Why the Long Face (album)

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: 12 June 1995<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=The Buffalo Skinners1993Eclectic1996studioWhy the Long FaceBig_Country_-_Why_the_Long_Face.jpgBig Country12 June 1995<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>November 1994 – March 1995Alternative rock, celtic rockTemplate:HlistBig Country and Chris Sheldonx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Why the Long Face is the seventh studio album by Scottish band Big Country, released in June 1995. It was produced by Chris Sheldon and members of the band.

The album received a reissue as a deluxe four-disc box-set by Cherry Red Records in 2018. In addition to a remaster of the original album on disc one, the three additional CDs contain demos, B-sides and single edits, as well as the band's 1996 live album Eclectic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Background

Why the Long Face was recorded between August 1994 and January 1995. The new material was met with a lukewarm response from the head of the band's label Compulsion, Chris Briggs, who felt the band needed to do more work on the material. Compulsion ended up dropping Big Country and the band subsequently signed to Transatlantic in March 1995, with Why the Long Face being released on the label in June 1995.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Speaking to The Lennox Herald in 1995, lead vocalist and guitarist Stuart Adamson said of the album, "I think that this album flows well and that there is no filler on it. It's strong enough for us to do most of it live on stage."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He added to the Evening Herald, "It's not a departure from or a return to anything really. This time round though, I think the songs are more intimate and personal as opposed to being about big impersonal issues. They've got real characters, strong verses and choruses."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Critical reception

Template:Album reviews On its release, Neil McKay of Sunday Life felt Why the Long Face failed to meet the same standard as The Buffalo Skinners. He wrote, "Solid and workmanlike, it lacks real inspiration. 'Sail into Nothing', 'God's Great Mistake', 'Wildland in My Heart' and 'Blue on a Green Planet' all try hard, but diminishing returns seem to be setting in."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chris Heath of The Daily Telegraph described the album as "rather good" and noted, "It was with minimal interest that I put on their new album, and with astonishment that I heard tune after tune of the sort which, if they had released them in 1987, would have saved their career."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Mark Beaumont of NME was highly negative of the album, calling it "turgid bargain-bin fodder", with "a cesspool full of anonymous squidge-rawkers", "slabs of immense blandness", "a huge dollop of Huey Lewis" and lyrics "that have all the subtlety of Vinnie Jones".<ref name="NME"/>

Charts

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Chart (1995)	Peak position

Personnel

• Stuart Adamson - guitar, e-bow, slide guitar, B-Bender guitar, lead vocals
• Mark Brzezicki - drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Tony Butler - bass guitar, backing vocals
• Bruce Watson - guitar, e-bow, mandolin

Additional personnel

• Josh Phillips - keyboards
• James McNally - low whistle on "God's Great Mistake"