Del Amitri Released May 1985 Chrysalis Records

Heard Through A Wall Hammering Heart Former Owner Sticks And Stones Girl Deceive Yourself

I Was Here Crows In The Wheatfield Keepers Ceasefire Breaking Bread

Among Del Amitri fans, this is affectionately called, "the first album". Fans are divided over the validity of this album, however. Some fans see this album as an obvious precursor to Waking Hours, while others, are close to disavowing any knowledge of its actual existance!

Taken as an album, by itself, and not a Del Amitri album; the album is quite good. The production clean, the performances flawless, and the songs are melodically stimulating. The one downfall, as it were, is the speed of the vocals. Words flowing out of the singers so fast, that it's hard to understand. And, as no lyrics are included in the album (they were available via the now defunct fan club), without careful scrutiny of the songs, only periodic words are able to be understood.

The lyrics have now become readily available, via the Internet. Both via the official website, and fans copying them and sending them around like a chain-letter!

Produced by: Hugh Jones
Organ on "Deceive Yourself" by Peter Griffiths
Additional Percussion by Preston Hayman
Recorded at Park Lane Studio

Waking Hours Released July 1989 A&M Records

Kiss This Thing Goodbye Opposite View Move Away Jimmy Blue Stone Cold Sober You're Gone

When I Want You This Side Of The Morning Empty Hatful Of Rain Nothing Ever Happens

In, what most fans consider the first Del Amitri album, the band hits its stride. "Waking Hours" brought Del Amitri their first taste of success, with a couple of hit singles. "Nothing Ever Happens" became a popular sing-a-long, and "Kiss This Thing Good-bye" actually got them into the US charts.

"Waking Hours" was a very big transitionary album. The loss of Bryan Tolland on guitar, brought in a new member, Michael Slaven. And then, as soon as the album is finished, drummer Paul Tyagi leaves the band. Michael Slaven changes his mind about spending the next year on tour and departs as quickly as he arrived. This leaves the band without a guitar player and a drummer, and a new album and hit singles to support.

Enter Brian McDermott and David Cummings. Their faces on the cover of the album, but they play not one note on the album. This causes some confusion with fans trying to put faces with names. But both new members showed their true colors and stepped through the confusion to show their talents to a quickly growing fan base.

Produced by: Mark Freegard
Produced by: Hugh Jones ("Empty", "You're Gone" and "Nothing Ever Happens")
Produced by: Gil Norton ("Move Away Jimmy Blue")
Mixed by: Julian Mendelsohn
Andy Alston: Piano & Organ
Robert Cairns: Viloin
Blair Cowan: Accordion and Synthesiser
Julian Dawson: Harmonica
Stephen Irvine: Drums
James O'Malley: Bass
Caroline Lavelle: Cello
Will Mowat: Sequencing & Keyboards
Recorded at Park Lane, Linford Manor, & Chipping Norton

Change Everything Released May 1992 A&M Records

Be My Downfall Just Like A Man When You Were Young Surface Of The Moon I Won't Take The Blame The First Rule Of Love

The Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere Always The Last To Know To Last A Lifetime As Soon As The Tide Comes In Behind The Fool Sometimes I Just Have To Say Your Name

1992 found Del Amitri right where they'd like to be; with the same line up they had two years previously. The anxiously awaited follow-up to "Waking Hours", "Change Everything" carried forward the same quality both in musicianship and songwriting that was featured on "Waking Hours". The twelve songs represent a sense of realisim in the world of love.

Once again, the album supplied them with minor success in the US. "Always The Last To Know" bubbled in the lower half of the Top 40 while "Be My Downfall did the same in the UK. The tour to support the album is where the band shined. With two albums of material to choose from, the shows were longer, and almost totally Del Amitri music. Not as many covers as in previous tours.

Produced by: Gil Norton
Engineered by: Steven Haigler
Bass: Nick Clark ("When You Were Young", "I Won't Take The Blame", and "Sometimes I Just Have To Say Your Name")
Recorded at: Master Rock, London; Park Lane, Glasgow

Twisted Released February 1995 A&M Records

Food For Songs Start With Me Here and Now One Thing Left To Do Tell Her This Being Somebody Else

Roll To Me Crashing Down It Might As Well Be You Never Enough It's Never Too Late To Be Alone Driving With The Brakes On

1994 saw the departure of Brian McDermott. Timing couldn't have been worse, as Del Amitri was ready to muscle their way into the studio to make "Twisted". Drummer Chris Sharrock was recruited to play on the album, but declined to join the band permanently.

This is the album that brought Del Amitri their biggest presence in the US. "Roll To Me" was released as a single, and hit the Top 10. This would prove to be a boon and a curse for the band.

Having their music heard was what they're in the business for. However, "Roll To Me" is not 'typical' Del Amitri. The rest of "Twisted" has a harder edge, almost making their sound unrelated to the previous album.

The electric guitar is to the fore on this album. And the guitars are played expertly by Iain Harvey and David Cummings. Justin Currie's songwriting reaches amazing levels on this album, half of which is written with Iain Harvey.

Produced by: Al Clay
Mixed by: Bob Clearmountain
Drums: Chris Sharrock
Harmonica: Frazer Spiers ("Food For Songs")
Violin: David Crichton ("One Thing Left To Do")
Percussion: Martin Ditcham, David McCluskey
Recorded at: Haremere Hall, The Chapel, The Funny Farm, Palladium, Park Lane, Helicon Mountain Recording Studios
Recorded March - June 1994

Some Other Sucker's Parade Released: June 1997 A&M Records

Not Where It's At Some Other Sucker's Parade Won't Make It Better What I Think She Sees Medicine High Times Mother Nature's Writing

No Family Man Cruel Light Of Day Funny Way To Win Through All That Nothing Life Is Full Lucky Guy Make It Aways Be Too Late (Bonus tracks added to import copies) Paper Thin Sleep Instead Of Teardrops

Having toured incessantly since the release of "Twisted", the songs on "Some Other Sucker's Parade" portray life away from where you want to be. Not necessarily where you are or where you're headed. True to form, the songs themselves are incredible pieces of songwriting. The band setting out to fit into a formula they believe will help them advance both as musicians, and as popular musicians.

True to Del Amitri history, prior to recording the album, they lost another guitarist. David Cummings elected to stay in England and try a new career. Ashley Soan had joined the band on drums after the release of "Twisted", and so the search for a guitarist was begun to replace David Cummings. Finding Jon McLaughlin was a piece of good fortune. But, it was not to last.

Ashley Soan and Jon McLaughlin decided not to continue with the band after recording "Some Other Sucker's Parade". With a tour starting in mere days, Mark Price signed on as drummer, and later, Kris Dollimore as guitarist.

Produced by: Mark Freegard
Mixed by: Dave Bianco
Whistle: Jamie Seyberth ("Funny Way To Win")
Recorded at: The Chapel, Parkgate Studios
Recorded November 1996 - January 1997

Hatful Of Rain. The Best of Del Amitri Released: September 1998 Mercury Records

Cry To Be Found Roll To Me Kiss This Thing Goodbye Not Where It's At Nothing Ever Happens Always The Last To Know Move Away Jimmy Blue Here and Now Spit In The Rain

When You Were Young Driving With The Brakes On Stone Cold Sober Tell Her This Just Like A Man Be My Downfall Some Other Sucker's Parade Don't Come Home Too Soon