Put The Needle On The Record - Week #68

Put The Needle On The Record Week #68 The The - Soul Mining

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1983 and the The The album "Soul Mining".

I first came across The The (Matt Johnson) via the brilliant "Some Bizarre Album" compilation released in 1981, an album that not only featured The The, it also included new and upcoming bands like Depeche Mode (early version of "Photographic"), Soft Cell ("The Girl With The Patent Leather Face"), Blancmange ("Sad Day") and B-Movie ("Moles"). The track that was included by The The was called "Untitled".

Fast forward to 1982.....I saw that The The had released a new 12 inch single called "Uncertain Smile", which I bought and thought it was excellent, it is around a 10 minute version of the track and I liked its unique sound, interestingly it was produced by Mike Thorne, who had also produced the singles released by Soft Cell around that time (Tainted Love, Bedsitter, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, Torch and What).

The album "Soul Mining" featured a new recording of "Uncertain Smile" (I still prefer the original 12 inch) and also included a couple of my all time favourite tracks, "This Is The Day" and "Perfect" (Again this featured a re-recorded version), the latter didn't appear on all versions of the album released. Another highlight on the album for me is the track "I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All My Life)". It is always an album I enjoy listening from time to time as it prods some happy memories in my life.

Sadly it is the only album I have by them as after this release I didn't like the music they produced, however, I have very happy to have this album in my collection.

Another interesting fact for you, his Matt Johnson's brother designed all the sleeves for The The releases.

The album was warmly received by music critics and sold reasonably well.

Three singles were released off the album, "Uncertain Smile (Oroginal Version)" (which reached number 68 in the UK Singles chart), a remixed version of "Perfect" (which reached number 79 in the UK Singles chart) and the brilliant "This Is The Day" (which reached number 71 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 27 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All My Life)
This Is The Day
The Sinking Feeling
Uncertain Smile
The Twilight Hour
Soul Mining
Giant
Perfect*+

*1987 CD Release Only
+Australia, New Zealand, Canada & United States Release Only

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!