Hubbry Logo
Word Gets AroundWord Gets AroundMain
Open search
Word Gets Around
Community hub
Word Gets Around
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Word Gets Around
Word Gets Around
Word Gets Around
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Word Gets Around
Studio album by
Stereophonics
Released25 August 1997 (1997-08-25)
RecordedOctober 1992 – February 1997
Genre
Length42:02
LabelV2
ProducerBird & Bush
Stereophonics chronology
Word Gets Around
(1997) 		Performance and Cocktails
(1999)
Singles from Word Gets Around
  1. "Local Boy in the Photograph"
    Released: 17 March 1997[3]
  2. "More Life in a Tramps Vest"
    Released: 19 May 1997[4]
  3. "A Thousand Trees"
    Released: 11 August 1997[5]
  4. "Traffic"
    Released: 27 October 1997[6]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[1]
Galeria MusicalStarStarStarStar[7]
Kerrang!StarStarStarStar[8]
NME7/10[8]
Pitchfork5.8/10[9]
Vox8/10[8]

Word Gets Around is the debut studio album by Welsh rock band Stereophonics. It was released on 25 August 1997 through V2 Records and reached number six in the UK Albums Chart, making it one of three Stereophonics albums not to reach number one; the other two being 2009's Keep Calm and Carry On, which reached number eleven, and 2013's Graffiti on the Train, which went to number three. Much of the album is written about everyday life in Cwmaman, the band's hometown. The deluxe and super-deluxe editions were released on 18 October 2010. The name of the album comes from lyrics in the album's last song, "Billy Davey's Daughter".

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Kelly Jones; all music is composed by Stereophonics.

No.TitleLength
1."A Thousand Trees"3:02
2."Looks Like Chaplin"2:32
3."More Life in a Tramps Vest"2:19
4."Local Boy in the Photograph"3:22
5."Traffic"4:54
6."Not Up to You"4:37
7."Check My Eyelids for Holes"2:43
8."Same Size Feet"4:00
9."Last of the Big Time Drinkers"2:45
10."Goldfish Bowl"3:03
11."Too Many Sandwiches"5:01
12."Billy Davey's Daughter"3:45
Total length:42:02

Re-release

[edit]

On 24 August 2010, Stereophonics announced on their website that Word Gets Around, along with Performance and Cocktails, were to be re-released.[10] To accompany the re-releases, Stereophonics performed all the songs off both the albums at the Hammersmith Apollo on 17 and 18 October 2010.[10] They were released on 18 October 2010[11] and were made into two forms:

Track listing

[edit]

Deluxe: The original album on one disc and a bonus CD featuring 12 b-sides and rare tracks.

CD 2 (B-Sides and rarities)
No.TitleOriginal releaseLength
1."Carrot Cake and Wine"B-side on "A Thousand Trees"4:28
2."Tie Me Up Tie Me Down"B-side on "Traffic"2:17
3."Poppy Day"B-side on "More Life in a Tramps Vest"3:41
4."Raymond's Shop"B-side on "More Life in a Tramps Vest"2:54
5."Chris Chambers"B-side on "Traffic"3:42
6."A Thousand Trees" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session) 3:15
7."Local Boy in the Photograph" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session) 3:13
8."Looks Like Chaplin" (Live at Newcastle University) 3:38
9."Same Size Feet" (Live at Newcastle University) 4:10
10."Not up to You" (Live at Newcastle University) 6:45
11."She Takes Her Clothes Off" (Decade in the Sun Deluxe Word Gets Around session) 3:17
12."More Life in a Tramps Vest" (Pre-record deal Grass-roots demo) 2:43
13."The Last Resort" (Eagles cover)B-side on "Local Boy in the Photograph"6:23
Total length:50:26

Super deluxe: The album on one disc (as listed above) and two bonus CDs (one with 15 b-sides and the other includes 10 rare tracks), artcards and a replica of Kelly Jones' notebook.[12]

