Expecting to Fly
1996Superior Quality Recordings
Number one debut. Slight Return is one of the great Britpop singles.
The Bluetones
All Artists
Britpop / Indie Rock
The Bluetones
Slight Return is one of the great Britpop singles. The Bluetones are one of the era's most underrated bands.
Hounslow, EnglandFormed 1993Active
Affiliate link — I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Biography
The Bluetones
The Bluetones formed in Hounslow in 1993, Mark Morriss's warm vocals and the band's melodic, guitar-driven sound giving them a quality that was immediately distinctive. They signed to Superior Quality Recordings and released their debut single 'Are You Blue or Are You Blind?' in 1995 — a song of immediate melodic appeal that announced a band with a fully formed voice.
'Expecting to Fly' (1996) was the debut album — it entered the UK charts at number one, the first debut to do so since Oasis's 'Definitely Maybe'. 'Slight Return', 'Cut Some Rug', and 'Bluetonic' were all excellent singles. The album showed a band capable of real melodic invention and genuine warmth. Morriss's lyrics were observational and emotionally direct.
The Bluetones have continued to record and tour with remarkable consistency. 'Return to the Last Chance Saloon' (1998) and 'Science & Nature' (2000) were both strong follow-ups. They split in 2011 but reformed in 2015 and have continued to perform. Their back catalogue holds up extremely well.
Discography
The Albums
Return to the Last Chance Saloon
1998Superior Quality Recordings
If... and Sleazy Bed Track are among their finest songs.
Science & Nature
2000Superior Quality Recordings
A more mature sound. Keep the Home Fires Burning is one of their most underrated songs.
Links marked with ★ are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Dispatch
New deep-dives and playlists, straight to your inbox.