MANIC STREET PREACHING

I've previously confessed to having an admiration for Manic Street Preachers rather than any undying devotion to them.  I've none of their albums in the collection, though I've a handful of singles, many of which were picked up at quite cheap prices, either on the week they went on sale as the record company made a push for a high chart position or many weeks later when the single was no longer in the charts and the music was available in a bargain bin.

I honestly can't remember whether it was a pre or post- chart purchase of You Stole The Sun From My Heart back in 1999.  The sticker on the single says I paid £1.99 but I think it might have been post-charts as  I had the habit of buying both versions of the CD single if they were available to have a listen to the CD equivalent of b-sides.  I've only the one version of this #5 hit, and thinking back I probably got it to hear what the boyos made of The Clash classic:-

mp3 : Manic Street Preachers - You Stole The Sun From My Heart
mp3 : Manic Street Preachers - Socialist Serenade
mp3 : Manic Street Preachers - Train In Vain (live)

The live track was recorded at a gig played at Newcastle Arena on 14 December 1998.  Sadly, it's glorified karaoke.

Much more interesting is the other otherwise unavailable track. It's a savage attack on the first eighteen months of  Tony Blair's term as Prime Minster of the UK. By now there were some murmurings that the replacement of 18 years of Tory rule was proving to be something of a let-down - particularly the view that not enough was being done fast enough to tackle the inequalities in UK society as a result of Thatcher and Major's work in destroying many a community - particularly in the old socialist heartlands of Wales, Scotland and the north of England - and for the constant eroding of opportunities for young people to get a meaningful chance at a decent education without running up thousands of pounds of debt at the end of their course. The Manic got the lyric right....just a pity the tune wasn't the most memorable....although I do like the gogs barking akin to Suburbia by Pet Shop Boys.....

What's the point in an education 
When you have to pay for the privilege
This side of the truth where no sun shines 
They don't count the cripples and the blind 

I was thinking everybody had a chance 
Like a dream stretched way too far 
All this time such a debt to the city 
I don't know who's the real enemy 

This is the socialist serenade 
Yes I have money but I hate champagne 
This is the socialist serenade 
I can't see the past anywhere 

Some greater benefit for the people
Ha ha ha ha we all believed in you
Is it about the politics of celebrity 
Or endless days in the sun of Tuscany 

This is the socialist serenade 
Yes I have money but I hate champagne
This is the socialist serenade 
I can't see the past anywhere 
Anywhere

This is the socialist serenade 
Yes I have money but I hate champagne 
This is the socialist serenade I can't see the past anywhere 
Anywhere 

Change your name to new 
Forget the fucking Labour

Would have been interesting if they had put it out as the a-side mind you.