Local Boy in the Photograph
{{Short description|1997 single by Stereophonics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Local Boy in the Photograph
| cover = localboyphotograph.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Stereophonics
| album = Word Gets Around
| B-side = {{ubl|"Too Many Sandwiches"|"Who'll Stop the Rain?" (1998)}}
| released = {{start date|1997|3|17|df=y}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-03-15.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=28|date=15 March 1997|access-date=14 August 2021}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Rock|Britpop}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=22}}
| label = V2
| writer = {{hlist|Kelly Jones|Richard Jones|Stuart Cable
}}
| next_title = More Life in a Tramps Vest
| next_year = 1997
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| type = single
| prev_title = Traffic
| prev_year = 1997
| title = Local Boy in the Photograph
| year = 1998
| next_title = The Bartender and the Thief
| next_year = 1998
}}
}}
"Local Boy in the Photograph" is the first single by rock band Stereophonics. The song is taken from their debut album, Word Gets Around and was released on 17 March 1997. The song reached number 51 in the UK Singles Chart. On 9 February 1998,{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-02-07.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=7 February 1998|access-date=14 August 2021}} the song was re-released and reached number 14 on the same chart.
Title and lyrics
During an interview with Sky Arts HD after his performance at the Hay Festival in June 2010, Kelly Jones explained the meaning of a few of his songs and said that "Local Boy in the Photograph" was based on the true story of local boy Paul David Boggis, who was killed by a train travelling between Cwmbach and Aberdare. All the songs on the album are about people and events in the Aberdare area.{{Cite web|title=Songbook Kelly Jones|url=http://www.skyarts.co.uk/music/article/songbook-kelly-jones/|access-date=2 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110210350/http://www.skyarts.co.uk/music/article/songbook-kelly-jones/|archive-date=10 November 2010|url-status=dead}}
Stuart Cable
Following the death of former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable, a campaign was launched on Facebook to get the song to number one in the UK charts. On 13 June 2010 it re-entered the UK charts at number 60.
Track listings
All music written by Kelly Jones, Richard Jones and Stuart Cable. All lyrics composed by Kelly Jones; Except where indicated.
=Initial release (1997)=
{{Track listing
| title1 = Local Boy in the Photograph
| length1 = 3:24
| title2 = Looks Like Chaplin
| note2 = Not included on UK editions
| length2 = 2:33
| title3 = Too Many Sandwiches
| length3 = 4:30
| title4 = Buy Myself a Small Plane
| length4 = 3:15
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 7-inch vinyl
| title1 = Local Boy in the Photograph
| length1 = 3:24
| title2 = Too Many Sandwiches
| length2 = 4:30
}}
=Re-release (1998)=
{{Track listing
| title1 = Local Boy in the Photograph
| length1 = 3:23
| title2 = Who'll Stop the Rain?
| writer2 = John Fogerty
| length2 = 2:31
| title3 = Check My Eyelids for Holes
| length3 = 2:42
| title4 = Local Boy in the Photograph
| note4 = video
| length4 = 3:17
}}
{{Track listing
| title1 = Local Boy in the Photograph
| length1 = 3:25
| title2 = Not Up to You
| note2 = Live at XFM
| length2 = 4:41
| title3 = The Last Resort
| note3 = Eagles cover
| writer3 = Don Henley, Glenn Frey
| length3 = 6:21
| title4 = Traffic
| note4 = video
| length4 = 4:22
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 7-inch vinyl
| title1 = Local Boy in the Photograph
| length1 = 3:23
| title2 = Who'll Stop the Rain?
| writer2 = John Fogerty
| length2 = 2:31
}}
Personnel
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1997) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Scotland|59|date=19970329|rowheader=true|access-date=6 November 2018}} |
| {{single chart|UK|51|date=19970329|rowheader=true|access-date=6 November 2018}} |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1998) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-02-28.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=15|issue=9|page=10|date=28 February 1998|access-date=6 September 2020}}
|74 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Ireland2|28|song=Local Boy in the Photograph|rowheader=true|access-date=6 November 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|10|date=19980221|rowheader=true|access-date=6 November 2018|refname="scot1998"}} |
| {{single chart|UK|14|date=19980221|rowheader=true|access-date=6 November 2018|refname="uk1998"}} |
| {{single chart|UKindie|2|date=19980221|rowheader=true|access-date=6 November 2018}} |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2010) !Peak |
| {{single chart|UK|60|date=20100619|rowheader=true|access-date=6 November 2018|refname="uk2010"}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Stereophonics|title=Local Boy in the Photograph|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=2025|id=15837-1691-1|access-date=17 June 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Other versions
- A live version was included on the "Traffic" single, live from Belfort Festival.
- A semi-acoustic version recorded for Radio One was released on the "Just Looking" single.
- A live version was included on the "Moviestar" single, recorded at SECC, Glasgow.
- A live version was included on the band's first Live album, "Live from Dakota".
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.stereophonics.com/music/release/local-boy-in-the-photograph Local Boy in the Photograph] at Stereophonics.com
{{Stereophonics}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Local Boy in the Photograph}}
Category:Songs based on actual events