This Is Music: The Singles by The Verve (2 LPs) Main Genre:  Indie / Alternative Style:  Indie / Alternative   UMI Records | Vinyl | 12 inch | Standard Weight | Standard Edition | Non Exclusive | Individual unit | 2025   # of Tracks:  14 # of Discs:  2   Released on vinyl for the very first time, This Is Music: The Singles, is a double LP compilation album by The Verve: Richard Ashcroft (vocals), Pete Salisbury (drums), Simon Jones (bass), Nick McCabe (guitar). Originally released on CD only in November 2004 and, for its 20th anniversary, it has been updated to a more definitive track listing; the two tracks pulled from the sessions for their third album, Urban Hymns, ‘This Could Be My Moment’ and ‘Monte Carlo’ have been replaced by the powerful singles from the band’s 2008 reunion album, Forth - ‘Love is Noise’ and ‘Rather Be’. In addition, their second single ‘She’s A Superstar’ (1992) is included in its original, full- length, eight-and-a-half-minute glory (rather than the five-minute edit that featured on the first edition of this compilation). As such, the album now represents the complete story of The Verve’s singles. On their emergence in the early 90s (when they were known simply as Verve), their output was expansive, cinematic and genuinely psychedelic. Their early 45s - ‘All In The Mind’, ‘She’s A Superstar’, ‘Gravity Grave’, ‘Blue’ and ‘Slide Away’ – all topped the UK independent chart. 1995’s A Northern Soul album saw the band develop their sound even further and spawned three truly memorable singles: ‘This Is Music’, ‘On Your Own’ and the much-loved, ‘History’. They reconvened (with the addition of guitarist and keyboard player Simon Tong) to reach their commercial peak in 1997 with the hugely successful Urban Hymns, which was centred around a brilliantly accomplished suite of anthemic songs written by Ashcroft, including the worldwide smash ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, the UK number one ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, the majestic ‘Lucky Man’ and fourth single ‘Sonnet’. After the success of Urban Hymns, the band split again before they came back together (with their original four-piece line-up) for 2008’s Forth LP, another international success and a campaign that culminated in a triumphant headline slot at Glastonbury in 2008. Listening back to these singles, what’s immediately apparent is just how mighty a musical force The Verve were. Many of these songs are more than just great singles, they are anthems that resonate with millions of people, the soundtrack to a generation. This Is Music, folks.   Tracklisting: Disc 1 Side A This Is Music Slide Away Lucky Man History   Side B She's A Superstar On Your Own Blue Sonnet   Disc 2 Side C All In The Mind The Drugs Don't Work Gravity Grave   Side D Bitter Sweet Symphony Love Is Noise Rather Be