Wiki
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Release Date
1 January 1997
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Length
12 tracks
Chumbawamba had been kicking around the British anarchist and indie scene for years, having released seven studio albums, before "Tubthumper" unexpectedly brought the band to the top of the charts around the world through the album's title track "Tubthumping". The band now being mostly remembered as a one hit wonder, the song is a giddily celebratory blend of big dance beats, pop hooks, and football chants.
The sudden success of the group is commonly attributed to an abrupt change in style from their early roots in punk music. However, "Tubthumper" sees the band continue their musical direction as laid out in previous albums such as "Shhh" and "Anarchy", in which they combine anarchist left wing politics with upbeat pop music, just with a greater focus on synthesizers and programmed drums, as well as a more elaborate production. The album also features many samples and soundbites to serve as transitions between tracks. The songs discuss topics such as dissatisfaction with electoral politics, the housing market, labour organization, corruption, expression of identity and social oppression. The title track, while in itself not being explicitly political in its lyrics, according to the album booklet, is about "shouting to change the world (then having a drink to celebrate). It's stumbling home from your local bar, when the world is ready to be put right".
Originally rejected by their then indie record label One Little Indian, who were unhappy with the musical direction of the band and asked them to rework it, Chumbawamba took up EMI's offer, who were willing to release the album without changes, making "Tubthumper" their major label debut. The album first released in 1997 as a 12 track album, but was re-released in 1998 with the addition of the originally non-album single "Top of the World (Olé, Olé, Olé)".
Three singles were released from this album, first the title track "Tubthumping" ahead of the album's release, "Amnesia" following later in early 1998, both with accompanying music videos, and later "Drip, Drip, Drip" as a radio single with no video.
Chumbawamba on this album are (as stated in the album's booklet):
Lou Watts: vocals, keyboard, nippy winger
Danbert "The Cat" Nobacon: Vocals, goalkeeper
Paul Greco: Bass, solid centre-back
Boff: Guitar, vocals, midfield dynamo
Jude Abbott: Trumpet, vocals, tigerish left-back
Alice Nutter: Vocals, team coach
Dunstan Bruce: Vocals, percussion, opportunist striker
Harry Hamer: Dtums, programming, hardened sweeper
with Neil Ferguson: Keyboard, guitars, sponge & bucket
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