CD 2 (B-Sides)
No.TitleOriginal releaseLength
1."Carrot Cake and Wine"B-side on "A Thousand Trees"4:28
2."Tie Me Up Tie Me Down"B-side on "Traffic"2:17
3."Poppy Day"B-side on "More Life in a Tramps Vest"3:41
4."Raymond's Shop"B-side on "More Life in a Tramps Vest"2:54
5."Chris Chambers"B-side on "Traffic"3:42
6."Who'll Stop the Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)"B-side on "Local Boy in the Photograph2:32
7."Home to Me"B-side on "A Thousand Trees3:25
8."Buy Myself a Small Plane"B-side on "Local Boy in the Photograph"3:15
9."The Last Resort" (Eagles cover)B-side on "Local Boy in the Photograph"6:23
10."Summertime"B-side on "A Thousand Trees"3:25
Total length:36:02
CD 3 (Rarities)
No.TitleLength
1."A Thousand Trees" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session)3:15
2."Local Boy in the Photograph" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session)3:13
3."Same Size Feet" (Live at Newcastle University)4:10
4."Looks Like Chaplin" (Live at Newcastle University)3:38
5."Not up to You" (Live at Newcastle University)6:45
6."More Life in a Tramps Vest" (Pre-record deal Grass-roots demo)2:43
7."Looks Like Chaplin" (Pre-record deal - Grass-roots demo)2:28
8."In My Day" (Pre-record deal - Grass-roots demo)2:58
9."She Takes Her Clothes Off" (Decade in the Sun Deluxe Word Gets Around session)3:17
10."Looks Like Chaplin" (Acoustic)2:46
11."A Thousand Trees" (Acoustic)3:19
Total length:38:32

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] 3× Platinum 900,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Word Gets Around

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Word Gets Around is the debut studio album by the Welsh rock band , released on 25 August 1997 by V2 Records. Consisting of 12 tracks with a total runtime of 42 minutes, the album draws heavily from the band's upbringing in the small mining town of , , capturing gritty stories of everyday life, community gossip, love, and loss through vivid, character-driven narratives. It peaked at number six on the , where it spent 162 weeks in the top 100, and has been certified triple platinum by the (BPI) for sales exceeding 900,000 units in the UK. Formed in 1992 as Tragic Love Company before adopting the name in 1996, the band—comprising on vocals and guitar, Richard Jones on bass, and on drums—recorded Word Gets Around at several studios including in Monmouth, . Produced by the band alongside Bird & Bush (Marshall Bird and Steve Bush), the album blends , , and elements with raw, whiskey-soaked vocals and straightforward instrumentation that evokes the pub-rock energy of the era. Standout singles such as "A Thousand Trees," "Traffic," and "" propelled its success, with the latter becoming a top-20 hit and helping establish as a major force in British rock. Critically, Word Gets Around received praise for its authentic portrayal of working-class Welsh life and Kelly Jones's poignant songwriting, though some reviewers noted its occasionally uneven production. Over the years, it has been reissued multiple times, including deluxe editions with bonus tracks and live recordings, cementing its status as a of the band's discography and a cultural touchstone for depictions of small-town Britain. The album's title itself reflects the insular nature of community rumors, a theme echoed in closing track "Billy Davey's Daughter."

