Asleep in the Back
{{Short description|2001 album by Elbow}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox album|
| name = Asleep in the Back
| type = studio
| artist = Elbow
| cover = Asleepintheback.jpg
| alt =
| released = 7 May 2001
| recorded = 1997–2001
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = * Alternative rock
- art rock
- progressive rock{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/asleep-in-the-back-mw0000657103 |title=Asleep in the Back – Elbow |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=23 October 2022 |last=Kellman |first=Andy}}
- post-Britpop{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2146775/elbow-asleep-in-the-back/reviews/the-anniversary/ |title=Asleep In The Back Turns 20
|publisher=Stereogum |accessdate=10 September 2024 |last=Leas |first=Ryan}}
| length = 61:41
| label = V2
| producer = Steve Osborne, Ben Hillier, Danny Evans, Elbow
| prev_title = The Any Day Now EP
| prev_year = 2001
| next_title = Cast of Thousands
| next_year = 2003
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Asleep in the Back
| type = studio
| single1 = Red
| single1date = 23 April 2001
| single2 = Powder Blue
| single2date = 9 July 2001
| single3 = Newborn
| single3date = 8 October 2001
| single4 = Asleep in the Back"/"Coming Second
| single4date = 4 February 2002
}}
}}
Asleep in the Back is the debut studio album by English rock band Elbow, first released in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2001, and in the United States on 22 January 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Elbow-Asleep-In-The-Back/release/421557|title=Elbow - Asleep in the Back|website=Discogs|date=7 May 2001 |access-date=2016-03-24}} The title track, "Asleep in the Back", was only included as a bonus track on later editions of the album after it had been released as a single and became the band's first Top 20 hit.{{cite book |first=Dave |last=Roberts |title=British Hit Singles and Albums |edition=19th |date=2 June 2006 |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |isbn=1-904994-10-5}} The album release came in four different versions: the 12-track version, two 11-track versions only featuring either "Asleep in the Back" (later editions) or "Can't Stop" (UK version) and a 10-track version including neither of them. The record was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2001.
Though Asleep in the Back was the first Elbow album to be released, it was not the first to be recorded. An album's worth of recorded material had been scrapped by the band several years earlier after they were dropped by their first major label, Island Records.
A 2CD/1DVD deluxe edition of the album was released in the UK on 2 November 2009. The release included almost all tracks of the near impossible to find The Noisebox EP: a live version of "George Lassoes the Moon" was included instead of the studio version.
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| MC = 82/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/asleep-in-the-back/elbow |title=Reviews for Asleep in the Back by Elbow |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=19 May 2016}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/asleep-in-the-back-mw0000657103 |title=Asleep in the Back – Elbow |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=28 June 2011 |last=Kellman |first=Andy}}
| rev2 = The Daily Telegraph
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/6399320/Elbow-Asleep-in-the-Back.html |title=Elbow: Asleep in the Back |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 October 2009 |accessdate=16 June 2017 |last=Perry |first=Andrew}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3Score = B−{{cite magazine |title=Elbow: Asleep in the Back |magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=29 March 2002 |page=72}}
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/may/04/shopping.culture |title=Howling at the moon |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2001 |accessdate=19 May 2016 |last=Aizlewood |first=John}}
| rev5 = Los Angeles Times
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-20-ca-rack20-story.html |title=Elbow 'Asleep in the Back' V2 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=20 January 2002 |access-date=19 May 2016 |last=Hochman |first=Steve}}
| rev6 = NME
| rev6Score = 9/10{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/elbow/5915 |title=Elbow: Asleep in the Back |journal=NME |date=2 May 2001 |accessdate=28 June 2011 |last=Kessler |first=Ted |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605161904/http://www.nme.com/reviews/elbow/5915 |archivedate=5 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7Score = 7.4/10 {{small|(2002)}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2718-asleep-in-the-back/ |title=Elbow: Asleep in the Back |work=Pitchfork |date=5 February 2002 |accessdate=28 June 2011 |last=Tangari |first=Joe}}
8.4/10 {{small|(2009) (Deluxe Edition)}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13728-asleep-in-the-back-deluxe-edition/ |title=Elbow: Asleep in the Back: Deluxe Edition |work=Pitchfork |date=7 December 2009 |accessdate=28 June 2011 |last=Cohen |first=Ian}}
| rev8 = Q
| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |title=Elbow: Asleep in the Back |journal=Q |issue=177 |date=June 2001}}
| rev9 = Spin
| rev9Score = 6/10{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8s9P_S6njMC&pg=PA128 |title=The British Evasion |journal=Spin |volume=18 |issue=3 |date=March 2002 |accessdate=15 April 2016 |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |author-link=Douglas Wolk |pages=127–28}}
| rev10 = Uncut
| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/elbow/reviews/13762 |title=Elbow – Asleep In The Back (R2001) |journal=Uncut |date=9 November 2009 |accessdate=16 June 2017 |last=O'Connell |first=Sharon |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206055124/http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/elbow/reviews/13762 |archivedate=6 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}
}}
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Asleep in the Back received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from 19 critic scores.
