London 0 Hull 4

London 0 Hull 4
Studio album by The Housemartins
Released	October 1986
Recorded	Strongroom Studios
Genre	Indie rock
Length	46:55
Label	Go! Discs
Producer	John Williams
The Housemartins chronology
London 0 Hull 4 (1986) The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death (1987)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(A−)[2]
Q	[3]
musicOMH	[4]
Sputnikmusic	[5]
Record Collector	[6]

London 0 Hull 4 is a 1986 album by The Housemartins. It was their first album and contains the singles "Flag Day" (#124 in the UK), "Sheep" (#54 in the UK), "Happy Hour" (#3 in the UK) and "Think for a Minute" (#18 in the UK).

The title refers to the band's home town of Kingston upon Hull and is in the format of a sports result. It also refers to Paul Heaton's assertion that the Housemartins were only the fourth best band in Hull. In other words, Hull had four great bands, compared to none from London.

The liner notes and lyrics reflect singer Paul Heaton's interest at that time in Christianity and Marxism. For example, the back cover of the album contains the message, "Take Jesus - Take Marx - Take Hope".

In 1992, the album was re-released on CD and featured four additional tracks, along with the front cover phrase, "16 songs - 17 hits!"

The album was re-released again on 22 June 2009, as London 0 Hull 4 Deluxe, containing a second CD of bonus tracks, B-sides and live recordings.^[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Paul Heaton and Stan Cullimore, except for where noted.

Original Release (1986)

1. "Happy Hour"
2. "Get Up Off Our Knees" (Paul Heaton, Stan Cullimore, Ted Key)
3. "Flag Day" (Paul Heaton, Stan Cullimore, Ted Key)
4. "Anxious"
5. "Reverends Revenge" (instrumental)
6. "Sitting on a Fence"
7. "Sheep"
8. "Over There"
9. "Think for a Minute"
10. "We're Not Deep"
11. "Lean on Me" (Paul Heaton, Pete Wingfield)
12. "Freedom" (Paul Heaton, Stan Cullimore, Ted Key)
13. "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (Bob Russell, Bobby Scott) (CD only)
14. "I'll Be Your Shelter (Just Like a Shelter)"(Lloyd Charmers) (CD and cassette only)
15. "People Get Ready"(Curtis Mayfield) (CD only)
16. "The Mighty Ship" (instrumental) (CD only)

Deluxe Edition Bonus CD (2009)

1. "Flag Day [single version]"
2. "Stand At Ease "
3. "You"
4. "Coal Train to Hatfield Main"
5. "I'll Be Your Shelter (Just Like A Shelter)"
6. "People Get Ready" [B-side]
7. "Drop Down Dead"
8. "The Mighty Ship"
9. "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother"
10. "Think for a Minute" [single version]
11. "Who Needs the Limelight" [B-side]
12. "I Smell Winter"
13. "Joy Joy Joy"
14. "Rap Around the Clock"
15. "Lean On Me" [previously unreleased/outtake rehearsal]
16. "Anxious" [BBC Janice Long session 6/11/85]
17. "We're Not Deep" [BBC Janice Long session 6/11/85]
18. "Freedom" [BBC Janice Long session 6/11/85]
19. "Think for a Minute" [BBC Saturday Live session 4/1/1986]
20. "Drop Down Dead" [BBC Saturday Live session 4/1/1986]
21. "Happy Hour" [BBC John Peel session 6/4/1986]
22. "Get Up Off Our Knees" [BBC John Peel session 6/4/1986]

Personnel

The Housemartins

• Norman Cook - bass, vocals
• Hugh Whitaker – drums, vocals
• P.d. Heaton – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, melodica
• Stan Cullimore – guitar, vocals

Design Credits

• David Storey - album cover design

Trivia

The title 'London 0 Hull 4' was used by various newspapers^[8][9] as a headline in October 2008 after the city's newly promoted football team, Hull City, beat West Ham United to take a fourth win out of four against London-based clubs (having previously beaten Fulham, Arsenal and Tottenham).

References