Background and Development

Band Formation and Early Influences

formed in 1992 in the village of , an ex-mining community in the of , when schoolmates and childhood friends (lead vocals and guitar), Richard Jones (bass), and (drums) came together as the covers band Tragic Love Company. The trio, all locals from the tight-knit working-class area, began performing at working men's clubs and local pubs in and nearby towns, honing their skills through covers of tunes while drawing initial inspiration from the everyday realities of valley life. These early gigs, often organized by local promoter Wayne Coleman after hearing their demos, captured the raw energy of pub culture and small-town camaraderie, setting the foundation for their storytelling style. By 1996, after years of local performances, the band changed their name to —inspired by a "Falcon Stereophonic" hi-fi system spotted by Cable's grandmother—and signed with V2 Records, the newly launched label backed by , becoming its first act. This deal followed promising shows, including support slots for emerging acts like Catatonia at Aberdare's Coliseum Theatre in March 1996 and Smalltown Heroes at London's Borderline Club. Their debut single, "Looks Like Chaplin / More Life in a Tramp's Vest," was released in limited edition that November, generating buzz through over 100 live dates in the following year. A pivotal moment came in late 1996 when secured a support slot on ' tour, alongside gigs opening for , , and The Who, which significantly built their momentum and exposed them to wider audiences. These opportunities highlighted their gritty, energetic sound, shaped by the working-class ethos of —where Jones observed the "dark underbelly" of post-industrial life from his teenage job at a fruit and veg stall—and broader musical roots in his older brothers' record collection, including , Led Zeppelin, , and . Early comparisons to Oasis further underscored the band's raw, Britpop-inflected drive, informed by similar influences like The Who that contributed to the album's unpolished vigor.

Songwriting and Conceptual Inspiration

Kelly Jones served as the primary songwriter for Word Gets Around, penning the lyrics for all tracks on the album, which were composed over the period from 1992 to 1996 and drawn directly from everyday life in the band's hometown of Cwmaman, a small former mining community in the Welsh valleys. Working a fruit and vegetable market stall from age 16, Jones began jotting down initial ideas on discarded brown paper bags, capturing observational vignettes of local characters, routines, and tensions that would form the core of the album's material. This process emphasized "from the outside looking in" storytelling, reflecting the insularity and gossip of small-town existence without delving deeply into personal autobiography at the time. The songs' conceptual inspirations stemmed from authentic local narratives, such as the rapid spread of damaging rumors in a close-knit , as exemplified in "A Thousand Trees." Jones conceived the track from an art college flip-book idea—"It only takes one tree to make a thousand matches, but one match to burn a thousand trees"—which evolved into a commentary on how can destroy reputations, inspired by a real incident involving a local football coach accused of misconduct with young players, whose name was once celebrated but later erased in communal outrage. Similarly, "" is rooted in the suicide of a young man from the nearby area, highlighting hidden personal tragedies amid life. "Last of the Big Time Drinkers" captures the ritualistic escapism of habitual pub-goers, evoking the barroom camaraderie and monotony of valley life through characters who prop up the counter as a form of identity and routine. These elements underscore broader themes of small-town boredom, fleeting relationships, and the search for release amid stagnation. While Jones handled the bulk of the lyrical and melodic composition at home, often starting with simple acoustic sketches, the songwriting incorporated collaborative input from bandmates Jones and during rehearsals. Jones would initiate with a chord sequence, after which the trio would jam in a "triangle formation" to develop arrangements, transforming raw ideas into fuller band dynamics by 1996 as they prepared demos ahead of recording. This evolution allowed the tracks to shift from intimate, personal notations to collective expressions of Cwmaman's shared cultural pulse, blending introspection with communal energy.

Recording and Production

Studio Sessions

The recording process for Word Gets Around originated with initial demos captured at Battery Studios in , where the band took advantage of off-hours studio time and funding from multiple record labels to lay down rough versions of several tracks. These demos, produced by Marshall Bird and Steve Bush, served as the foundation for the album and marked the band's first substantial studio work. Following their signing to V2 Records in May 1996 as the label's inaugural act, full production sessions began later that year without any pre-production planning, allowing the band to build directly on their existing demos. Recording took place across multiple locations to accommodate the band's schedule and the producers' preferences, primarily at Battery Studios in and in Bath, , with additional tracking at in Monmouth, Parr Street Studios in , The Woolhall Studios, Straylight Studios in , and Courtyard Studios in . Mixing was largely handled at , with some tracks completed at Battery Studios and Roundhouse Studios in . The sessions wrapped in early 1997, enabling the album's release on 25 August 1997. The band's relative inexperience with professional recording environments presented key challenges, as it was their first time working in a major studio setup, necessitating patient guidance from producers Bird and to foster trust and refine performances. To retain the raw, energetic feel of their live shows, the approach emphasized straightforward tracking with limited overdubs, prioritizing the natural interplay among the musicians over polished embellishments. V2's backing provided essential resources despite the label's nascent status, keeping the project efficient and aligned with the band's unrefined aesthetic.

