Friday mp3: The La's

The La's formed in Liverpool in 1983, originally as a skiffle group. Lee Mavers joined a year later as rhythm guitarist, he'd go on to be the band's frontman and main songwriter. John Power, who would later form 'Cast', took over bass duties in 1987. Early bootlegs attracted the interest of several labels, the band eventually signing to Go! Discs.

Their first single, 'Way Out' only just scraped into the top 100. Their best-known track, 'There She Goes' followed. A frequently changing line-up meant their first long-player didn't arrive for two years, eventually being recorded with U2 and XTC producer Steve Lillywhite. Band and producer wouldn't see eye-to-eye, Mavers not happy with the recordings. The label would release it anyway. It would be their only album.

Power left the band in the summer of '92 to form his new band, taking their name from the final word of the La's debut. Mavers was alleged to have refused to record any further material until the first record was re-recorded, and shunned the limelight from them on. During the mid-nineties a couple of unexpected support slots for Oasis and Paul Weller led fans to believe a reunion was on the cards, but it didn't happen. In 2005, the band announced a surprise six-date tour, including the T In The Park festival. A second record is said to be on the cards but nothing has been released as yet.

It's a smashing album, hard to believe it's nearly twenty years old. It would probably be fair to say it played a significant part in blazing a trail for early Britpop bands, Noel Gallagher's certainly a big fan. If you've not heard it, grab it, a definite classic, maybe even the best British record of the nineties. Could've picked any track off it really, but this is probably my favourite.

MP3: The La's - I Can't Sleep
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