WET WET WET : ANGEL EYES (HOME AND AWAY) [MERCURY - ESP 1988] 12'

Wet Wet Wet "Angel Eyes (Home And away)" maxi 12"

(Mercury) 1988 made in Spain

cat. num. 870 005-1

#synth pop #pop rock

Angel Eyes (Home And Away) (Full Length Version) 5:13

We Can Love 4:41

Home And Away (Original Demo Version) 4:12

Angel Eyes (Home And Away) (7" Version) 4:30

Wet Wet Wetformed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1986 and took their name from a Scritti Polittisong. The band consisted of four school friends, Marti Pellow (vocals, born Mark McLaughlin in 1965), Tommy Cunningham (drums, born 1964), Graeme Clark (bass, born 1966), and Neil Mitchell (guitar, born 1965). Graeme Duffin performed as a session guitarist for the band in their early days, but later became the unofficial fifth member of the group. The band's first single, "Wishing I Was Lucky," was released in early 1987 and immediately gained the band a great deal of attention. Peaking at number six on the British charts, the song aroused eager anticipation of the debut album. That disc, Popped In Souled Out, was released in September 1987 and became a huge hit in itself, as well as producing three more hit singles in "Sweet Little Mystery," "Temptation," and "Angel Eyes (Home and Away)." In 1988, Wet Wet Wet returned with The Memphis Sessions. Recorded prior to Popped In Souled Out, the album had been shelved but was released after the success of their debut album. In the same year, the band scored their first British number one with a version of the Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends," recorded for charity. In 1989, their follow-up proper to Popped In was released. Entitled Holding Back the River, the album almost became as successful as its predecessor. The disc marked a slight change in sound from soul-pop to a more pure pop sound, with attempts at blues thrown in for good measure. While a more focused album, Holding Back the River did not feature any singles as strong as "Wishing I Was Lucky." "Sweet Surrender" was a success, but the other singles released ("Broke Away," "Hold Back the River," and "Stay with Me Heartache") barely made a dent on the charts.