Blur : Official Tumblr

“We had nailed Girls and Boys and Parklife before we got to the studio and they were more or less just recorded like that. Getting Phil Daniels in was obviously a coup, but they were pretty straightforward. We wrote them whilst we were touring Modern Life… I think it’s easier to write when you are playing all the time. It’s like getting fit. Some bands find it hard? Well, it sorts the men from the boys.”
 
Alex James interviewed in the Blur 21: The Box book.

All the people
So many people
They all go hand in hand
Hand in hand through their Parklife

Blur, Parklife

Street’s like a jungle
So call the police
Following the herd
Down to Greece
On holiday
Love in the 90’s
Is paranoid
On sunny beaches
Take your chances looking for….

Blur, Girls & Boys

British pop’s defining record of the 1990’s, Parklife became part of the national consciousness and was the first of five consecutive number one albums for Blur.  Produced by Stephen Street, the album developed the lyrical themes of its predecessor, taking in the dark literary influence of Martin Amis’ London Fields and the hedonism of the Loaded generation on the band’s massive hit single - Girls & Boys. Stylistically reaching further afield, the album features torch song balladry, instrumental waltzes, disco and angular new wave. Parklife featured guest slots of Stereolab’s Laeitia Sadier, thrust Mod icon Phil Daniels back into the limelight, and garnered Blur two top ten singles, four Brit Awards and Classic Album status.

Parklife, along with all the other Blur albums, is available on 30^th July remastered and expanded in ‘Blur 21: The Box’ as well as individually in 2CD and 2LP formats.

“We never stopped. By the time we had finished an album and it was at the shops, we were working on another one. It’s like taking a picture in the old–fashioned manner and taking it to be developed, and by the time it comes back from the developers, your life has moved on and the photo seems like history.”
 
Dave Rowntree interviewed in the ‘Blur 21: The Box’ book.

“This is the next century
Where the Universal’s free
You can find it anywhere
Yes, the future’s been sold
Every night we’re gone
And to karaoke songs
How we like to sing along
‘Though the words are wrong”

Blur, The Universal

“The suburbs they are sleeping
But he’s dressing up tonight
She likes a man in uniform
He likes to wear it tight.
They’re on the lovers’ sofa
They’re on the patio
And when the fun is over
Watch themselves on video”    

Blur, Stereotypes

Recorded during Blur’s rapid rise in popularity and tabloid recognition, the third and final chapter in what was referred to as the band’s “life trilogy” sees the band present a dark and lavish look at the nineties, populated by night-shift cab drivers, factory workers, lottery players and swinging couples.  Justly awarded five star reviews on its release in 1995, the album’s qualities were overlooked in favour of Britpop rivalries. Fans will quickly point out much overlooked Blur classics such as the achingly sad “Best Days”, the quirky Fun Boy Three influenced “Top Man”, the shimmering “He Thought Of Cars” and the anthemic live favourite “The Universal” - the song providing a memorable finale to Blur’s headlining reunion shows in 2009.  ‘The Great Escape’, along with all the other Blur albums, is available on 30^th July remastered and expanded in ‘Blur 21: The Box’ as well as individually in 2CD and 2LP formats.