Q listed Asleep in the Back as one of the best 50 albums of 2001.{{cite news|title=The Best 50 Albums of 2001|magazine=Q|date=December 2001|pages=60–65}}
Track listing
{{tracklist
| collapsed =
| headline = Asleep in the Back album
| all_writing = Elbow; all lyrics by Guy Garvey
| writing_credits =
| title1 = Any Day Now
| length1 = 6:17
| title2 = Red
| length2 = 5:11
| title3 = Little Beast
| length3 = 4:15
| title4 = Powder Blue
| length4 = 4:31
| title5 = Bitten by the Tailfly
| length5 = 6:16
| title6 = Asleep in the Back
| note6 = not included on initial release
| length6 = 3:47
| title7 = Newborn
| length7 = 7:36
| title8 = Don't Mix Your Drinks
| length8 = 3:16
| title9 = Presuming Ed (Rest Easy)
| length9 = 5:26
| title10 = Coming Second
| length10 = 4:56
| title11 = Can't Stop
| note11 = all UK and most recent editions
| length11 = 4:36
| title12 = Scattered Black and Whites
| length12 = 5:30
}}
;Japanese Bonus Track:
{{tracklist
| title13 = Vum Garda
| length13 = 7:55
}}
;Double 12" vinyl album (Original Pressing)
{{tracklist
| headline =
| all_writing =
| writing_credits =
| title1 = Any Day Now
| length1 = 6:17
| title2 = Red
| length2 = 5:11
| title3 = Little Beast
| length3 = 4:15
| title4 = Powder Blue
| length4 = 4:31
| title5 = Bitten by the Tailfly
| length5 = 6:16
| title6 = Vum Garda
| note6 = bonus track
| length6 = 7:55
| title7 = Newborn
| length7 = 7:36
| title8 = Don't Mix Your Drinks
| length8 = 3:16
| title9 = Presuming Ed (Rest Easy)
| length9 = 5:26
| title10 = Coming Second
| length10 = 4:56
| title11 = Can't Stop
| length11 = 4:36
| title12 = Scattered Black and Whites
| length12 = 5:30
}}Note: later pressing include Asleep in the Back instead of Vum Garda
=2009 Deluxe Edition=
;Disc one: Same as 12-track version.
