Solid Wood

"Solid Wood" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released as the second and final single from her 1995 compilation album Singles. It was written by Moyet and produced by Ian Broudie.

"Solid Wood"
CD Single #1 for "Solid Wood".
Single by Alison Moyet
from the album Singles
B-side	"Blue"
Released	14 August 1995
Genre	Pop, rock
Length	4:37
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Alison Moyet
Producer(s)	Ian Broudie
Alison Moyet singles chronology
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (1995) "Solid Wood" (1995) "Should I Feel That It's Over" (2002)

Background

In May 1995, Columbia released Alison Moyet's first compilation album, Singles,[1] which reached the UK number one spot the following month.[2] To promote the album, two newly-recorded tracks, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Solid Wood" were released as singles. "Solid Wood" was the second, released in August. Unlike "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", which did not chart, "Solid Wood" reached No. 44 in the UK, remaining in the Top 100 for two weeks.[2]

A music video was filmed to promote the single.[3] In the States, it gained some airing on the music television show JBTV, the Brockton-based Rage TV,[4] and Newark-based Power Play Music Video Television.[5]

Release

"Solid Wood" was released by Columbia on CD and cassette in the UK and across Europe.[6] The B-side on the cassette edition was "Blue", a non-album track which was written about Moyet's love of Southend United F.C..[7] In the UK, two different CD versions were released, with CD1 also featuring the same tracks as the main European release. In addition to "Blue", "Ode to Boy", taken from the Essex album was included, along with a live version of "There Are Worse Things I Could Do".[8][9] For the UK CD2 version, the third and fourth tracks were "Whispering Your Name", also from Essex, and "First Time (Are You Sure It's Your......)", a remix of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Mark Saunders.[10]

Critical reception

On its release, Music & Media described "Solid Wood" as "a solid rocking pop song" which "do[es] justice to her background in Canvey Island where pub rock once started".[11]

Formats

European CD single

1. "Solid Wood" - 4:23
2. "Blue" - 3:22
3. "Ode To Boy" - 2:54
4. "There Are Worst Things I Could Do (Recorded Live)" - 2:29

UK CD single #1

1. "Solid Wood" - 4:23
2. "Blue" - 3:22
3. "Ode To Boy" - 2:54
4. "There Are Worst Things I Could Do (Recorded Live)" - 2:29

UK CD single #2

1. "Solid Wood" - 4:23
2. "Blue" - 3:22
3. "Whispering Your Name" - 3:29
4. "First Time (Are You Sure It's Your...)" - 4:11

CD Single (UK promo only)

1. "Solid Wood" - 4:37

Cassette single (UK only)

1. "Solid Wood" - 4:22
2. "Blue" - 3:21

Personnel

Production

• Ian Broudie - producer on "Solid Wood" and "Whispering Your Name", mixing on "Whispering Your Name"
• Bob Kraushaar - mixing on "Solid Wood"
• Pete Glenister - producer on "Blue", "Ode to Boy", "First Time (Are You Sure It's Your...)" and "There Are Worst Things I Could Do", mixing on "Blue"
• Vic Van Vugt - mixing on "Blue", engineer on "Blue" and "Ode to Boy"
• Alan Winstanley - mixing on "Ode to Boy"
• Neil Brockbank - engineer on "Ode to Boy" and "There Are Worst Things I Could Do"
• Mark Saunders - producer and mixing on "First Time (Are You Sure It's Your...)"

Other

• The Douglas Brothers - photography
• Alison Moyet, Martin Jenkins - design

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[2]	44

References

1. "CD Album - Alison Moyet - Singles - Columbia - Europe". 45worlds.com. 22 May 1995. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
2. "ALISON MOYET | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
3. "Alison Moyet - Solid Wood (Promo)". YouTube. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
4. "Billboard - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. 23 September 1995. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
5. "Billboard". 30 September 1995. p. 98. Retrieved 8 November 2017 – via Internet Archive. solid wood alison moyet. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
6. "Alison Moyet - Solid Wood at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
7. "101 Interesting Facts on Southend United: Learn About the Boys From Roots Hall - Peter Miles - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
8. "Alison Moyet - Solid Wood (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 14 August 1995. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
9. "Alison Moyet - Solid Wood (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
10. "Alison Moyet - Solid Wood (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 14 August 1995. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
11. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. 2 September 1995.