Key Production Personnel

The production of Stereophonics' debut album Word Gets Around was led by the duo Marshall Bird and Steve Bush, collectively credited as Bird & Bush, who served as producers, engineers, and mixers. Working closely with the band, they captured a raw, energetic rock sound by prioritizing full-band live takes with minimal overdubs, drawing on their self-taught expertise gained during off-hours at Battery Studios in . Bird & Bush's approach blended analog warmth—using a A800 multitrack tape machine and an SSL console for recording—with early digital editing via , ensuring the album's gritty, unpolished aesthetic. Marshall Bird also contributed keyboards across the album, adding subtle textural layers to several songs. Guest musicians included cellist Nadia Lanman, who provided emotive strings on "Billy Davey's Daughter," and accordionist Richard Payne, whose instrument enhanced the folk-tinged introspection of "Not Up to You." The album was mastered by at Gateway Mastering Studios, where he polished the mixes to balance the and punch of the rock arrangements without over-compression. This technical process preserved the album's live-in-the-room feel, contributing to its enduring appeal as a snapshot of late-1990s energy.

Musical Style and Themes

Genre and Sound Characteristics

Word Gets Around is classified primarily as an album, incorporating elements of , , and punk that reflect the late-1990s British music scene. The record's 12 tracks span a total runtime of 42:02, blending energetic structures with occasional moments. Its sound draws from the raw energy of punk through infectious, fast-paced melodies, while influences appear in the melodic hooks and guitar-driven arrangements reminiscent of contemporaries like Oasis. The album's sonic identity centers on driving electric guitars, straightforward drum patterns, and Kelly Jones' distinctive raspy vocals, which convey both urgency and emotional depth. As a core trio—comprising Jones on lead vocals and guitar, Richard Jones on bass, and Stuart Cable on drums—the band delivers a punchy, no-frills rock aesthetic that emphasizes rhythm section propulsion and layered guitar riffs. Textural variety comes from occasional acoustic guitar passages and harmonica accents, adding intimacy to select tracks without overshadowing the predominant electric setup. Production on Word Gets Around evolved directly from the band's raw demos, resulting in a polished yet gritty finish that preserves a live-band feel. The sessions prioritized capturing the trio's onstage chemistry, with minimal overdubs to maintain an authentic, unrefined edge. This approach yields a mix of upbeat anthems and slower ballads, balancing high-energy rockers with more subdued reflections.

Lyrical Content and Storytelling

The lyrics of Word Gets Around delve deeply into the everyday realities of working-class in the Welsh valleys, particularly the former mining community of , where frontman and drummer grew up, capturing economic decline, disenfranchisement, and the search for escape amid stagnation. Themes of youthful emerge through depictions of defiance against provincial confines, such as young people turning to drink and bravado to assert their identity, while loss permeates the album via personal tragedies like the of friends, evoking and reflection on mortality. Humor drawn from life lightens these heavier elements, infusing wry observations of local characters and absurdities, such as colorful nicknames for community figures, to humanize the struggles without romanticizing them. Storytelling in the album relies on vivid, observational first-person narratives that paint intimate portraits of small-town existence, as seen in "Local Boy in the Photograph," where the protagonist grapples with the pitfalls of fleeting fame and the pull of hometown roots, delivered through Jones's raw, introspective lens. Ironic twists add layers to these tales, underscoring the tension between aspiration and inertia in a -fueled . Recurring motifs include frequent allusions to alcohol as a mechanism for and sorrow, cars symbolizing fleeting freedom on rural roads, and small-town gossip as a catalyst for drama and judgment, all woven into semi-autobiographical vignettes that draw from Jones's surroundings without explicit self-revelation. This progression is enhanced by the music's raw energy, which amplifies the emotional weight of the words. Jones has reflected on the album's authenticity, noting in a 2013 interview that it "defines who we are, where we came from," highlighting its roots in his teenage scribblings on paper bags while working local market stalls.

