Bummed

Recording and production

Bummed was recorded in six weeks at the Slaughterhouse studio in Driffield. The album's sound is noticeably different from any preceding or succeeding albums in the Madchester genre. This can be explained by the producer, Martin Hannett, who was notable for pioneering use of electronics in music. What is most noticeable production-wise on this album is the use of echo and reverb on the drum sound.

"Martin worked like we worked," Shaun Ryder told Select. "He didn't give a fuck about anything and neither did we. We wouldn't start work till two in the morning when we was all pissed enough and stoned enough to go in and do half an hour".

"Bummed", said drummer Gary Whelan, "was a saying at the time. Shaun used to say he was out all night and he bummed her all night long, a slang word for sex. I didn't even know what the album was called until it came out."

Remixes

Several of the songs on this album were later remixed. These included "Mad Cyril", "Wrote For Luck" and "Lazyitis". "Mad Cyril" was remixed into "Mad Cyril (Hello Girls Mix)", "Wrote For Luck" was remixed twice, firstly into "WFL" and then "Wrote For Luck (Think About The Future Mix)"; Vince Clarke remixed the former, Paul Oakenfold the latter. "Lazyitis" was remixed into "Lazyitis (One-Armed Boxer Remix)" which featured Country legend Karl Denver on guest vocals. Paul Oakenfold would become vastly important to Happy Mondays when he produced their 1990 opus Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches. These remixes are significant as they were a sign that Happy Mondays were beginning to embrace the burgeoning rave scene, then taking place in the UK.

Cultural impact

This album arrived at a time when the Madchester genre was only beginning to formulate into what could be termed a "scene", closely connected to acid house. However, on this album Happy Mondays played mostly pure rock music, with funk rhythms played on the drums and bass guitar and electronic flourishes showcased by the keyboard melodies. The real dance influence shone through when the songs were remixed by people such as Paul Oakenfold, as described above. This was when the band first made a cultural impact on a regional and national level.

Reception

Q magazine awarded Bummed three stars out of five. The album, wrote Martin Aston, "continues the band's warped version of Northern Soul rhythms, with stabbing guitars and Hammond organs, wayward sequencers, a dislocated rhythm section and surly sardonic vocalist... [The] only real failing is its lack of versatility, but it's Happy Mondays' stroppy spirit that counts most of all." In 2006, the same magazine placed the album at #18 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s".

Original release

All tracks written by Happy Mondays except 10 (Happy Mondays, Lennon–McCartney)

1. "Country Song" – 3:24 (Originally called "Some Cunt from Preston")
2. "Moving in With" – 3:36
3. "Mad Cyril" – 4:36 (Opens with the line "We've Been Courteous" from Performance supposedly sounding like Ian Curtis)
4. "Fat Lady Wrestlers" – 3:25
5. "Performance" – 4:09
6. "Brain Dead" – 3:10 (Ryder's opening "You're rendering that scaffolding dangerous!" is a quote from the film Gimme Shelter, in which it is uttered by Sam Cutler, referring to the set at the Altamont Free Concert)
7. "Wrote for Luck" – 6:05
8. "Bring a Friend" – 3:45
9. "Do It Better" – 2:29
10. "Lazyitis" – 2:48 (The song explicitly borrows from "Ticket to Ride" by The Beatles, but also nods to "Family Affair" and "Gonna Make You a Star" by David Essex)

2007 collector's edition

CD1

1. "Country Song" – 3:24
2. "Moving in With" – 3:36
3. "Mad Cyril" – 4:36
4. "Fat Lady Wrestlers" – 3:25
5. "Performance" – 4:09
6. "Brain Dead" – 3:10
7. "Wrote for Luck" – 6:05
8. "Bring a Friend" – 3:45
9. "Do It Better" – 2:29
10. "Lazyitis" – 2:48
11. "Hallelujah" - 2:36
12. "Holy Ghost" - 2:50
13. "Clap Your Hands" - 3:30
14. "Rave On" (Club Mix)- 5:38
15. "Boom" - 2:58
16. "Mad Cyril" (Hello Girls Mix) - 3:53
17. "Wrote for Luck" (12" B-side) - 5:48

CD2

1. "Wrote for Luck" (7" version)
2. "Hallelujah" (club mix)
3. "Wrote for Luck" (12" version)
4. "Hallelujah" (MacColl mix)
5. "Lazyitis (One Armed Boxer)" (featuring Karl Denver)
6. "WFL" (Think About the Future)
7. "Hallelujah" (12" version)
8. "Kilamenjaro" (aka 'Rave On')
9. "WFL" (Vince Clarke 12" mix)
10. "Hallelujah" (Deadstock mix)

Band

Recorded

Mixdown

Engineering credits

Special credits to

Artwork