Some Friendly is the debut studio album by British rock band the Charlatans that was released on 8 October 1990 through Beggars Banquet Records imprint Situation Two. After forming in 1988, the band went through line-up changes before settling on vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist John Baker, bassist Martin Blunt, keyboardist Rob Collins and drummer Jon Brookes. The band wrote material at a prolific rate and released their debut single "Indian Rope" in early 1990. Soon afterwards, they signed to Beggars Banquet and began recording their debut album. Between March and August 1990, sessions took place with producer Chris Nagle at Strawberry Studios in Stockport and The Windings in Wrexham. Some Friendly is considered an acid-pop, baggy and dance-pop album that draws influence from The Beatles' psychedelic period.
In May 1990, "The Only One I Know" was released as the lead single from Some Friendly; it earned the Charlatans their first appearance on the BBC Television music show Top of the Pops and the band embarked on their first headlining tour of the United Kingdom. Following their first overseas show in August 1990, "Then" was released as the album's second single in September 1990. The band played several shows in the United States and were forced to append "UK" to their name because of an identically named American band. The Charlatans ended 1990 with a tour of the UK and mainland Europe with support from Intastella. In early 1991, they went on their first full US tour, coinciding with the release of "Sproston Green" as a single in February 1991.
Some Friendly received mixed reviews from music critics, many of whom noted of the band's influences rather than their sound. Collins' keyboard work was highly praised but Burgess' vocals were negatively received. Retrospective reviews were more favourable, though some still pointed out the influences. The album peaked at number one the UK Albums Chart and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it gold three days after its release. It also charted in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the US. "The Only One I Know" and "Then" both reached the top 20 in the UK and number 11 in Ireland. Both Melody Maker and Sounds included Some Friendly on their lists of the year's best releases, being listed in the top 10 in the former and in the top 30 in the latter. "The Only One I Know" has been viewed as one of the defining tracks of the Madchester and baggy scenes.
Background After the demise of their band The Gift Horses, bassist Martin Blunt, vocalist and guitarist Baz Ketley, and drummer Jon Brookes regrouped and held a jam session, marking the formation of The Charlatans in 1988.Wills; Sheehan 1999, pp. 21, 22Robb 1998, pp. 17, 23 They engaged several keyboardists before finding one who fit the sound they were aiming for. This new keyboardist, however, died after four-to-five rehearsals.Robb 1998, p. 23 Blunt then engaged Rob Collins, who had played in a band with Brookes when they were teenagers.Robb 1998, pp. 23, 24 The band recorded two sets of demo recordings and began looking for a manager. Steve Harrison, owner of a record shop called Omega Music, had been interested in managing bands. Blunt, who he knew from his time in Makin' Time, contacted Harrison to see his band perform.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 22 After the set, Harrison was impressed and agreed to manage the band.Wills; Sheehan 1999, pp. 22–3 The Charlatans' first attention from national music publications came in August 1988 when they supported Broken English at Walsall Overstrand; the Charlatans' set received a lukewarm reception.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 24
Harrison took his friend Tim Burgess of The Electric Crayons to see the Charlatans; Burgess enjoyed the performance but thought they could sound better with a different singer.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 17Robb 1998, p. 59 The Electric Crayons supported the Charlatans for one show in September 1988.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 18 Collins had tried to convince Blunt to draft Burgess into the band; Blunt instead invited him to do backing vocals for their set. The Charlatans supported various American bands and later the Stone Roses at several shows as that act were rising in popularity.Robb 1998, pp. 42, 43 Brookes said the band were impressed with the confidence the Stone Roses' frontman Ian Brown had, wishing they had a vocalist like him.Robb 1998, p. 44 Ketley left the Charlatans after his girlfriend left him, though Harrison said the decision came from Ketley, who felt the band were heading nowhere.Robb 1998, p. 45 By June 1989, the Charlatans were looking for a replacement vocalist and guitarist.Robb 1998, p. 46
Blunt had earlier asked guitarist John Baker of Liquid Egg Box, who had booked the Charlatans at Walsall Overstrand, to practice with them but Baker had declined. When Blunt asked Baker again in July 1989, Baker suggested another guitarist, who appeared for a few rehearsals and left thereafter; Baker joined The Charlatans shortly afterwards.Robb 1998, pp. 59, 67 The band auditioned a number of other people before considering Burgess, whose band had now broken up.Robb 1998, p. 68 Blunt went to ask Harrison if he could persuade Burgess to join them; Harrison plastered a "vocalist required" sign on the window of Omega Music that caught Burgess's attention. Burgess was unaware Ketley had left the Charlatans and went to the audition in Walsall.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 25 Burgess's audition was initially unsuccessful because he was emulating Iggy Pop. After an attempt at performing naturally, Burgess became the band's new vocalist by August 1989.Robb 1998, p. 69 Burgess and Baker did not like the material the band had accumulated up to that point; Burgess found no emotional connection to the lyrics and Baker being unable to play the guitar parts.