Release and Promotion

Original Release Details

Word Gets Around was originally released on 25 August 1997 through V2 Records in the . The album was issued in multiple physical formats, including , cassette, and vinyl. V2 Records, established by in 1996, signed Stereophonics in 1996 amid the music movement and supported their breakthrough by releasing the album following the band's preceding singles. The album was released in the United States on 28 1997. The album's packaging featured design work by Lee Dunn and , capturing the band's roots in everyday Welsh life.

Singles and Marketing Strategy

The promotional campaign for Word Gets Around centered on a series of singles released to generate buzz in the UK indie rock scene, capitalizing on the band's raw, storytelling style rooted in Welsh working-class life. The lead single, "Local Boy in the Photograph," was issued on 17 March 1997 and debuted at number 51 on the UK Singles Chart, marking the band's initial chart entry with its evocative narrative of small-town tragedy. This was followed by "More Life in a Tramps Vest" on 19 May 1997, which climbed to number 33, highlighting themes of economic hardship and community decline through its acoustic-driven sound. As the album's release approached, "A Thousand Trees" served as the third single, launched on 11 August 1997 and peaking at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart, its uplifting chorus about childhood memories in resonating with audiences and aiding the album's immediate visibility. Post-release, "" was promoted as the fourth single on 27 1997, reaching number 20 and underscoring the album's introspective edge with lyrics on urban isolation. The single "" was re-released in February 1998, reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart and further promoting the album. These releases were supported by airplay, including live sessions on the Evening Session that exposed the band's energetic performances to a national audience. The marketing strategy emphasized authenticity and regional pride, positioning as authentic voices of Welsh valleys culture amid the era's tail end. Music videos for the singles, directed by filmmakers like Pinko and Duncan Telford, adopted a gritty, documentary-style realism—shot in natural locations with minimal polish—to mirror the album's unvarnished tales of everyday struggles, fostering a connection with indie and alternative listeners. The band undertook intensive touring, including support slots on Ocean Colour Scene's 1997 dates, which allowed them to build a following in mid-sized venues across the indie circuit. This targeted approach, blending radio exposure, visually compelling videos, and live shows, effectively drove pre-orders for Word Gets Around and cemented the band's , transforming them from regional act to national contenders in the late-1990s British rock landscape.

Track Listing and Personnel

Standard Track Listing

The standard edition of Word Gets Around, released on August 25, 1997, by V2 Records in the UK, contains 12 tracks with a total runtime of 42:02. All songs were written by , with several co-credited to Richard Jones and/or (e.g., "More Life in a Tramp's Vest" co-written by Jones and Cable; "Not Up to You" by all three band members). There are no bonus tracks on the original release, and no significant regional variations in the track listing.
No.TitleDuration
1"A Thousand Trees"3:02
2"Looks Like Chaplin"2:32
3"More Life in a Tramp's Vest"2:20
4""3:22
5""4:54
6"Not Up to You"4:36
7"Check My Eyelids for Holes"2:41
8"Same Size Feet"4:00
9"Last of the Big Time Drinkers"2:45
10"Goldfish Bowl"3:03
11"Too Many Sandwiches"5:01
12"Billy Davey's Daughter"3:46

Core and Additional Personnel

The core lineup for Stereophonics' debut album Word Gets Around (1997) was the founding trio of Kelly Jones on lead vocals and guitars, Richard Jones on bass guitar, and Stuart Cable on drums. This configuration handled the primary instrumentation across the record, underscoring the band's raw, self-reliant sound as a tight-knit unit from their Welsh roots. While the trio provided the essential performances, limited additional contributions enhanced select tracks without introducing full guest musicians. Marshall Bird supplied keyboards throughout, adding subtle atmospheric layers. Richard Payne played on "Not Up to You" (track 6), contributing a folk-tinged texture to that song alone. Similarly, cellist Nadia Lanman appeared solely on the "Billy Davey's Daughter" (track 12), providing string accompaniment that deepened its emotional resonance. These sparse additions reinforced the album's emphasis on the core band's direct, unadorned delivery, with production handled separately by Bird and Bush to capture their live energy.

