Nicely Out of Tune
Studio album by
Lindisfarne
ReleasedNovember 1970[1]
Recorded1970
GenreFolk rock
Length52 mins
LabelUnited Kingdom Charisma
United States Elektra
ProducerJohn Anthony
Lindisfarne chronology
Nicely Out of Tune
(1970)		 Fog on the Tyne
(1971)

Nicely Out of Tune is the debut album by Lindisfarne, released in late 1970. It charted more than a year after release, thanks to the huge success of their second album Fog on the Tyne, which topped the charts early in 1972.

"Lady Eleanor" and "Clear White Light (Pt. 2)" were both released as singles. The former was reactivated once the group became successful, and gave them a No. 3 hit in 1972. "We Can Swing Together", a song written by Hull about an abortive police raid on a party, became one of their favourites on stage, featuring an extended medley of traditional folk tunes played on harmonica by Ray Jackson. A live version can be found on the group's Lindisfarne Live, recorded in 1971 and released in 1973, and as a bonus track on their third album, Dingly Dell. Elvis Costello singled out "Winter Song" as one of the greatest songs ever.[2]

The title of the seventh track, "Alan in the River With Flowers", is a parody of The Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", and was given its original title of "Float Me Down the River" on the American version. The "flatulette" was actually one of the band members blowing raspberries during the instrumental break in "Down".[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]

Bruce Eder of AllMusic praised Nicely Out of Tune as "easily the best album the group ever recorded".[4]

Track listing

  1. "Lady Eleanor" (Alan Hull)
  2. "Road to Kingdom Come" (Rod Clements)
  3. "Winter Song" (Hull)
  4. "Turn a Deaf Ear" (Rab Noakes)
  5. "Clear White Light (Pt. 2)" (Hull)
  6. "We Can Swing Together" (Hull)
  7. "Alan in the River with Flowers" (Hull)
  8. "Down" (Hull)
  9. "The Things I Should Have Said" (Clements)
  10. "Jackhammer Blues" (Woody Guthrie)
  11. "Scarecrow Song" (Hull)

Bonus tracks on CD reissue:

  1. "Knackers Yard Blues" (Hull) (B-side of "Clear White Light (Pt. 2)" single)
  2. "Nothing But the Marvellous Is Beautiful" (Hull) (B-side of "Lady Eleanor" single)

Charts

Chart (1970–72) Peak
position
UK (Official Charts Company) 8
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 44

Personnel

Lindisfarne
  • Alan Hull - vocals, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, organ, piano, electric piano
  • Ray Jackson - vocals, mandolin, harmonica, flatulette (sic)
  • Rod Clements - electric bass, organ, piano, violin, guitars, vocals
  • Simon Cowe - lead, acoustic and 12-string guitars, mandolin, banjo, vocals
  • Ray Laidlaw - drums

References

  1. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography. New York: Canongate, 889.
  2. ↑ Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
  3. ↑ Ray Laidlaw: the story behind the album sleeve(s) - Making of... The Nicely Out of Tune Album Cover
  4. 1 2 Allmusic review
  5. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 178. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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