Writing and label signing All of the members of the Charlatans were tired of their jobs; they practised as often as they could and wrote new songs at a prolific rate. The first song the new line-up wrote together was "Flowers"; they played their first show together at the end of August 1989.Robb 1998, pp. 70, 71 While Brookes was on holiday in Ibiza, the rest of the band wrote "Indian Rope", "The Only One I Know" and "Sproston Green" in a single weekend.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 27 The Charlatans were unable to secure a recording contract so Harrison decided to form his own label, which he called Dead Dead Good.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 31 Harrison signed the Charlatans to a contract for one album and three singles; they made a gentlemen's agreement in which the band could join another label should they receive an adequate offer. They made a demo tape comprising "Indian Rope", "You Can Talk to Me" and "White Shirt", selling copies at gigs in October 1989.Wills; Sheehan 1999, pp. 28–9 Around this time, the Madchester and baggy scenes had risen to prominence with acts such as the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays after the release of "Fools Gold" and the Madchester Rave On EP, respectively.Robb 1998, p. 75
In December 1989, the band played a show at The Boardwalk in Manchester supporting Cactus World News. The majority of the audience left after the Charlatans finished their set, which was attended by Chris Nagle,Robb 1998, p. 76 an engineer for Factory Records and assistant to Factory producer Martin Hannett. Towards the end of the month, Nagle contacted Harrison, who sent him a tape of a gig that included "Indian Rope" and "Sproston Green". Nagle later attended a rehearsal and another show.Robb 1998, p. 77 Press coverage followed soon after and the members quit their jobs to focus on the band full-time.Wilson 1997, p. 12 In January 1990, the band recorded a demo tape consisting of "Polar Bear", "Sonic", "The Only One I Know" and "White Shirt". Harrison packaged copies of the tape with press kits, one of which came into the possession of Manchester Evening News writer Sarah Campion.Robb 1998, pp. 78, 79 Campion passed the tape to Alison Martin, with whom she ran the press agency Scam. Martin liked the tape and had a meeting with Harrison. She left the meeting as the band's radio plugger and press agent.Robb 1998, p. 79
Nagle produced the Charlatans' debut single "Indian Rope", which was released in January 1990. It peaked at number one on the UK Independent Singles Chart; the band sold all of the copies they had within a week, prompting Harrison to put his house up for payment so he could press more copies.Wilson 1997, p. 11 The band promoted the single with their first headlining UK tour, commencing January 1990.Robb 1998, p. 86 During the tour the band received requests for radio interviews, including one from Key 103, Manchester's biggest station. While touring, the band discussed what to release as their next single; the band chose "Polar Bear" but Martin thought "The Only One I Know" was superior, as did other people, and told the band.Robb 1998, p. 100 A&R staff from several labels, such as Island, Phonogram, PolyGram and Sire Records, attempted to sign the band.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 33Burgess 2013, p. 46 A number of their contemporaries, including Intastella, the Mock Turtles and Paris Angels, were signed in quick succession.Robb 1998, p. 101 Following a performance in London, the Charlatans met with representatives of Beggars Banquet Records, with whom they signed a six-album deal.Burgess 2013, p. 47 According to Dominic Wills in The Charlatans: The Authorised History (1999), the band had at least two reasons for the signing; Beggars Banquet were upfront about their deals with Omega Music and they were able to promote a band into the mainstream with the Cult.Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 36 Harrison stipulated the Dead Dead Good logo would appear on the band's next few releases.
Recording
Shortly after signing their contract, the Charlatans were also considering "Flowers" for their second single.Robb 1998, p. 105, 107 When the band went to record "Polar Bear", a friend said they were recording the wrong song, alluding to "The Only One I Know". In the studio, the band found a fax from Beggars Banquet's A&R man Roger Trust asking them to record "The Only One I Know". The song and its later-accompanying B-sides were recorded in one week in March 1990 at Strawberry Studios, Stockport. The band chose Nagle as their producerRobb 1998, p. 108 for his modern approach to recording, which balanced the band's 1960s-esque sound. Burgess had wanted to record his vocals as quickly as possible, but Nagle encouraged him to sing more.Robb 1998, pp. 108, 109
The remainder of Some Friendly was recorded in three sessions in five weeks in mid-1990 between live performances.Robb 1998, p. 115 These sessions were held—again with Nagle producing—at The Windings near Wrexham. The studio had been a storage area for a coal mine from the early 1900s. For "Flower" and one other song, Nagle recorded Burgess' vocals in the studio's garden.Robb 1998, p. 122 The band's main problem was a lack of quality material to record, having been together for only a short period. Burgess said they would previously record songs soon after writing them, only allowing them to evolve through subsequent live performances. Burgess did not think the band left The Windings "on very friendly terms" after experiencing "studio bust-ups between the owners and the group". Blunt and Collins were accused of smashing equipment, of which Harrison had no recollection.