough Education to Perform (2001); 4.You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003); 5.Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (2005); 6.Pull the Pin (2007); 7.Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)

Word Gets Around

Released August 25, 1997, Length 42:02, Label V2

1.A Thousand Trees 3:02

2.Looks Like Chaplin 2:32

3.More Life in a Tramps Vest 2:19

4.Local Boy in the Photograph 3:22

5.Traffic 4:54

6.Not Up to You 4:37

7.Check my Eyelids for Holes 2:43

8.Same Size Feet 4:00

9.Last of the Big Time Drinkers 2:45

10.Goldfish Bowl 3:03

11.Too Many Sandwiches 5:01

12.Billy Davey's Daughter 3:45

Word Gets Around is the debut album by Welsh rock band Stereophonics. 

The album reached #6 in the UK Albums Chart and is one of two Stereophonics albums not to reach #1; the other being 2009's Keep Calm and Carry On, which reached #11. Much of the album is written about everyday life in Cwmaman. 

The deluxe and super-deluxe editions were released on the 18th of October 2010. This, as well as the track listings, was announced on the Stereophonics Facebook page on the 24th of August 2010.

Performance and Cocktails

Released March 8, 1999, Length 50:55, Label V2 

1.Roll Up and Shine 3:58

2.The Bartender and the Thief 2:54

3.Hurry Up and Wait 4:40

4.Pick a Part That's New 3:33

5.Just Looking 4:13

6.Half The Lies You Tell Ain't True 2:55

7.I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio 3:50

8.T-Shirt Sun Tan 4:04

9.Is Yesterday, Tomorrow, Today? 4:02

10.A Minute Longer 3:46

11.She Takes Her Clothes Off 3:55

12.Plastic California 4:30

13.I Stopped to Fill My Car Up 4:29

The cover photograph was taken by Scarlet Page in autumn 1998 at a football pitch under the Westway in London, and was inspired by an earlier Annie Leibovitz photograph of a couple kissing outside a prison. The British journalist Tony Barrell did extensive research in 2007 to find the female model in the foreground. 

In the Sunday Times on 11 November 2007, he revealed the previously unknown identity of the model as 23-year-old Lucy Joplin. In an interview with Barrell, Joplin explained that the "faraway look" in her eyes was the result of an evening consuming absinthe and opium, and that she was paid just £75 in cash for the shoot. The name of the then 23-year-old male model is Kipp Burns on loan from Mannique models, King's Road.

Reception

Performance and Cocktails was a surprise commercial success, giving the Stereophonics three straight top five singles in the British charts with "The Bartender and the Thief" reaching number three, and both "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New" reaching number four. 

The album itself was a big success, topping the UK Albums Chart selling 119,954 copies in its first week and going on to become the 5th best selling album in the UK in 1999. To date, it has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Such was the album's persistence, that it re-entered the UK charts over four years after its initial release, reaching #25 in January 2004. It spent 98 weeks in total in the UK top 100 charts, the most for a Stereophonics album, in the process being certified 5x platinum.

Just Enough Education to Perform

Released April 17, 2001, Length 55:40, Label V2

1.Vegas Two Times 4:29

2.Lying in the Sun 4:31

3.Mr. Writer 5:19

4.Step on My Old Size Nines  4:00

5.Have a Nice Day 3:25

6.Nice to Be Out 3:08

7.Handbags and Gladrags 4:37 

8.Watch Them Fly Sundays 3:29

9.Everyday I Think of Money 3:24

10.Maybe 4:34

11.Caravan Holiday 3:12

12.Rooftop 6:15

Just Enough Education to Perform, also known by its acronym J.E.E.P., is the third studio album by Welsh rock band Stereophonics. Released on 17 April 2001, the album topped the UK Albums Chart with 140,000 copies sold. and spawned three top-ten singles in the form of "Mr. Writer", "Have a Nice Day" and "Handbags and Gladrags". 

When the album was originally released it had 11 tracks, it was then re-released in 2002 to include Handbags and Gladrags after it was released as a single.

Reception

On its initial release in 2001, J.E.E.P. reached #1 in the UK charts where it stayed for two weeks, it topped the charts for another two weeks in the second week of January 2002, nine months after its initial release.

The album then went on to re-enter the charts several times: it peaked at #27 during June 2002, #37 in July 2003 and #34 in August 2003, until finally disappearing from the top 100. In 2001 J.E.E.P. was the 4th biggest selling album in the UK, and in 2002 it was the 24th biggest selling album in the UK, as well as being the 39th biggest selling album of the decade. It went on to be certified 5x platinum in the UK.

