If... (The Bluetones song)
1998 single by the Bluetones
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"If..." is a song by the English indie rock band the Bluetones, released as the second single from their second album, Return to the Last Chance Saloon (1998) on 27 April 1998, by A&M Records. Peaking at number thirteen on the UK Singles Chart,[1] its first B-side is a cover of "Blue Shadows on the Trail", originally composed by Randy Newman for the 1968 western comedy film ¡Three Amigos!. Its music video was directed by Tony Hill.[2]
| "If..." | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by the Bluetones | ||||
| from the album Return to the Last Chance Saloon | ||||
| B-side | "Blue Shadows" "The Watchman" | |||
| Released | 27 April 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1997 | |||
| Studio | Rockfield | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 5:12 | |||
| Label | A&M, Superior Quality | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Hugh Jones | |||
| The Bluetones singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "If..." on YouTube | ||||
In 2002, it was included on the band's greatest hits Mercury Records compilation,[3] The Singles.[4][5] It was later featured on their 2006 two-disc and limited three-disc CD compilation,[6] A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-sides 95 - 03.[7]
Background
The song's title comes from the 1968 drama film If... and its single cover has the same font used for it.[citation needed] Part of its lyrics come from the country single released in the same year by Glen Campbell, "Wichita Lineman".[8]
Track listing
Credits
Credits taken from the Return to the Last Chance Saloon booklet and CD single notes.[12][9]
|
|
Reception
NME wrote in March 1998 that the track has a "creeping funk to it which emphasises the musical versatility of a band once seen in some quarters as an inexcusably lily-livered, terminally generic bunch of white guitar weeds."[13] Anthony Thornton of The Sunday Telegraph stated that they were "cruising in neutral and letting the jangle do the work for them".[14] Melissa Gunn shared her appreciation with the single in June 1998 despite many criticism written within her review, saying that it displays "true brilliance of the Bluetones with unique lyrics and fantastic background accompaniment."[15]
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[16] | 13 |