Hi Fi (album)
{{for|similarly titled albums|Hi-Fi (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Hi Fi
| type = studio
| artist = Hugh Cornwell
| cover = Hi Fi Album.jpg
| alt =
| caption = UK release cover
| released = 2 October 2000
| venue =
| studio = {{hlist|Helicon Mountain Recording Studios, London|Soundlab Studios, Loughton}}
| genre = Alternative rock
Post-punk
| length = 41:44 (UK)
55:01(US/Europe)
| label = Koch Entertainment
| producer = Laurie Latham
| prev_title = Solo
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = Footprints in the Desert
| next_year = 2002
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = studio
| cover = Hi Fi US Album.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption = US/European release, 2001
}}
{{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = studio
| cover = HiFi2021cover.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption = 2021 vinyl reissue
}}
}}
Hi Fi is the fourth studio album by Hugh Cornwell, released on 2 October 2000 by Koch Entertainment.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hughcornwell.com/history/|title=History: 1999-2000|publisher=hughcornwell.com|accessdate=7 February 2022}}
It is produced by Laurie Latham, who also worked on Cornwell's previous album Guilty (1997). All instrumentation is by Cornwell with appearances from Justin Chapman (drums), Michelle Marti (bass) and Mike Polson (guitar) from his touring band,{{cite web|last=Naylor|first=Tim|date=23 November 2015 |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/independence-cornwell|title= INDEPENDENCE FOR CORNWELL |work=Record Collector|access-date=7 February 2022}} a string quartet, and harmonica player John Dominic (ex-the Bo Street Runners, Deborah Bonham Band{{cite web|url=https://barnesrock.co.uk/john-dominic-the-bo-street-runners/|title= John Dominic (The Bo Street Runners) |work=barnesrock.co.uk|access-date=7 February 2022}}).
In 2001, the album was released in the US (Koch) and Europe (Edel) under the same title but with different artwork, an additional version of "Gingerbread Girl" and two live tracks.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/237869-Hugh-Cornwell-Hi-Fi|title=Hi Fi - Versions|work=Discogs|access-date=7 February 2022}}
A remixed and remastered vinyl edition of Hi Fi was released by Cornwell's own HIS Records in 2021. It was released in a limited edition of 500 copies, with new cover art work, and with the original track listing.{{cite web|url=https://burningshed.com/hugh-cornwell_hi-fi_vinyl|title= Hi Fi (Vinyl) |work=Burning Shed|access-date=7 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/17044986-Hugh-Cornwell-Hi-Fi|title= Hi Fi (Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo) |work=Discogs|access-date=7 February 2022}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Deming |first=Mark|date= |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hi-fi-mw0000002552|title= Hi Fi review |work=AllMusic|access-date=7 February 2022}}
}}
AllMusic's Mark Deming found the album "pleasingly tuneful, with strong pop melodies," and a "winning psychedelic undertow" on certain tracks. He felt it "ranks with the most confident and accessible work of [Cornwell's] career," with Cornwell's vocals and songwriting being "in fine shape", and Laurie Latham's production serving the material well.
Track listing
{{track listing
| collapsed =
| headline =
| all_writing = Hugh Cornwell
| title1 = Leave Me Alone
| note1 =
| length1 = 3:27
| title2 = One Day at a Time
| note2 =
| length2 = 4:56
| title3 = All the Colours of the Rainbow
| note3 =
| length3 = 4:29
| title4 = Putting You in the Shade
| note4 =
| length4 = 2:42
| title5 = The Big Sleep
| note5 =
| length5 = 4:50
| title6 = Miss Teazyweezy
| note6 =
| length6 = 3:57
| title7 = Dark Side of the Room
| note7 =
| length7 = 3:42
| title8 = Lay Back On Me Pal
| note8 =
| length8 = 3:35
| title9 = Gingerbread Girl
| note9 =
| length9 = 4:16
| title10 = The Prison's Going Down
| note10 =
| length10 = 6:08
| total_length = 41:44
}}
US/European 2001 release
Duration of some tracks differ from the UK version.
{{track listing
| collapsed =
| headline =
| all_writing = Hugh Cornwell, except where noted
| title1 = Leave Me Alone
| note1 =
| length1 = 3:27
| title2 = Gingerbread Girl
| note2 = bitten by the Dog
| length2 = 4:36
| title3 = One Day at a Time
| note3 =
| length3 = 5:11
| title4 = All the Colours of the Rainbow
| note4 =
| length4 = 4:38
| title5 = Putting You in the Shade
| note5 =
| length5 = 2:42
| title6 = The Big Sleep
| note6 =
| length6 = 5:06
| title7 = Miss Teazyweezy
| note7 =
| length7 = 4:12
| title8 = Dark Side of the Room
| note8 =
| length8 = 3:47
| title9 = Lay Back On Me Pal
| note9 =
| length9 = 3:35
| title10 = Gingerbread Girl
| note10 = original album version
| length10 = 4:18
| title11 = The Prison's Going Down
| note11 =
| length11 = 6:06
| title12 = Golden Brown
| note12 = live
| writer12 = Cornwell, Jean-Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black
| length12 = 3:09
| title13 = Always the Sun
| note13 = live
| writer13 = Cornwell, Burnel, Greenfield, Black
| length13 = 4:14
| total_length = 55:01
}}
- Track 2: additional production and mixing by the Black Dog at Black Dog Towers, London.
- Tracks 11 and 12: solo acoustic live recordings; no date or location is given.{{cite web|last=Milano|first=Brett|date=30 August 2001 |url=https://bostonphoenix.com/boston/music/otr/documents/01789293.htm|title= Off The Record - Hi Fi review |work=Boston Phoenix|access-date=7 February 2022}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album liner notes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1949174-Hugh-Cornwell-Hi-Fi/image/SW1hZ2U6MzM3NTAyNzI=|title=Hi Fi|publisher=Discogs|access-date=7 February 2022}}
;Musicians
- Hugh Cornwell – vocals, instrumentation
- Justin Chapman – drums (1, 3–8)
- Michelle Marti – bass (1, 4–8)
- Mike Polson – additional guitar (1, 5, 7, 8)
- Sumyungstrings:
:Gita Langley – violin
:Jesse Murphy – violin
:Rachel Helleur – cello
:Una Palliser – viola (8, 9)
- John Dominic – harmonica "Dark Side of the Room" & "The Prison's Going Down"
;Technical
- Laurie Latham – producer, engineer
- Jon Astley – mastering
- AL at Spot On Design – design, artwork
- Gary Bryan – cover photography
;2001 US/European release
- Steve "Hotdog" Ash – engineer (2)
- Jeff Chenault – art direction, design
;2021 vinyl reissue
- Hugh Cornwell – remixing, artwork
- Phil Andrews – remixing
- Barry Grint – remastering
- Nick Stone – artwork
- Andrew J. Davies – photography
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}