Popular culture

Manchester United and England forward Wayne Rooney has the album's name tattooed in a design on his right forearm. Rooney is a longtime fan of the band and is good friends with them.

You Gotta Go There to Come Back

Released June 2, 2003, Length 59:12, Label V2

1.Help Me (She's Out of Her Mind) 6:55

2.Maybe Tomorrow 4:33

3.Madame Helga 3:55

4.You Stole My Money Honey 4:18

5.Getaway 4:08

6.Climbing the Wall 4:55

7.Jealousy 4:26

8.I'm Alright (You Gotta Go There to Come Back) 4:36

9.Nothing Precious at All 4:20

10.Rainbows and Pots of Gold 4:11

11.I Miss You Now 4:50

12.High as the Ceiling 3:19

13.Since I Told You It's Over 4:43

You Gotta Go There to Come Back is Stereophonics' fourth album, released on V2 in 2003. It became their third consecutive album to top the UK chart selling 101,946 copies in its first week. It was the final Stereophonics album with long-time original drummer Stuart Cable.

The album shows a newly found maturity compared to the brazenness of the previous three. After this mature and soulful album they returned to the sound of their previous albums with their next album. The title can also be explained by this statement: they had to go here, and record this album, to come back and return to their old sound.

Reception

You Gotta Go There to Come Back joined its predecessors at #1 on release. It was re-issued with bonus tracks in February 2004, coming into the UK charts again at #35, finally re-entering at #16 in September 2004. It was the 28th biggest selling album of 2003 in the UK. The track "Maybe Tomorrow" became one of their biggest hits; it was played over the credits of the Academy Award-winning movie Crash (2004) and also during the opening scene of the movie Wicker Park (2004). It was also used in a season one episode of One Tree Hill and featured on the first Charmed soundtrack.

Language. Sex. Violence. Other?

Released March 14, 2005, Length 43:24, Label V2

1.Superman 5:07

2.Doorman 3:49

3.Brother 4:04

4.Devil 4:40

5.Dakota 4:57

6.Rewind 4:46

7.Pedalpusher 3:18

8.Girl 1:59

9.Lolita 3:26

10.Deadhead 3:34

11.Feel 3:44

Language. Sex. Violence. Other? is the fifth studio album by Stereophonics, released March 14, 2005 (22 March 2005 in the U.S.). It received critical acclaim in the British music press, who had been hostile to the band in recent years, and notably the NME, whose reviews of the band's previous two albums had been harsh. The album reached number one in the UK, selling over 100,000 copies in its first week of release. It was the 37th biggest selling album of 2005 in the UK with over 450,000 copies sold. It debuted at thirty-five on the U.S. Billboard Heatseekers chart.

The first single, "Dakota", was released on 28 February 2005. It became Stereophonics' biggest hit in the UK, reaching number one in the sales chart, and also topping the download chart, where it remained in the top ten for eleven weeks. The single received good reviews, James Masterton calling it the single of the year.

The single steadily gained ground on U.S. alternative rock radio. However, since the Stereophonics lacked a fanbase or previous popular success in America, the single was at a great disadvantage and was initially added to very few station playlists. Nevertheless, the popularity of the song and its championing by such stations as WBCN led "Dakota" slowly to gain airplay and playlist adds across the country over a period of many months. Eventually, "Dakota" become the first Stereophonics song to chart on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It first charted on 9 July 2005, almost half a year after its original release. The song reached thirty-four on the chart.

The second UK single was "Superman", released on 20 June. It was added to BBC Radio 1's B-list, and moved to the A-list a few weeks later. The song reached thirteen in the singles chart; its low placing resulted from its edgier, harder feel compared to "Dakota," and its lack of download sales. Nevertheless, critic James Masterton gave it a positive review.

The third single was "Devil", released on 12 September 2005. The song was added to Radio 1's C-List but later moved to the B-List and it was also playlisted by XFM.

The album is the first to feature new drummer Javier Weyler. All songs have only one word in the title. The title of the song "Lolita" was inspired by Kelly Jones' baby daughter.

The song "Deadhead" was previously released as a demo version under a different track name on the "Maybe Tomorrow" CD Single as "Royal Flush". This is the second time to date the band have released a full finished version of a demo track from a CD single of a previous album campaign, in which "Good to Go Out" from "Pick a Part That's New" was released two years later in 2001 on Just Enough Education to Perform, the track becoming "Nice to Be Out". Though both CD singles are no longer available widespread, the tracks can currently be purchased on the UK iTunes Store on the digital version of the said singles.

