Welcome to the Beautiful South (1989)

About this title: The Beautiful South's 1989 debut would be important if only to mark the partial continuance of the Housemartins' legacy. But when vocalist Paul Heaton and drummer Dave Hemmingway greeted the world with Welcome to the Beautiful South, the handshake came with a Cheshire grin. Nothing in the Beautiful South was as it seemed. Where there was jaunty, jazzy pop, crossed fingers warned of murderous lyrics. If a single featured a fluttering flute, it was filled with familial terror. "Woman in the Wall," featuring one of the year's most memorable melodies and Heaton's plaintive lead vocal, also ... read more

Tracks:

1. Song for Whoever [Heaton/Rotheray]
2. Have You Ever Been Away [Heaton/Rotheray]
3. From Under the Covers [Heaton/Rotheray]
4. I'll Sail This Ship Alone [Heaton/Rotheray]
5. Girlfriend [Reid/Edmunds]
6. Straight in at 37' [Heaton/Rotheray]
7. You Keep It All In [Heaton/Rotheray]
8. Woman in the Wall [Heaton/Rotheray]
9. Oh Blackpool [Heaton/Rotheray]
10. Love Is [Heaton/Rotheray]
11. I Love You (But You're Boring) [Heaton/Rotheray]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.