Additional information
The Boo Radleys: Sice (vocals, handclaps); Martin Carr (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards, glockenspeil, handclaps, percussion); Tim Brown (piano, keyboards, bass); Rob Cieka (keyboards, drums, bell, percussion). Additional personnel: Dick Green (guitar); Fay Sweet (viola); Lindsay Johnston (cello); Nigel Hitchcock (saxophone); Chris Moore, Simon Gardner (trumpet); Steve Kitchen (trumpet, flugelhorn); Neil Sidwell (trombone); Peter Fry (acoustic bass); Scottie (handclaps). Recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales, England in September and October 1994. All songs written by Martin Carr. Audio Mixer: Al Clay. Audio Remasterer: Andy Pearce. Liner Note Author: Barrington Claudius. Recording information: Rockfield Studios, Wales (1994). One of the most pop-oriented U.K. bands to be associated with the shoegazer movement, the Boo Radleys had largely broken from the style's feedback-heavy sound by the time of 1995's WAKE UP! Clearly taking the playfulness and eclecticism of the late-'60s Beatles to heart, the group, masterminded by guitarist Martin Carr, crafted a bright, dynamic album that kicks off with the charmingly sleepy intro to "Wake Up Boo!"--a track that eventually breaks into a vibrant, horn-led melody. The Radleys' penchant for boisterous fanfare also pops up on the giddy "It's Lulu," while the ensemble's more subdued side is showcased on the gentle, jangly "Fairfax Scene." And although Carr and company generally disliked being lumped in with the Britpop scene, the mini-epic "Joel" features a distinctively Stone Roses-like section, one of many moments that tied the band to the thriving movement. While the Radleys' previous outing, GIANT STEPS, may have been more challenging and innovative, WAKE UP! is the group's kaleidoscopic crowning achievement.