Pull the Pin

Released October 12, 2007, Length 46:25, Label V2

1.Soldiers Make Good Targets 4.37

2.Pass the Buck 3.24

3.It Means Nothing 3.48

4.Bank Holiday Monday 3.14

5.Daisy Lane 3.37

6.Stone 4.17

7.My Friends 3.35

8.I Could Lose Ya 3.17

9.Bright Red Star 3.39

10.Ladyluck 3.45

11.Crush 3.56

12.Drowning 5.08

Pull the Pin is the sixth studio album by Stereophonics, released in the UK on 15 October 2007. A Stereophonics newsletter released the "Pull the Pin" album artwork to subscribers. The cover was also shown to MySpace users that had added the band in a bulletin. The album reached number 1 in the UK selling 49,012 copies in its first week, becoming the band's fifth consecutive album to do so.

The taster track "Bank Holiday Monday" had its world premier on Radio 1's Chris Moyles Show on Tuesday 1 May 2007 and was made available for digital download on Monday 28 May 2007 from online retailers.

"Daisy Lane" is about a young boy who was stabbed to death on the street where Kelly Jones lives. He told The Sun: "It was something I saw looking out of my very own window. I saw a row of seven policeman searching an area of my street. Then I read in the paper that they'd been searching for a knife as this kid had been stabbed." The band's newsletter on 24 July 2007 confirmed details and artwork of the first 'proper' single to be released from the album. "It Means Nothing" was released in the UK on 24 September 2007, followed by My Friends on 10 December 2007.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Released November 16, 2009, Length 55:09, Label V2/ Mercury

1.She's Alright 3:27

2.Innocent 3:41

3.Beerbottle 3:54

4.Trouble 3:04

5.Could You Be the One? 3:52

6.I Got Your Number 3:22

7.Uppercut 4:16

8.Live 'n' Love 3:45

9.100mph 4:15

10.Wonder 3:44

11.Stuck In A Rut 3:07

12.Show Me How 4:42

Keep Calm and Carry On is the seventh studio album by Welsh rock band Stereophonics. Released by Mercury on 16 November 2009, the album debuted at number 11 with sales of 42,771 on the UK Albums Chart, the lowest position for a studio album released by the band. 

The album was named after a British World War II poster of the same name. In the initial months after release, fans could access bonus content from the band's website with their copy of Keep Calm and Carry On. This featured videos of a Track By Track rundown of the album, a Welcome Message from the group, the photoshoot for the album, and live audio of "You're My Star" (Acoustic) and "I Stopped to Fill My Car Up" from the Greatest Hits tour.

Reception

Critical reception of the album was generally mixed. The Sunday Times called it "their best album yet" but BBC critic Will Dean wrote "musically it's as solid as you'd expect [...] but Keep Calm... is unlikely to win Stereophonics any new fans," while Andy Gill, for The Independent, concluded that "overall, what comes across from Keep Calm and Carry On is confusion." Keep Calm and Carry On has so far spent 11 weeks in the top 100 UK Albums Chart, the fewest for any Stereophonics album, selling 165,000 copies in the UK.

STEREOPHONICS ***

Stereophonics is a Welsh rock band that formed in 1992 in Cwmaman, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing vocalist, Adam Zindani and touring member Tony Kirkham (keyboards), the group having originally also included Stuart Cable on drums. Stereophonics have released seven studio albums, five of which have topped the UK Albums Chart. Their seventh, Keep Calm and Carry On, was released in November 2009 but did not make the Top 10. A successful compilation album was also released in November 2008 – Decade in the Sun charting at number two in the United Kingdom. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.

Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals," the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock." Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around, was released in August 1997 and instantly charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph", "More Life in a Tramps Vest" and "A Thousand Trees", all of which failed to affect the top 20. The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief", "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number-one: 2005's "Dakota". The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V festival in 2002 and the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009.

History

Formation and early years (1992–1996)

Kelly and Richard grew up together in the village of Cwmaman, Wales. Along with original drummer Stuart Cable and previous lead inspiration Ieuan Beal, they began writing and performing music in working men's clubs together in 1992 as a teenage cover band known as 'Tragic Love Company', a name inspired by their favourite bands (The Tragically Hip, Mother Love Bone and Bad Company). The band later changed their name to "The Stereophonics", named after the manufacturer of a record player that had belonged to Cable's father.

In March 1996, the band played a gig at their local Coliseum Theatre with Catatonia Krazy Keyboards and Pocket Devils. They played as Tragic Love Company and so impressed band manager John Brand that he signed a management deal with them after the concert.

