The Verve was an English space rock band of the 1990s, originally formed in Wigan England, by vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones and drummer Peter Salisbury in 1989; Simon Tong later became a member.
Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to space rock and shoegazer music, by the mid-1990s the band had released several EPs and two acclaimed records. They also endured name and lineup changes, breakups, health problems, drug abuse and various lawsuits. The Verve re-formed for a final time in 1997, issuing the space rock masterpiece "Urban Hymns" and the single "Bitter Sweet Symphony", which became a massive worldwide hit. Soon after this commercial peak, the band quit amid creative struggles between the band, yet singer Richard Ashcroft denied claims it was between him and guitarist Nick McCabe. By then they had become one of the most influential British alternative rock acts of the decade, and with "Urban Hymns" defined an era.
Band Members:
Richard Ashcroft: Born 1971, vocals and songwriter. After the split up of the Verve in 1999 he has had a successfull solo-career
Nick McCabe: Born 1971, lead-guitar. Left the band twice due to personal problems between him and Ashcrofts. He plays on all three album.
Simon Jones: Born 1972, bass
Peter Salisbury: Born 1971, drums .
Simon Tong: Born 1972, guitar and keyboards. Play on albums two and three.
Discography:
1. Verve EP - Hut 1992 Tracks:
1. Gravity Grave / 2. Man Called Sun / 3. She's a Superstar / 4. Endless Life / 5. Feel
Rating :
2. A Storm in Heaven - Vernon Yard 1993
Tracks:
1. Star Sail / 2. Slide Away / 3. Already There / 4. Beautiful Mind / 5. The Sun, the Sea / 6. Virtual World / 7. Make It Till Monday / 8. Blue / 9. Butterfly / 10. See You in the Next One
Rating :
3. No Come Down, compilation - Vernon Yard 1994
Tracks:
1. No Come Down / 2. Blue / 3. Make It Till Monday - acoustic / 4. Butterfly – acoustic remake of A Storm in Heaven / 5. Where The Geese Go / 6. 6 O'Clock / 7. One Way To Go / 8. Gravity Grave - live / 9. Twilight
Rating :
4. A Northern Soul - Vernon Yard 1995
Tracks:
1. New Decade / 2. This Is Music / 3. On Your Own / 4. So It Goes / 5. Northern Soul / 6. / Brainstorm Interlude / 7. Drive You Home / 8. History / 9. No Knock on My Door / 10. Life's an Ocean / 11. Stormy Clouds / 12. Reprise
Rating :
5. Urban Hymns - Virgin 1997
Tracks:
1. Bitter Sweet Symphony / 2. Sonnet / 3. The Rolling People / 4. The Drugs Don't Work / 5. Catching the Butterfly / 6. Neon Wilderness / 7. Space and Time / 8. Weeping Willow / 9. Lucky Man / 10. One Day / 11. This Time / 12. Velvet Morning / 13. Come On / 14*. Come On / 15* Deep Freeze
Rating : 8
6. This Is Music: The Singles 92-98 - Virgin EMI 2004
Tracks:
1. This Is Music / 2. Slide Away / 3. Lucky Man / 4. History / 5. She's a Superstar / 6. On Your Own / 7. Blue / 8. Sonnet / 9. All in the Mind / 10. The Drugs Don't Work / 11. Gravity Grave / 12. Bitter Sweet Symphony / 13. This Could Be My Moment / 14. Monte Carlo / 15* See the Door
Rating :
7. Forth - Red 2008
Tracks:
1. Sit & Wonder / 2. Love Is Noise / 3. Rather Be / 4. Judas / 5. Numbness / 6. I See Houses / 7. Noise Epic / 8. Valium Skies / 9. Mama Soul / 10. Appalachian Springs
Rating :
Essential Albums!
Original albums as listed and rated on “Rate Your Music” - November 5 - 2006
4 The Verve EP - 1992
44 This Is Music: The Singles (comp.) - 2004
64 No Come Down (comp.) - 1994
70 Urban Hymns - 1997
90 A Northern Soul - 1995
91 A Storm in Heaven - 1993
305 Five By Five - EP - 1997
Check and Rate Here!
December 25 - "rateyourmusic.com"
My Suggestion For a 80 minutes (app.) Best Of Compilation:
More songs will be added eventually
1. The Drugs Don´t Work ( Ashcroft) Urban Hymns
2. Bitter Sweet Symphony ( Ashcroft/ Jagger / Richards ) Urban Hymns
3. Sonnet ( Ashcroft ) Urban Hymns
4. Lucky Man ( Ashcroft ) Urban Hymns
5. Space and Time ( Ashcroft ) Urban Hymns
6. One Day ( Ashcroft ) Urban Hymns
7. On Your Own ( Ashcroft ) A Northern Soul
8. Velvet Morning ( Ashcroft ) Urban Hymns
LINKS:
The Official Verve
Wikipedia