Southside (Texas album) explained

Southside
Type:studio
Artist:Texas
Cover:Texas southside album.jpg
Released:13 March 1989
Recorded:September–November 1988
Studio:Maison Rouge Recording Studios Ltd, London
Length:44:53
Label:Mercury
Vertigo (US/Canada)
Producer:Tim Palmer
Next Title:Everyday Now
Next Year:1989

Southside is the debut album by Scottish rock band Texas.[1] It was released on 13 March 1989. It peaked at no. 3 in the UK Albums Chart and within three weeks of release was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies. Worldwide, Southside has sold over 2 million copies.[2]

Background and release

The album's first single "I Don't Want a Lover" was released on 23 January 1989 and peaked at no. 8 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] Following the release of the album in March of that year, which entered the UK Albums Chart at no.3, further singles from the album were less successful. The second single, "Thrill Has Gone", peaked at no. 60, while a third single, "Everyday Now", fared little better at no. 44. Despite this, a fourth single, "Prayer for You", was released on 13 November but stalled at no. 73 in the UK. Despite only one hit single, the album spent 29 weeks on the charts.[4]

The album cover art was derived from the poster art for the film Paris, Texas, which inspired the band's name.

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album's strengths "revolve around the way the Scottish quartet fuses some of rock’s most appealing elements: the lonesome, sensual slide-guitar sound of Ry Cooder ... and vocals by Sharleen Spiteri that recall the liberating spirit and convincing character of the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde and Lone Justice’s Maria McKee."[5]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[6] 50
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] 100
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[8] 12

Certifications and sales

!scope="row"|Worldwide||2,000,000[9] |-

Personnel

Texas
Other Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Texas | Biography & History. AllMusic.
  2. Web site: I Don't Want a Lover by Texas - Songfacts.
  3. Web site: Texas . . 2012-01-12.
  4. Web site: Texas – Southside . . 1989-03-25 . 2012-01-12.
  5. Web site: POP MUSIC REVIEW: Instant Empathy With Texas Band in Live Debut. 31 October 1989. Los Angeles Times.
  6. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1989. Australian Recording Industry Association. 28 January 2021.
  7. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. 14 February 2022.
  8. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1989. hitparade.ch. 28 January 2021.
  9. Web site: Spotlight - Texas. Music & Media. 23. Robert. Tilli. 28 September 1991. 28 June 2019.