In May 1996, they were the first artists to be signed to newly formed record label V2, created by Richard Branson. Upon signing, they dropped "The" from their name and simply became "Stereophonics"

Debut album and ascent to fame (1997–2000)

In August 1997, the band released their first studio album, Word Gets Around, which reached #6 in the UK charts, from which five singles were released. Afterwards, the band embarked on a successful world tour.

In February 1998, the band received a BRIT Award for Best New Group. In the same week, the band re-released the single "Local Boy in the Photograph" which, in turn, reached position 14 in the UK Singles Chart. The band's debut album, Word Gets Around, also went gold in the UK.

In November 1998, "The Bartender and the Thief" (the first single from the album Performance and Cocktails) was released, eventually reaching number 3 on the UK charts. "Just Looking" was released next and reached number 4 in March 1999. In that same month, the album was released, entering at number 1 and going platinum within three weeks. Later that year, the band played in front of 50,000 people at Morfa Stadium in Swansea. The concert was filmed and released on DVD the following year. They also collaborated with Tom Jones on a cover of the Randy Newman song "Mama Told Me Not To Come", for the Tom Jones album Reload.

Throughout 1998 and 1999, the band toured in Europe, Australia and the US. On 12 June 1998, Stereophonics played to over 10,000 spectators in the grounds of Cardiff Castle in Wales. Footage of the concert was released on VHS and DVD, titled Live at Cardiff Castle.

Mainstream success (2001–2004)

The band released their third album, Just Enough Education to Perform (JEEP), in April 2001. The album included the track "Mr. Writer", which includes lyrics that criticise a critic whom the band believe gave them an unfairly negative review. The album also contained one of the band's most famous tracks, "Have a Nice Day", which reached #5 in the UK charts.

To promote the new album, Just Enough Education to Perform, the Stereophonics played a two-day festival, which was called A Day at the Races. This event was held in Donington Park on the first day and at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on the second. The concerts were supported by Ash, Black Crowes and The Crocketts. Over 200,000 separate tickets were sold for the weekend festival. The performance was released on a DVD in 2002.

2003 saw the release of their fourth album, titled You Gotta Go There to Come Back. In September 2003, drummer Stuart Cable was sacked. According to reports, it was because of his lack of commitment to the band. Cable, at the time, presented a TV show called "Cable TV" and felt that the band would never improve. Because of this, he missed several rehearsals and live concerts. He was eventually replaced by present drummer Javier Weyler. Steve Gorman, from The Black Crowes, stood in for Cable during the band's live performances until Weyler was appointed. When asked about Cable leaving the band in a 2010 interview with Rip It Up magazine, Kelly Jones admitted to the difficulty of the situation.

Towards the end of the year, Stereophonics did a sold-out tour of the UK, ending with a Christmas show at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, supported by Feeder and Ocean Colour Scene. The group took a break after their 2003–2004 world tour, which included a set at the Manchester Move Festival in July 2004.

Drummer change and band progression (2005–2007)

Their fifth studio album, Language. Sex. Violence. Other? was released in March 2005. It marked their first recording with new drummer Javier Weyler. The band achieved their first number 1 hit in the UK singles charts with the album's first single – the punky, upbeat "Dakota". The second single from the album was "Superman". However, that song did not repeat the success of "Dakota", peaking at number 13. After "Superman" came "Devil", featuring a controversial video and reaching number 11 in the charts. The album was nominated for a Pop Factory award at the end of the year, losing out to Feeder's Pushing the Senses.

The band played in Vancouver, Canada in April 2005 with opening band The Manvils. Following the concert, Kelly Jones invited Manvils' lead guitarist, fellow Welshman Mark Parry, to join Stereophonics on the road as second guitarist in the band for their world tour. On 2 July 2005, the group appeared at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London, playing to their biggest audience yet.

The band were scheduled to support Oasis for a number of dates across Europe, in early 2006, but pulled out due to family commitments. 2006 also saw the release of Stereophonics' first live album, Live from Dakota. The album is a two-disc compilation, featuring twenty tracks spanning all five of the band's albums and capturing the best of their 2005 world tour. Rather than being a recording of a single show, the tour was recorded every night and the band picked out the best version of each song individually. The album also features a track titled "Jayne", later released as part of Kelly Jones' solo album, Only the Names Have Been Changed.

