Dead from the Waist Down explained

Dead from the Waist Down
Cover:Dead from the Waist Down cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Catatonia
Album:Equally Cursed and Blessed
Released:[1]
Studio:Monnow Valley (Rockfield, Wales)
Length:4:16
Label:Blanco y Negro
Producer:TommyD, Catatonia
Prev Title:Game On
Prev Year:1998
Next Title:Londinium
Next Year:1999

"Dead from the Waist Down" is a song by Welsh rock band Catatonia, taken from their third studio album, Equally Cursed and Blessed. It was written by Mark Roberts with Catatonia and produced by the band and TommyD. Released on 29 March 1999, the song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart and was the band's only song to chart in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 44.

Recording and release

The first version of "Dead from the Waist Down" was recorded by Mark Roberts of Catatonia on a DPS12 hard disk recorder, while the band was on an American tour. It featured Roberts playing a guitar, as well as rough ideas for the chorus. He had written the song about being on tour in Los Angeles, and having members of the band's entourage who weren't enjoying themselves. It was combined with singer Cerys Matthews' idea to develop a song suitable for BBC Radio 2 and her mother. It was then recorded for the Equally Cursed and Blessed album at Monnow Valley Studios in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales.[2]

Track listings

UK, European, and Australian CD single[3] [4]

  1. "Dead from the Waist Down" – 3:51
  2. "Branding a Mountain" – 1:56
  3. "Bad Bad Boy" – 2:46

UK 7-inch and cassette single[5] [6]

  1. "Dead from the Waist Down" – 3:51 (3:40 on 7-inch)
  2. "Branding a Mountain" – 1:56

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Equally Cursed and Blessed album booklet.[7]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 56
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 34

Notes and References

  1. New Releases – For Week Starting 29 March, 1999: Singles. Music Week. 23. 27 March 1999. 19 July 2021.
  2. News: TOMMY D: Recording Catatonia's 'Dead from the Waist Down'. Sound on Sound. May 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20160412213847/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may99/articles/tracks.htm. 12 April 2016. 15 April 2016.
  3. Dead from the Waist Down. Catatonia. 1999. UK CD single liner notes. Blanco y Negro Records. NEG115CD, 3984270919.
  4. Dead from the Waist Down. Catatonia. 1999. European & Australian CD single liner notes. Blanco y Negro Records. 3984270912.
  5. Dead from the Waist Down. Catatonia. 1999. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Blanco y Negro Records. NEG 115, 3984270927.
  6. Dead from the Waist Down. Catatonia. 1999. UK cassette single sleeve. Blanco y Negro Records. NEG115C, 3984270924.
  7. Equally Cursed and Blessed. Equally Cursed and Blessed. Catatonia. 1999. UK CD album booklet. Blanco y Negro Records. 3984 270942.
  8. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia. pdf. 52.
  9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 16. 16. 9. 17 April 1999. 19 July 2021.