Do It Yourself is the only album by the Seahorses, an English alternative rock band from York that was formed by former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire. The album's cover features a photograph of Squire's 1996 sculpture in the shape of globe made of puzzle pieces and was named Do It Yourself.

The album was released to mixed-to-positive reviews, but was well received by the British public. It entered the UK Albums Chart at #2, behind Gary Barlow's solo debut Open Road, and went on to gain platinum status after selling over 300,000 copies in the UK alone. The album featured three charting UK singles: "Love Is the Law" (No. 3), "Blinded by the Sun" (No. 7), and "Love Me and Leave Me" (No. 16), the latter of which was lead singer of Oasis Liam Gallagher's first songwriting credit. NME readers voted the Seahorses the fourth best new act of 1997;. NME. 1997. Retrieved 4 February 2012. Archived at rocklistmusic.co.uk. Guitarist magazine readers voted Do It Yourself the tenth-best album of the year."Best of 1997". Guitarist. February 1998.

A short UK tour in December 1997, with support from American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind, promoted the album's release, as did subsequent support slots with the Rolling Stones, U2 and Oasis."Ex-Seahorses Singer Chris Helme On Life With John Squire and His Solo Future". live4ever. 6 Jan, 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2012. Ongoing recording sessions, which yielded the 1997 single "You Can Talk to Me" (UK #15, US Modern Rock Tracks #30), were aborted in January 1999, and the band split soon after, without completing the planned follow-up to Do It Yourself.

Track listing All songs are composed by John Squire except where noted.

Personnel The Seahorses Chris Helme - vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals John Squire - guitar, artwork Stuart Fletcher - bass guitar Andy Watts - drums, backing vocals with: Lili Haydn - violin Technical Tony Visconti - production, arrangements, conductor, mellotron, tambura, theremin Jeff Thomas - engineer Rob Jacobs - recording, mixing Bob Ludwig - mastering Simon Moran - management Steve Atherton - management Francesca Restrepo - art direction

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997)Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 97

Year-end charts Chart (1997)PositionUK Albums (OCC)32

Singles SingleChart (1997)Peakposition"Love Is the Law""Blinded by the Sun""Love Me and Leave Me"

References

External links

Do It Yourself at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)