Critical Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Upon its release in 1997, Word Gets Around received generally positive reviews from UK music publications, with critics praising the album's raw energy and storytelling rooted in working-class Welsh life. NME awarded it 7/10, noting the band's blend of gritty rock and subtle depth, though acknowledging their initial perception as a marketable act: "Stereophonics aren't rock'n'roll - they are a cute'n'cuddly marketing toy for Branson's team of love monkeys who have too much money on their hands." Melody Maker ranked it 25th in its top 50 albums of 1997, hailing its pub rock sensibilities as a highlight of the year's Britpop output. Q magazine included the album in its list of the 50 best albums of 1997. American critics offered more mixed assessments, often highlighting the album's derivative elements within the landscape. gave it 3.5/5 (70/100), observing that while the gritty rock & roll appeared uninspired at first, closer inspection revealed an accomplished debut with strong lyrical sketches. was more critical, scoring it 5.8/10 and dismissing much of the material as generic and flavorless, predicting might fade despite a few catchy singles. Overall, contemporary reception positioned Word Gets Around as a promising but not groundbreaking debut, with an average critic score of around 70/100 across aggregators, reflecting its energetic hooks and narrative charm amid critiques of uneven pacing and familiarity.

Retrospective Evaluations

In the years following its initial release, Word Gets Around has been reevaluated as a cornerstone of ' catalog, particularly through the lens of the band's 2010 deluxe , which included expanded tracks and live recordings. Critics noted its youthful exuberance and raw energy, describing it as a "teenage album" that captured the thrill of a debut with memorable and unpolished charm. This prompted reflections on the album's role in establishing the band's voice, with reviewers highlighting how its gritty narratives of small-town Welsh life continued to resonate amid the band's evolving discography. Post-2010 assessments, especially around the album's anniversaries, have emphasized its authenticity and emotional depth. A 2017 retrospective praised it as ' "finest work," crediting ' lyrics for blending dark themes like and loss with anthemic rock, creating a cult favorite that juxtaposes mundane everyday struggles with profound . Similarly, another 2017 review lauded its enduring qualities, such as minimalist rock arrangements and real-life character sketches from , positioning it as a to Britpop's more stylized excesses and the band's own "laconic best." By its 25th in 2022, the album was celebrated for defining the band's origins in a declining coal-mining , giving voice to underrepresented perspectives with "gritty, evocative tales" that maintain universal appeal, as Jones himself expressed pride in its teenage authenticity. Cultural analyses have situated Word Gets Around within the broader Welsh music scene, examining it as a representation of working-class life in post-industrial towns. The debut is credited with fostering a loyal fanbase through relatable on and mundane , contributing to a "songwriting " in and shaping ' rock identity during the Britrock era. Analyses highlight its vivid imagery of place, offering a sober vision that influenced subsequent evolutions in the genre. Overall, retrospective consensus views the album as a solid debut that launched Stereophonics' career, with growing appreciation for its lyrical honesty and cultural specificity, often regarded as a fan favorite distinct from the band's later mainstream output.

Commercial Performance

Chart Positions

The album Word Gets Around by Stereophonics achieved its highest chart position in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 6 on the Official Albums Chart upon its entry on 6 September 1997. It spent a total of 162 weeks in the UK Top 100 Albums Chart, demonstrating sustained popularity over several years. In Scotland, the album reached number 8 on the Official Scottish Albums Chart, with 175 weeks in the Top 100. Internationally, it peaked at number 8 on the New Zealand Albums Chart (RMNZ) for six weeks starting from 12 April 1998. The album did not enter the US Billboard 200 chart. The singles from Word Gets Around also performed respectably on the UK Singles Chart, though none reached the top 10. "Local Boy in the Photograph" achieved the highest peak at number 14, with multiple chart runs totaling eight weeks in the Top 100, including a re-release in 1998. "" reached number 20 and spent three weeks on the chart following its entry on 8 November 1997. "A Thousand Trees" peaked at number 22, charting for four weeks from 23 August 1997. "More Life in a Tramp's Vest" had the lowest peak at number 33, with two weeks on the chart from 31 May 1997.
Chart (1997–1998)Peak PositionWeeks on ChartSource
Albums (OCC)6162 (Top 100)
Scottish Albums (OCC)8175 (Top 100)
Albums (RMNZ)86
The appeared in the UK year-end chart for three consecutive years (1999–2001), with its highest ranking at number 65 in 1999.