Pull the Pin was released in the UK on 15 October 2007, along with a download-only taster; "Bank Holiday Monday". The track was also available for free to people who pre-ordered tickets for the band's concerts in 2007. The album was written and recorded by November 2006 but held back for release until late 2007. "It Means Nothing" was the first single of the album, released in September before the LP was released a week later on 15 October. The album contains twelve songs and reached number 1 in the UK's official album chart. The next single, "My Friends", reached #32 in the UK charts, their poorest chart performance since "More Life in a Tramps Vest" from their debut album.

On 20 May 2007, at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Preston, the band were joined on stage by Casino frontman Adam Zindani. Zindani continued to tour with the band for the remainder of the Pull the Pin tour, playing lead guitar and backing vocals. He has been credited for writing and performing on two of the band's new tracks, "You're My Star" and "My Own Worst Enemy". On "You're My Star", he sings backing vocals and plays lead guitar. Whereas, on "My Own Worst Enemy", he only plays lead guitar.

Recent years (2008–present)

In November 2008, Stereophonics released a greatest hits compilation, Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics.

The band are regulars at British summer festivals. Most recently they have played at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2004 and 2009. In 2010 they have appeared at V Festival, as well as T in the Park having already played there in 2008. They also appeared at the Oxegen in the Republic of Ireland in July 2010.

On 8 December 2009, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games announced the line up for performers for the nightly Victory Ceremonies. These ceremonies included 30 minutes of entertainment from the evening's host province/territory, 30 minutes of medal presentations, and a one hour performance by a musical talent. Stereophonics performed their song "I Got Your Number" at this event on 20 February - Yukon Night.

The band's seventh album is titled Keep Calm and Carry On and was released on 16 November 2009. They decided on this name after seeing a poster in The White Horse pub in Richmond where they spent a lot of time whilst recording the album. The album's debut single was "Innocent". The second single from the album, "Could You Be The One?", was released on 15 February 2010. The band embarked on a seven-date tour to support the new album in March 2010 playing at Aberdeen, Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and London. with support from Glasgow band Hip Parade.

On 5 June 2010, Stereophonics played the first-ever gig at the Cardiff City Stadium with Support from unsigned South Wales band '4th Street Traffic' followed by 'Kids In Glass Houses' and 'The Doves'. The concert, known as Summer in the City was played to a sold-out audience of 30,000. Two days later, on 7 June, original drummer Stuart Cable was found dead in his home in Aberdare having choked on his own vomit after a drinking binge. He was 40 years old.

On 3 March 2011, Stereophonics announced on their Facebook page that they were working on new music in the studio.

Other projects

On 9 October 2007, a retrospective DVD was released in the United States, Rewind: The First 10 Years. The DVD is a double disc with a runtime of nearly four hours.

Much of this footage was recorded around the time that the You Gotta Go There to Come Back album was being recorded. This is because a similar band history DVD was listed for release shortly after that album but was never released, due to the departure of Stuart Cable. This explains Kelly's hairstyle (circa 2003/2004) in the interview footage and the appearance of Stuart and the rest of the band freely talking about their togetherness and solidarity as the original three members. The original footage was updated by adding further footage to the end, bringing it up to date with the band's fifth album. Stuart does not appear on any of the extra footage.

Availability coincides with the US re-release of the Language.Sex.Violence.Other? DVD, and the worldwide digital debut of their latest studio album, Pull the Pin.

In 2007, lead singer Kelly Jones released a solo album, titled Only the Names Have Been Changed, while recording the band's sixth studio album, Pull the Pin. The album contains ten tracks (all named after women) and features minimal instrumentation. The album also includes the song "Jayne", a previously unreleased Stereophonics track featured on the live album Live from Dakota and the Rewind DVD.

Guitarist Adam Zindani has continued to work with his own band, Casino, since working with the Stereophonics. Casino's first album, 'The SpiderSimpson Incident' was released in December 2008 and an agreement was reached to have the album available to purchase at Stereophonics' live shows across the UK, that month. Also, Adam is speculated to be working alongside Mel Gibson (of Gibson Guitars) to build a cross between a Les Paul and a banjo which will be called a Les Banjo.

Stereophonics also performed the original opening theme tune for the TV series Long Way Round. The song's lyrics were slightly altered for the follow-up series, Long Way Down.

Javier's projects

Drummer Javier Weyler released a solo album, titled Lagrima, in 2007, under the name Capitan Melao. "Lagrima" is the name of a composition by art-rock guitarist Phil Manzanera that appears on the album 801 Live, with Brian Eno and others. In Spanish, the word "Capitan" means "captain", while "Melao" is a Latin American slang word for swing, rhythm or soul. Javier announced, in mid-February, that he was working back on his own project, as the band stopped touring.