;Disc two (bonus disc)
{{tracklist
| headline =
| all_writing =
| writing_credits =
| title1 = Powder Blue
| note1 = The Noisebox EP Version
| length1 = 4:37
| title2 = Red
| note2 = The Noisebox EP Version
| length2 = 3:31
| title3 = Theme from Munroe Kelly
| note3 = The Noisebox EP Version
| length3 = 5:47
| title4 = Can't Stop
| note4 = The Noisebox EP Version
| length4 = 4:21
| title5 = Bitten by the Tailfly
| note5 = Live at the Astoria
| length5 = 6:22
| title6 = Coming Second
| note6 = Live at the Astoria
| length6 = 5:10
| title7 = Don't Mix Your Drinks
| note7 = Live at the Astoria
| length7 = 3:46
| title8 = Can't Stop
| note8 = Live at the Astoria
| length8 = 5:19
| title9 = Scattered Black and Whites
| note9 = Live at the Astoria
| length9 = 6:27
| title10 = George Lassoes the Moon
| note10 = Live at the Astoria
| length10 = 3:27
| title11 = Newborn
| note11 = Live Radio 1 Steve Lamacq Session
| length11 = 2:59
| title12 = Don't Mix Your Drinks
| note12 = Live Radio 1 Steve Lamacq Session
| length12 = 2:13
| title13 = Red
| note13 = Live Radio 1 Steve Lamacq Session
| length13 = 4:57
}}
;Disc three (DVD)
{{tracklist
| headline =
| all_writing =
| writing_credits =
| title1 = Asleep in the Back: The Movie
| note1 = directed by Soup Collective
| length1 =
}}
Release history
| class="wikitable"
! width="150px"|Country ! width="130px"|Date ! width="120px"|Label ! Format ! Catalogue # |
| rowspan="4"|United Kingdom
| rowspan="3"|7 May 2001 | rowspan="5"|V2 | CD (10 tracks) | VVR1015888 |
| CD (11 tracks)
| VVR1015882 |
| Double 12" vinyl (one bonus track)
| VVR1015881 |
| 11 February 2002
| rowspan="2"|CD (12 tracks) | VVR1019012 |
| United States
| 22 January 2002 | 63881-27116-2 |
| Japan
| 2 May 2001 | V2 Japan | CD (one bonus track) | V2CI99 |
| United Kingdom
| 2 November 2009 | Polydor | 2CD/1DVD Deluxe Edition | 5321322 |
Singles
In the UK, there were four singles released from the album:
- "Red" (23 April 2001)
- "Powder Blue" (9 July 2001)
- "Newborn" (8 October 2001)
- "Asleep in the Back"/"Coming Second" (4 February 2002)
Also, three EPs preceded the album's release, all of which included versions of songs that later appeared on Asleep in the Back:
- The Noisebox EP (1 January 1998)
- The Newborn EP (7 August 2000)
- The Any Day Now EP (Ugly Man release with 4 tracks) (23 January 2001)
- V2 also released this EP with 5 tracks (26 February 2001)
Personnel
Elbow
- Guy Garvey – Lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion, analogue synth, wine glasses, harmonica, wybercron
- Mark Potter – Electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
- Craig Potter – Piano, organ, backing vocals, analogue synth, percussion, wine glasses, keyboards
- Pete Turner – Bass guitar, analogue synth, backing vocals, wine glasses
- Richard Jupp – Drums, percussion, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- The Elbow Choir – Vocals (9,10)
- Danny Evans – Percussion Loops (1)
- Ben Hillier – Percussion (2), Backing Vocals (10)
- Ian Burdge – Cello (2), Musical Director (6)
- Francoise Lemoignan – Saxophone (4)
- Bob Sastri – Brass (5), French Horn (6)
- Nick Coen – Brass (5)
- Martin Field – Bassoon (6)
- Stuart King – Clarinet (6), Bass Clarinet (6)
- Matthew Gunner – French Horn (6)
- Jonathan Snowden – Flute (6), Alto Flute (6)
- Dominic Kelly – Cor Anglais (6)
Credits
- Production
- Elbow and Danny Evans (1)
- Elbow (4,8,12)
- Ben Hillier and Elbow (2,3,5,6,9,10)
- Steve Osborne (7,11)
- Woodwind Arrangement on Track 6 - Ian Burdge and Elbow
- Recording
- Danny Evans (1)
- Ben Hillier (2,3,4,5,6,9,10,12)
- Andrea Wright (2,3,4,5,6,9,10,12)
- Elbow (3,8,9,12)
- Steve Lloyd (4)
- Ed Chadwick (6)
- Danton Supple (7,11)
- Mixing
- Danny Evans (1,8)
- Ben Hillier (2,4,5,6,7,9,10,12)
- Andrea Wright (2,4,5,6,7,9,10,12)
- Ed Chadwick (6)
- Steve Osborne (11)
- Clare Lewis (11)
- Bruno Ellington (11)
References
{{reflist}}
{{Elbow}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Asleep In The Back}}
Category:Albums produced by Ben Hillier