Sales Certifications

In the , Word Gets Around was initially certified by the (BPI) in 1998 for sales of 100,000 units, a milestone achieved within months of its August 1997 release. The album later reached 3× Platinum status with the BPI, certified for 900,000 units, reflecting combined physical and digital sales as of 2022. Outside the UK, the album received limited international recognition, including a in by in 1998 for 15,000 units, though it garnered no major certifications in the United States or European markets. Globally, Word Gets Around surpassed 1 million units in estimated sales by early 2001, with subsequent streaming equivalents contributing to its ongoing BPI status after 2010.

Reissues and Legacy

2010 Deluxe Edition

The deluxe edition of Word Gets Around was released on 18 October 2010 by V2 Records under , marking the album's expanded reissue to coincide with its growing cult status among fans. Available in multiple formats, it included a standard 2-CD deluxe version compiling the original album with bonus material, as well as a limited-edition featuring three CDs, four artcards, and a replica of ' personal notebook containing insights into the album's creation. The expanded the original 12-track with previously unavailable content, focusing on B-sides, demos, live recordings, and acoustic performances to provide deeper context into the band's early creative process. The edition included the original plus 10 B-sides on one disc—such as "Carrot Cake and Wine," "Tie Me Up Tie Me Down," and "Poppy Day"—and 11 additional rarities on another, featuring items like the "Grass Roots Demo" of " in a Tramp's Vest," a live "A Thousand Trees" from a Radio 1 Evening Session, and an acoustic take on "." These additions highlighted the band's raw, unpolished beginnings, drawing from sessions and outtakes that captured their transition from local pub gigs to national recognition. The accompanying booklet, through the notebook replica penned by , offered personal annotations on the songs' inspirations rooted in life. Commercially, the 2010 reissue contributed to sustained catalog popularity, including increased streaming figures in the years following, without new sales certifications beyond the original album's triple platinum status. Reception for the reissue praised its archival value and luxurious packaging, particularly appealing to dedicated fans seeking rarities, though critics observed that the bonus tracks, while intriguing, generally lacked the cohesion and impact of the core album material. A review in Drowned in Sound noted the super deluxe set's appeal despite "uniformly weaker" extras, describing it as a "churlish" oversight to ignore gems among the B-sides and demos, ultimately viewing the package as a worthwhile celebration of Stereophonics' formative era.

Cultural Impact and Band Influence

Word Gets Around played a pivotal role in shaping the late-1990s Welsh rock scene, emerging alongside acts like Catatonia as part of a broader "" movement that brought international attention to Welsh music. The album's raw depictions of working-class life in the valleys resonated with a burgeoning wave of regional talent, contributing to massive gigs and chart successes that highlighted ' contributions to and . The album's success directly propelled ' career, earning them the Brit Award for Best British Newcomer in 1998 and setting the stage for their sophomore release, Performance and Cocktails, which debuted at number one on the in 1999. This trajectory underscored the band's rapid ascent, establishing them as enduring figures in British rock with over three decades of activity since their formation in 1992. In 2025, released their 13th studio album Make 'Em Laugh, Make 'Em Cry, Make 'Em Wait, which debuted at number one on the , highlighting their enduring success stemming from early works like Word Gets Around. Tracks from Word Gets Around, particularly "A Thousand Trees," have permeated , often evoking themes of community and resilience that inspired pride in the band's hometown of . Residents viewed as local heroes who remained connected to their roots, fostering a sense of regional identity amid the band's growing fame. Despite its influence, Word Gets Around remains somewhat overlooked in broader histories, overshadowed by more London-centric narratives, though recent vinyl reissues—such as the limited-edition gold pressing in 2022—indicate sustained and renewed appreciation among fans.

