Is This the Life explained

Is This the Life
Cover:	Is_This_the_Life.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Cardiacs
Album:	A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window
Released:	16 April 1988
Studio:	The Workhouse (London)
Genre:	New wave^[1] post-punk
Length:	5:39
Label:	Alphabet Business Concern Torso
Producer:	Tim Smith
Prev Title:	There's Too Many Irons in the Fire
Prev Year:	1987
Next Title:	Susannah's Still Alive
Next Year:	1988

"Is This the Life" (also written "Is This the Life?") is a song by English rock band Cardiacs from their debut studio album A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988). The song was released on vinyl by the Alphabet Business Concern and Torso on 16 April 1988 as the only single from the album. The song was previously recorded for the demo albums Toy World (1981) and The Seaside (1984). It also briefly attained chart success (peaking at number 80) after being played on various Radio 1 shows thanks to DJ Liz Kershaw.^{[2] [3]} The Torso version of the 7" is exactly the same as the Alphabet release although it comes in a paper sleeve instead of a cardboard one. Only the Torso 12" differs in both track listing and cover design.

Track listing

• Seven-inch single

1. "Is This the Life" – 5:36
2. "I'm Eating in Bed" – 5:06

• Twelve-inch single

1. "Is This the Life" – 5:36
2. "Goosegash" – 1:56
3. "I'm Eating in Bed" – 5:06

Personnel

Credits adapted from the 12" single liner notes.^[4]

Studio locations

• Recorded at The Workhouse (Old Kent Rd, London)
• "Goosegash" was recorded at the Slaughterhouse (Driffield, Yorkshire)

Cardiacs

• Tim Quy – percussion, marimba, synthesiser
• Tim Smith – loud singing, guitar
• Jim Smith – bass guitar, voice
• Sarah Smith – saxes, clarinets, voice
• William D. Drake – keyboards, voice
• Dominic Luckman – drum set

Also:

• Elain Herman – violins

Technical

• Pete Hammond – engineering, executive producer
• Stuart Barry – engineering
• Graham Simmonds – engineering, final mixing (Side Two)
• Roger Tebbutt – final mixing (Side One)
• Tim Smith – producer

Artwork

• David Oliver – photography

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Is This the Life"! Chart (1988)! Peak
position

Covers & Tributes

• English band Mikrokosmos recorded a cover which was part of (and released on) 'Leader Of The Starry Skies (A Tribute To Tim Smith) Songbook 1' album in 2010.^[5]
• English psychedelic rock band The Cheethams released a cover of the song as a B-side to 'Deaded & Ditched (Single)' on 16 March 2024.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . 23 July 2020 . The Essentiality of Cardiacs' 'A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window' . 16 March 2023 . BrooklynVegan.
2. Web site: Cashmore . Pete . 2 June 2015 . Cult heroes: Tim Smith led the Cardiacs in the face of hatred – and much love . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150603135943/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/jun/02/cult-heroes-tim-smith-led-the-cardiacs-in-the-face-of-hatred-and-much-love . 3 June 2015 . 4 September 2021 . The Guardian.
3. Web site: Sgrignoli . Marco . 20 July 2022 . Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto . 11 August 2022 . . it.
4. "Is This the Life". Cardiacs. 1988. 12" single liner notes. UK. Alphabet Business Concern. ALPH 008T.
5. Web site: Discogs .
6. Web site: Deaded & Ditched (Single) . Discogs . 16 March 2024.