I Own That CD! - The Wonder Stuff

1991 had its share of great albums - Nevermind by Nirvana, Out of Time by R.E.M., Loveless by My Bloody Valentine and Ten by Pearl Jam (just to name a few). But flying way under the radar was the third album from the British band The Wonder Stuff.

Never Loved Elvis (The title was originally Fuck Elvis but lead singer Miles Hunt toned it down after hearing actor Dudley Moore state in an interview that he “never loved Elvis”) was released in May of 1991 and it caught my ear with its schizophrenic mix of Brit pub-rock and folk and it’s today’s feature on I Own That CD!

This is an album that shows great growth from their first two releases that leaned more Brit-rock with a touch of the Manchester sound. They’ve separated themselves from the pack.

Let’s start with the most popular and highest charting song, “The Size of a Cow”. A drunken pub sing-along with its chugging piano lead, it contains one of my favorite lines, “Me I’d like to think that life is like a drink, and I’m hoping that it tastes like bourbon.”

“Welcome to the Cheap Seats” is a folk-rock gem that includes beautiful backing vocals from the fantastic Kirsty MacColl. “Mission Drive” is another where the band can go from acoustic driven rock to a full-on explosion of sound. They even find time to funk it up a bit with the song “Donation”.

“Maybe” is a favorite with its wit and charm. Lead singer Miles Hunt finds himself at a crossroads, trying to decide what to do with the rest of his life. In 1991, this one got me square in the soul. “Maybe I should take the mic, stand up tall like Michael Stipe. And try to solve the problems of the world.”

Finally, “Caught In My Shadow”, the second single off the album. A nostalgic track written about home, specifically in Hunt’s home during his youth. An electric busking song that’s easy to sing-along to and one of the best college radio tracks ever.

The band toured back in 2021 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release. I’ve seen footage from some of the shows and the band sounds as good as they ever did. Like Never Loved Elvis they’re vibrant and vital and it’s really special music that if you haven’t heard, you can borrow my copy.