One From The Vault – Earth Vs The Wildhearts
In our newest feature here at Midlands Metalheads, One From The Vault, we will be looking at classic albums from history. We’ll be looking at the biggest and best albums of all time, some under rated gems and the occasional album that should not be. This week we start with one of the best! Earth Vs The Wildhearts! Enjoy
If you were asked to name some of the greatest debut albums of all time, you certainly wouldn’t be short of choices. The obvious answer, Appetite for Destruction by none other than LA chaos magnets Guns ‘N Roses, may spring to mind first, closely followed by classic albums such as Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Ramones’ self titled debut album. There truly is no shortage of fantastic debut albums. One album you may be forgiven for overlooking, especially if you are outside of the U.K, is hard rock punks The Wildhearts’ debut album, Earth Vs The Wildhearts.
Recorded by the original line-up of manic front man, and former member of The Quireboys, Ginger Wildheart, fellow founding member and guitarist C.J. Wildheart, bassist Danny McCormack and drummer Stidi, The Wildhearts were no strangers to controversy and insanity. Through multiple line-up changes, substance abuse and an overtly ‘fuck you’ attitude, The Wildhearts have survived as one of the U.K.’s truest rock n’ roll bands.
Released in 1993, Earth Vs… gave the UK rock scene the kick in the teeth that it desperately needed. Entering the charts, and peaking, at number 46, Earth Vs… was full of sing-along classics that packed a punch heavier than Conor McGregor and set The Wildhearts apart from everyone else around. Ever the trouble-makers, the first single Greetings from Shitsville, a homage to Ginger’s experience of London, caught the attention of the media at the time but wasn’t exactly the most radio friendly of tracks, limiting its air time. Second single TV Tan however was a radio friendly rock anthem. The single appeared frequently in rock radio rotation and introduced many people to the chaotic world of The Wildhearts. The single managed to reach number 53 on the UK singles chart and to this day has remained a fan favourite track and a staple part of the live set.
The Wildhearts still play many of the tracks, even deeper cuts, regularly as part of their live sets. It would be hard to imagine a Wildhearts set without watching the crowd completely lose their collective mind during final single Suckerpunch, a song with such ferocity that it is named perfectly, or hearing the crowd bellow out headfuck, headfuck, headfuck, during the anti-love song My Baby is a Headfuck. It should also be noted that the guitar solos on My Baby is a Headfuck were provided by guitarist Mick Ronson, who was famously a member of David Bowie’s illustrious backing band The Spiders from Mars. It is also believed that these guitar solos are the last known recordings of Ronson’s before his death on April 22nd, 1993.
Earth Vs… still remains a fan favourite album, and to date the bands most successful album, being named album of the year by magazine Kerrang! in 1993. However, it should be noted that it is not the bands highest charting album, an accolade held by the bands second effort, 1995’s P.H.U.Q.
In the 24 years since its release, Earth Vs… has had two reissues, the first just six months after its initial release in February of 1994. As well as an altered rear sleeve, the album contained the previously single only track ‘Caffeine Bomb’, a fast paced ode to coffee from an extremely hung-over Ginger. The second reissue, released in October of 2010 features the addition of 12 bonus tracks. Eight of these tracks had previously been released as the Don’t Be Happy… Just Worry mini-album in November of 1992. The first four of said tracks were remixed versions of those that appeared on the Mondo-Akimbo A-Go Go EP, released six months earlier in April of 1992.
In more recent years, the legacy of this album has been revived following a 2013 tour in support of the 20th anniversary of its release. The tour involved the original release of the album being played in its entirety as well as an encore of other classic Wildhearts songs. In the encore, ‘Caffeine Bomb’, from the 1994 reissue was also played. On April 6th 2013 during the tour, the Nottingham date of the tour was recorded and released as the live album Rock City Vs The Wildhearts a year later. This tour revitalized not only the love of the album but also of The Wildhearts. Following this tour, the Wildhearts have toured almost yearly including a similar anniversary tour for second album P.H.U.Q. which also had one of the live dates recorded to later be released as the album Never Outdrunk, Never Outsung.
Earth Vs The Wildhearts is without a doubt one of the stand out albums for British rock music. No glitz, no glamour, just Riff after Riff after motherfucking Riff!
By Alex Rawstorne
