The Small Price of a Bicycle
The Small Price of a Bicycle is the second studio album by The Icicle Works. The album was released in 1985 and charted at number 55 in the UK[1][2][3] Despite the success of the band's first album in North America, it was unreleased in both the US and Canada, with Arista Records in the US memorably rejecting it as "punk-rock demos".
The Small Price of a Bicycle | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1 September 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1984–1985 | |||
Genre | Post-punk, new wave, neo-psychedelia | |||
Length | 44:45 | |||
Label | Beggars Banquet | |||
Producer |
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The Icicle Works chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Icicle Works | ||||
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In Canada, an early version of the track "Book of Reason" was released by Vertigo Records on their 1984 Vertigo Sampler 2-LP set, with a note that the track was from the forthcoming Icicle Works LP. However, the LP never actually forthcame; instead, Vertigo Canada issued a 5-track EP called Seven Horses Deep. This EP included the so-called "American Version" of "Seven Horses" (which was never actually issued in the US), the single version of "All The Daughters", and the previously issued UK b-sides "(Let's Go) Down to the River", "Beggars Legacy" and "Goin' Back".
In 2011, Cherry Red Records issued a 3-CD expanded edition of The Small Price of a Bicycle. Disc 1 featured the original album in its entirety, while discs 2 and 3 featured a wealth of related demos, b-sides, radio sessions, live tracks, remixes and unreleased session outtakes.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Sounds |
The album was reviewed by Roger Holland for the music magazine Sounds where it received a perfect score of five stars out of five. Holland wrote that The Small Price of a Bicycle was "a very fine album" and praised its "combinations of exuberant young rock rhythms and enchanting, inspiring vocals".
Track listing
UK Edition
All tracks composed by Ian McNabb; except where indicated
- "Hollow Horse" (McNabb, Chris Layhe) – 4:00
- "Perambulator" (McNabb, Chris Layhe) – 4:02
- "Seven Horses" – 4:12
- "Rapids" – 4:32
- "Windfall" – 4:13
- "Assumed Sundown" – 5:53
- "Saint's Sojourn" – 4:33
- "All the Daughters (Of Her Father's House)" – 4:40
- "Book of Reason" – 3:45
- "Conscience of Kings" – 4:48
2011 Expanded Edition
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Hollow Horse (Long Version)" | |
2. | "Book of Reason (USA Long Version)" | |
3. | "All the Daughters" | |
4. | "A Pocketful of Nothing" | |
5. | "Mr. Soul" | |
6. | "When You Hear The Mission Bells" | |
7. | "Seven Horses (American Version)" | |
8. | "Slingshot" | |
9. | "Beggars Legacy" | |
10. | "Goin' Back" | |
11. | "When It All Comes Down" | |
12. | "(Let's Go) Down to the River" | |
13. | "Cold Turkey" | |
14. | "Seven Horses (Early Recording)" | |
15. | "Perambulator (Early Recording)" | |
16. | "Assumed Sundown (Early Recording)" | |
17. | "Beggars Legacy" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "When It All Comes Down (Abridged Version)" | |
2. | "Saints Sojourn" | |
3. | "Hollow Horse" | |
4. | "Deep in the Woods" | |
5. | "Conscience of Kings" | |
6. | "When You Hear the Mission Bells" | |
7. | "Perambulator" | |
8. | "All the Daughters (Of Her Father's House)" | |
9. | "Diamond in the Rough" | |
10. | "Impossibly Three Lovers" | |
11. | "Seven Horses (Live)" | |
12. | "Perambulator (Live)" | |
13. | "Rapids (Live)" | |
14. | "Hollow Horse (Live)" | |
15. | "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Live)" |
Personnel
- The Icicle Works
- Robert Ian McNabb – guitar, lead vocals, keyboards
- Chris Layhe – bass, backing vocals, keyboards, violin
- Chris Sharrock – drums, percussion
References
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 266. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- http://merseybeasts.com/discogw.php
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-small-price-of-a-bicycle-mw0000738441
- Sutton, Michael. "The Small Price of a Bicycle – The Icicle Works | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- http://albumsoutof100.weebly.com/icicle-works-review.html