Some Friendly is the debut studio album by British rock band the Charlatans that was released on 8 October 1990 through Beggars Banquet Records imprint Situation Two. After forming in 1988, the band went through line-up changes before settling on vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist John Baker, bassist Martin Blunt, keyboardist Rob Collins and drummer Jon Brookes. The band wrote material at a prolific rate and released their debut single "Indian Rope" in early 1990. Soon afterwards, they signed to Beggars Banquet and began recording their debut album. Between March and August 1990, sessions took place with producer Chris Nagle at Strawberry Studios in Stockport and The Windings in Wrexham. Some Friendly is considered an acid-pop, baggy and dance-pop album that draws influence from The Beatles' psychedelic period.

In May 1990, "The Only One I Know" was released as the lead single from Some Friendly; it earned the Charlatans their first appearance on the BBC Television music show Top of the Pops and the band embarked on their first headlining tour of the United Kingdom. Following their first overseas show in August 1990, "Then" was released as the album's second single in September 1990. The band played several shows in the United States and were forced to append "UK" to their name because of an identically named American band. The Charlatans ended 1990 with a tour of the UK and mainland Europe with support from Intastella. In early 1991, they went on their first full US tour, coinciding with the release of "Sproston Green" as a single in February 1991.

Some Friendly received mixed reviews from music critics, many of whom noted of the band's influences rather than their sound. Collins' keyboard work was highly praised but Burgess' vocals were negatively received. Retrospective reviews were more favourable, though some still pointed out the influences. The album peaked at number one the UK Albums Chart and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it gold three days after its release. It also charted in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the US. "The Only One I Know" and "Then" both reached the top 20 in the UK and number 11 in Ireland. Both Melody Maker and Sounds included Some Friendly on their lists of the year's best releases, being listed in the top 10 in the former and in the top 30 in the latter. "The Only One I Know" has been viewed as one of the defining tracks of the Madchester and baggy scenes.

After the demise of their band The Gift Horses, bassist Martin Blunt, vocalist and guitarist Baz Ketley, and drummer Jon Brookes regrouped and held a jam session, marking the formation of The Charlatans in 1988. They engaged several keyboardists before finding one who fit the sound they were aiming for. This new keyboardist, however, died after four-to-five rehearsals. Blunt then engaged Rob Collins, who had played in a band with Brookes when they were teenagers. The band recorded two sets of demo recordings and began looking for a manager. Steve Harrison, owner of a record shop called Omega Music, had been interested in managing bands. Blunt, who he knew from his time in Makin' Time, contacted Harrison to see his band perform. After the set, Harrison was impressed and agreed to manage the band. The Charlatans' first attention from national music publications came in August 1988 when they supported Broken English at Walsall Overstrand; the Charlatans' set received a lukewarm reception.

Harrison took his friend Tim Burgess of The Electric Crayons to see the Charlatans; Burgess enjoyed the performance but thought they could sound better with a different singer. The Electric Crayons supported the Charlatans for one show in September 1988. Collins had tried to convince Blunt to draft Burgess into the band; Blunt instead invited him to do backing vocals for their set. The Charlatans supported various American bands and later the Stone Roses at several shows as that act were rising in popularity. Brookes said the band were impressed with the confidence the Stone Roses' frontman Ian Brown had, wishing they had a vocalist like him. Ketley left the Charlatans after his girlfriend left him, though Harrison said the decision came from Ketley, who felt the band were heading nowhere. By June 1989, the Charlatans were looking for a replacement vocalist and guitarist.

Blunt had earlier asked guitarist John Baker of Liquid Egg Box, who had booked the Charlatans at Walsall Overstrand, to practice with them but Baker had declined. When Blunt asked Baker again in July 1989, Baker suggested another guitarist, who appeared for a few rehearsals and left thereafter; Baker joined The Charlatans shortly afterwards. The band auditioned a number of other people before considering Burgess, whose band had now broken up. Blunt went to ask Harrison if he could persuade Burgess to join them; Harrison plastered a "vocalist required" sign on the window of Omega Music that caught Burgess's attention. Burgess was unaware Ketley had left the Charlatans and went to the audition in Walsall. Burgess's audition was initially unsuccessful because he was emulating Iggy Pop. After an attempt at performing naturally, Burgess became the band's new vocalist by August 1989. Burgess and Baker did not like the material the band had accumulated up to that point; Burgess found no emotional connection to the lyrics and Baker being unable to play the guitar parts.

All of the members of the Charlatans were tired of their jobs; they practised as often as they could and wrote new songs at a prolific rate. The first song the new line-up wrote together was "Flowers"; they played their first show together at the end of August 1989. While Brookes was on holiday in Ibiza, the rest of the band wrote "Indian Rope", "The Only One I Know" and "Sproston Green" in a single weekend. The Charlatans were unable to secure a recording contract so Harrison decided to form his own label, which he called Dead Dead Good. Harrison signed the Charlatans to a contract for one album and three singles; they made a gentlemen's agreement in which the band could join another label should they receive an adequate offer. They made a demo tape comprising "Indian Rope", "You Can Talk to Me" and "White Shirt", selling copies at gigs in October 1989. Around this time, the Madchester and baggy scenes had risen to prominence with acts such as the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays after the release of "Fools Gold" and the Madchester Rave On EP, respectively.

In December 1989, the band played a show at The Boardwalk in Manchester supporting Cactus World News. The majority of the audience left after the Charlatans finished their set, which was attended by Chris Nagle, an engineer for Factory Records and assistant to Factory producer Martin Hannett. Towards the end of the month, Nagle contacted Harrison, who sent him a tape of a gig that included "Indian Rope" and "Sproston Green". Nagle later attended a rehearsal and another show. Press coverage followed soon after and the members quit their jobs to focus on the band full-time. In January 1990, the band recorded a demo tape consisting of "Polar Bear", "Sonic", "The Only One I Know" and "White Shirt". Harrison packaged copies of the tape with press kits, one of which came into the possession of Manchester Evening News writer Sarah Campion. Campion passed the tape to Alison Martin, with whom she ran the press agency Scam. Martin liked the tape and had a meeting with Harrison. She left the meeting as the band's radio plugger and press agent.