Word Gets Around
Word Gets Around is the debut album from Stereophonics, the Welsh rock band from Cwmaman. It came out in August 1997 on V2 and climbed to number six on the UK Albums Chart. That makes it one of four Stereophonics records not to reach the top spot, though it was a strong start for a young band. Its title comes from a lyric in the closing song, "Billy Davey's Daughter".
What gives the record its character is where it looks. Much of it is written about everyday life in the band's hometown, so these are songs about familiar streets and people rather than rock-star fantasies. Filed alongside the Britpop and indie rock of its day, it is the place to begin the story of a band that went on to release many more studio albums. A deluxe and a super-deluxe edition followed in October 2010.
Word Gets Around: tracklist, credits and charts
12 tracks · 42:08Tracklist
- 1A Thousand TreesCable, Jones, Jones3:03
- 2Looks Like ChaplinCable, Jones, Jones2:32
- 3More Life in a Tramp's VestCable, Jones, Jones2:20
- 4Local Boy in the PhotographCable, Jones, Jones3:22
- 5TrafficCable, Jones, Jones4:54
- 6Not Up to YouCable, Jones, Jones4:37
- 7Check My Eyelids for HolesCable, Jones, Jones2:43
- 8Same Size FeetCable, Jones, Jones4:00
- 9Last of the Big Time DrinkersCable, Jones, Jones2:46
- 10Goldfish BowlCable, Jones, Jones3:03
- 11Too Many SandwichesCable, Jones, Jones5:03
- 12Billy Davey's DaughterCable, Jones, Jones3:45
- Produced by
- Bird And Bush, Marshall Bird, Steve Bush, Bird & Bush
- Recorded at
- The Wool Hall, Rockfield Studios, Parr Street Studios, Real World Studios, Straylight Studios, Courtyard Studios
- Recorded
- October 1992 – February 1997
- Mixed by
- Bird And Bush
- Mixed at
- Real World Studios, Loco Studios
- Engineered by
- Bird And Bush
- Mastered by
- Bob Ludwig
- Artwork
- Lee Dunn
- Label
- V2
- Length
- 42:08
Line-up
- Marshall Bird · keyboard · guest
- Stuart Cable · drums (drum set)
- Kelly Jones · guitar, lead vocals
- Richard Jones · bass
- Nadia Lanman · cello · guest
Singles
- “Local Boy in the Photograph” · 17 March 1997
- “More Life in a Tramps Vest” · 19 May 1997
- “A Thousand Trees” · 11 August 1997
- “Traffic” · 27 October 1997
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart · 1997–2000 | 6 |
| New Zealand Albums · 1997–2000 | 8 |
| Scottish Albums · 1997–2000 | 17 |
| Ireland 2 · 1997–2000 | 29 |
| French Albums · 1997–2000 | 35 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 1997–2000 | 71 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom · 2014 | 3× Platinum |
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 25 August
Every year →More from Stereophonics
Full discography →The best of 1997
All of 1997 →More on V2
The label →Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia 1997-08-25 vs 1997-10-28 (musicbrainz)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 28 October 1997 | ignored lone early release dated 1997-08-25 |
| Wikipedia infobox | 25 August 1997 | |
| Wikidata | 1997 | |
| US release | 28 October 1997 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 25 August 1997 | earliest UK or European date |
8 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | GB | V2 | 5033197004396 | other |
| 1997 | AU | V2 | 5033197004303 | other |
| 25 August 1997 | GB | V2 | 5033197004327 | original |
| 28 October 1997 | US | V2 | 638812700629 | other |
| 1 January 2010 | XW | UMC | 600753313022 | deluxe |
| 18 October 2010 | XW | UMC | 600753301593 | deluxe |
| 18 October 2010 | GB | V2 | 600753301623 | deluxe |
| 18 October 2010 | US | V2 | 600753301593 | deluxe |
Cover art sources
deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| deezer ✓ | 1200×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |
| coverartarchive | 953×953 | upscaled |