References

  1. https://www.discogs.com/release/1612264-Stereophonics-Word-Gets-Around
  2. https://shop.stereophonics.com/products/word-gets-around-12-lp
  3. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/stereophonics-word-gets-around/
  4. https://www.loudersound.com/features/stereophonics-word-gets-around-at-25-gritty-evocative-tales-of-small-town-life-love-and-loss-shared-with-rare-sensitivity
  5. https://www.allmusic.com/album/word-gets-around-mw0000028655
  6. https://www.discogs.com/master/126852-Stereophonics-Word-Gets-Around
  7. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/stereophonics-local-boy-in-the-photograph/
  8. https://www.discogs.com/release/2793446-Stereophonics-Word-Gets-Around
  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/stereophonics/pages/biography.shtml
  10. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/artist/stereophonics/
  11. https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stereophonics
  12. https://virginradio.co.uk/entertainment/51193/how-wales-shaped-the-stereophonics-and-their-music
  13. https://hellorayo.co.uk/absolute-radio/music/news/stereophonics-career
  14. https://longwaydown.realworldrecords.com/artist/stereophonics
  15. https://riffology.co/2025/07/26/the-making-of-performance-and-cocktails-by-stereophonics/
  16. https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/stereophonics-kelly-jones
  17. https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/sterephonics-interview-kelly-jones-b2017275.html
  18. https://www.nme.com/news/music/stereophonics-a-thousand-trees-lyrics-song-meaning-video-story-interview-2157918
  19. https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/stereophonics/story-stereophonics-local-boy-in-the-photograph/
  20. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/stereophonics-word-gets-around-album-12481727
  21. https://www.soundonsound.com/people/producing-stereophonics
  22. https://www.discogs.com/release/4874982-Stereophonics-Word-Gets-Around
  23. https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/that-was-our-first-step-on-the-ladder-stereophonics-talk-the-20th-anniversary-of-word-gets-around/070756
  24. https://www.discogs.com/release/6127203-Stereophonics-Word-Gets-Around
  25. https://medium.com/alternative-perspectives/word-gets-around-cad68f5202f7
  26. https://louderthanwar.com/deep-in-the-goldfish-bowl-stereophonics-word-gets-around-turns-twenty/
  27. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/stereophonics-more-life-in-a-tramps-vest/
  28. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/stereophonics-a-thousand-trees/
  29. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/stereophonics-traffic/
  30. https://imvdb.com/video/stereophonics/local-boy-in-the-photograph
  31. https://www.innersleeve.com/products/word-gets-around
  32. https://www.discogs.com/release/4906641-Stereophonics-Word-Gets-Around
  33. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/5936-stereophonics-word-gets-around.php
  34. https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mmlists_p2.html
  35. https://www.fishpond.com/Music/Word-Gets-Around-LP-Stereophonics/0602557144284
  36. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384051248_Analyzing_the_Influence_of_Stereophonics_on_the_Evolution_of_Modern_Rock_Music
  37. https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Stereophonics&titel=Word+Gets+Around&cat=a
  38. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/uks-stereophonics-aim-for-elusive-stateside-breakthrough-78924/
  39. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/15772/reviews/4141373
  40. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/2405/stereophonics/
  41. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-34249118
  42. https://nation.cymru/culture/exciting-new-book-explores-how-wales-conquered-the-90s-charts/
  43. https://brits.co.uk/history/the-brits-1998/
  44. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/stereophonics-performance-and-cocktails/
  45. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/stereophonics-make-em-laugh-make-em-cry-make-em-wait/
  46. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/3140158.stm
  47. https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-stereophonics-are-they-rock-s-least-respected-band
  48. https://www.discogs.com/release/24818753-Stereophonics-Word-Gets-Around
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.