| Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1. | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | The Wildhearts |
| Cover: | Wildhearts-StopUs.jpg |
| Studio: | Madhouse Studios (Luton, England) |
| Length: | 49:02 |
| Label: | Round |
| Producer: | Jase Edwards |
| Prev Title: | The Works |
| Prev Year: | 2008 |
| Next Title: | ¡Chutzpah! |
| Next Year: | 2009 |
Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1. is the seventh studio album and first covers album by British rock band The Wildhearts. Recorded at Madhouse Studios with producer Jase Edwards, it was originally released as a digital download on 19 May 2008 by Round Records, before a physical release on 7 July 2008. The album reached number 48 on the UK Album Downloads Chart, number 16 on the UK Independent Albums Chart and number 20 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart.
The Wildhearts announced Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1. in April 2008, describing it as "a collection of covers from some of The Wildhearts favourite bands".[1] Starting on 21 April, the band uploaded a song from the album to their MySpace page each week, up to the date of the album's release.[2] The songs uploaded were the covers of "Understanding Jane" by the Icicle Works on 21 April,[3] "Unsung" by Helmet (with lead vocals by C. J. Wildheart) on 28 April,[4] "Carmelita" by Warren Zevon (with lead vocals by Scott Sorry) on 5 May,[5] and "Ice Hockey Hair" by Super Furry Animals (with lead vocals by Ritch Battersby) on 12 May.[6] Following its initial release as a 12-track download on 19 May, Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1. was released on physical formats on 7 July 2008.[7]
Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1. was the band's first studio album not to register on the main UK Albums Chart; upon its initial release in May 2008 as a 12-track digital download, it registered at number 48 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.[8] Following its 15-track physical version release in July, the album reached number 16 on the UK Independent Albums Chart and number 20 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart.[8]
Critical response to Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1. was mixed. Reviewing the album for the website AllMusic, Jon O'Brien described the collection as "a passable if unremarkable stop-gap album", suggesting that the band's style is "already so similar [to that of the songs' original artists] that it renders the album's whole concept rather pointless". Awarding the album 2.5 out of five stars, O'Brien praised the choice of "obscure" songs to cover, but claimed that "if, as its title suggests, it's to be the first in a series, the band would do to delve a little deeper into their record collection next time round".
The Wildhearts
Additional personnel
| Peak position | ||
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) | 48 | |
|---|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) | 16 | |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) | 20 |