0898 Beautiful South, also referred to as 0898, is the third studio album by English band the Beautiful South. After the success of their previous work over 1989–1991, the band hired prolific record producer Jon Kelly and recorded the album at AIR Studios in London. The album contains a more "muscular" yet sometimes more sombre sound than their previous albums, although still entirely retains lyricist Paul Heaton's witty and bitter lyrical style. The album "deals in fragile melodies and harmonies, soulful but low-key instrumentation, and lyrics full of subtle social commentary and humour." The album title refers to the 0898 premium rate telephone prefix associated with sex hotlines in the UK at the time.
The album was released in March 1992 by the band's record label Go! Discs. Four singles were released from the album, two of them prior to its release; "Old Red Eyes Is Back", "We Are Each Other", "Bell Bottomed Tear" and "36D". It reached number 4 on the UK Album Chart, unlike their previous two albums which reached number 2; the record company blamed this on the cover which showed ladies' faces on the back of terrapins' shells. While the first two singles – "Old Red Eyes Is Back" and "We Are Each Other" – charted in the UK at No. 22 and No. 30 respectively, third single "Bell Bottomed Tear" was the only Top 20 hit from the album, reaching No. 16. "36D" was a relative disappointment after this success, only managing No. 46 in the singles charts. "We Are Each Other" was also a success on American alternative rock radio and peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1992. It was the band's biggest hit in the United States.
The album was a critical success, with reviewers praising its production, lyrics and distinct tone, although some critics recognise the album as being underrated. The album appeared on numerous lists of the best albums of 1992; Vox ranked it 18th, NME ranked it 44th and Robert Christgau placed it 53rd. The album was certified "Gold" by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of over 200,000 copies.
Background and recording
After forming in 1989, the Beautiful South's debut album Welcome to the Beautiful South, released October the same year, was a major chart success, reaching number 2 in the UK Albums Chart and featuring two top 10 hits, "Song For Whoever" and "You Keep It All In". The album was a transformation for lead singer and lyricist Paul Heaton after his previous band the Housemartins; according to Robert Christgau, he turned "his talents to the interpersonal. The surprise was that he didn't then cop out." The third single from the album, "I'll Sail This Ship Alone", reached number 31.
As with before, the band were quick to begin work on their third album. After working with Mike Hedges on their first two albums, the band hired Jon Kelly to produce the new album, a British producer famous for working with Pele, Prefab Sprout, Deacon Blue, Heather Nova, the Levellers, Fish, Lynsey De Paul, Nolwenn Leroy, the Damned, Kate Bush, The band decamped to AIR Studios in London to record the new album, This credit has caused confusion, as the studio closed in 1989 before officially reopening as "AIR Lyndhurst" in a redeveloped hall in December 1992 after a year of construction and remodeling. They noted the contrast between the happy music and dark lyrics, saying "one hit and you're happy for hours. Until you actually listen to what Heaton and his two co-lead vocalists, Dave Hemingway and Briana Corrigan, are saying. The tunes suggest light, happy odes to love. The words are dark, sardonic musings on human nature." Marie Lamie, writing in The Rough Guide to Rock, said "there are some very sombre moments here, both musically and lyrically, making something of a new direction." "Old Red Eyes Is Back", described as the band's "best song ever" by Sputnikmusic's Nick Butler, is the tale of an "old drunken waster looking back on his life, battling to overcome his alcohol dependency . Every time he falls off the wagon and succumbs to drink again....well, old red eyes is back." The song ends sadly, "Old Red he died, and every single landlord in the district cried/An empty bottle of whiskey lying by his side..." It is more guitar-led than most of their output, and deals with "a couple so close that their relationship can no longer function properly."
"36D" is a scathing attack on the British glamour industry, described by Nick Butler of Sputnikmusic as "a distant relative of 'Little Baby Nothing' by the Manic Street Preachers, though far more upbeat than that song," "features Heaton addressing a woman who's got by on looks and sex alone, telling her to 'Close your legs, open your mind' (and that's just the opening line!). The chorus packs a sonic punch you wouldn't expect from the band, as Heaton and Hemmingway ask '36D, so what? Is that all that you got?'." Kessler said that "Hemingway and Corrigan provide us with an action replay of 'A Little Time'" on the song, but "this is Paul Heaton's show, and he doesn't let anyone steal it." The song's opening line, "The perfect love song it has no words it only has death threats/and you can tell a classic ballad by how threatening it gets," contrasts the "peaceful" music.
Vocal duties on "Bell Bottomed Tear" are handled mainly by Briana Corrigan, though Heaton does appear at points. It has been noted that "the strengths of her voice is exploited very well here – sugary, with a slight hiccup, but always fragile and vaguely damaged." The illustrations for the album's four singles also appeared as the covers for those singles. The full title of the album is 0898 Beautiful South, but it is usually shortened to just 0898, which is how it appears on the back cover of the album. The spacing and typography difference on the front cover and spine can be taken to imply it should be read as "0898" (by) "Beautiful South" – two separate phrases, although the spine of the album features both the band name and the full title separately.
Four singles were released from the album, two of them prior to its release. "Old Red Eyes Is Back" was released in February 1992 and reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their worst charting lead single so far. It reached number 51 in the German Media Control Charts. "We are Each Other" was released a month later, still prior to the release of the album, and was a lesser success in the UK, only reaching number 30.
The album was not a success in the United States, although it gave the band a larger following there than before. Billboard magazine reported in July 1992 that "although it has not yet dented the Heatseekers chart," the album "was experiencing a sales burst" in the United States. They said it was due to the band's "well-attended" concerts in Los Angeles and New York City and their appearance on The Dennis Miller Show. A limited edition box set version released in the UK included CD and cassette copies of the album alongside the band's VHS music video compilation The Pumpkin.