(Vinyl Love is a series of posts that quite simply lists, describes, and displays the pieces in my growing vinyl collection. You can bet that each record was given a spin during the drafting of each corresponding post.)
Artist: Happy Mondays
Album Title: Pills ‘n’ thrills and bellyaches
Year released: 1990
Year reissued: 2015
Details: 25th anniversary, reissue, 180 gram, yellow, RSD exclusive
The skinny: A few weeks ago, I shared photos of my translucent yellow, 20th anniversary copy of Coldplay’s debut album, “Parachutes”. For this edition of ‘Vinyl Love’, I decided to keep with the same colour scheme and another anniversary edition, of yet another classic alternative rock album. Picked up on Record Store Day 2015, this Rhino Vinyl reissue of Happy Mondays’ seminal third album wasn’t even on my radar when I ventured into one of my favourite independent shops that day. Indeed, I didn’t even know it was on the list of releases ahead of time but when I saw it on the shelf, the snap decision was made. And it’s one for which I’ve been thankful I’ve made ever since. Not only is the 180 gram slab of yellow vinyl quite pretty and the original album art as confusing and as arresting as ever, but the sound is amazing. “Pills ‘n’ thrills and bellyaches” is one of the greatest examples of what made Madchester so much fun: a swirling conundrum of punk DIY, druggy psychedelics, and dance floor ready beats. “You’re twistin’ my melon, man!”
Standout track: “Step on”
My (life in) music lists 
7 replies on “Vinyl love: Happy Mondays “Pills ‘n’ thrills and bellyaches””
I didn’t fully buy in when I heard this album – but that yellow vinyl is immediately convincing!
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I was recently reading how they bankrupted their label with their next record.
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Haha. I believe it was a number of things but yeah, they certainty didn’t help Factory Records’ cause. Did you every watch the film Twenty Four Hour Party People? That’s a hilarious take on the Factory story.
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Yup, saw it at the cinema years ago – kind of forgotten most of what happens.
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Well… Ian Curtis dies, the rest of the band forms New Order, the Hacienda goes bankrupt, so does Factory after the Mondays drug bill goes sky high in the Caribbean… that sort of stuff. Oh and Steve Coogan is awesome as Tony Wilson.
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I think Peter Hook wrote a book subtitled How Not To Run A Club?
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I love this band so much, amazing live too – back then at least. I love the yellow vinyl, it suits the music a lot.
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