Stand Upright in a Cool Place

Stand Upright in a Cool Place is the fifth studio album by the British band Dodgy. Released on 19 February 2012, it also marks the reunion of the band's original line-up following the return of lead singer Nigel Clark who had left during the band's commercial peak in 1998.^[2]

Background[]

Following Nigel Clark's departure in 1998 to work on solo projects,^[3] Mathew Priest and Andy Miller continued as Dodgy with new singer Dave Bassey, keyboardist Chris Hallam and bassist Nick Abnett, releasing the fan-funded album Real Estate in 2001 before going inactive.^[4] Meanwhile, Clark moved from London to the Midlands; recorded a self-financed solo album, Make Believe Love, which ended up unreleased; moved to Ireland where he worked at factories, then relocated to Worcestershire where he opened a recording studio and worked with troubled children; and finally released his solo debut album 21st Century Man in 2006.^[5]

On 25 November 2006, a benefit concert was held for Andy Moore, Dodgy's former lighting technician who had been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor. Clark was one of the performers on the bill,^[6] and during his set he was joined by Priest, the first time the two had performed together in almost a decade. This was the catalyst for the original Dodgy line-up of Clark, Priest and Miller to reunite, especially since Moore had always urged them to get back together.^[7] Moore ultimately died on the day of the reunited band's first rehearsal.^[8] The band's reunion tour was scheduled to kick off in Glasgow on 5 November 2007, but the day before the first show Miller fell out of bed and chipped a bone in his left forearm, forcing the tour to be cancelled.^[9] The reunion tour finally commenced on March 2008, with the band dedicating it to the memory of Andy Moore.^[10]

Recording[]

The album was recorded during the summer of 2011 at Clark's studio in Worcestershire, an old farmhouse with a view of the Malvern Hills where the band had been working on new material since 2007.^[11] The album was mixed by Matt Pence, who was recommended by Simon Raymonde and had gained Dodgy's appreciation for his most recent work with John Grant and Midlake.^[8]

Track listing[]

All songs written by Nigel Clark, Andy Miller and Mathew Priest unless otherwise stated.

Personnel[]

• Nigel Clark - vocals, acoustic guitars, bass, piano, keyboards, electric guitar, cabasa, whale sounds
• Andy Miller - electric guitars, vocals, acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, contrabass harmonica, mandolin, violin bow, cocktails and biscuits
• Mathew Priest - drums, vocals, all percussion (except for some minor cabasa), glockenspiel, actuality, fly swat

Additional musicians

• Luke Wrumli - harmonica (track 4)
• Vicki Rose Evans - voice (track 11)
• Collette Treadgold - backing singing (track 9)
• Zeb Jameson - keyboards and samples (bonus CD track 3)

Production

• Dodgy - producer
• Robin Evans - producer
• Nigel Clark - producer (bonus CD)
• Matt Pence - mixing
• John Dent - mastering
• Jas Mitchell - mastering (bonus CD)

References[]