The Stone Roses - Love Spreads

The Stone Roses were undoubtedly one of the most beloved of the British pop bands of the early 1990's. Their first album, The Stone Roses released in 1989, comprised of gorgeous 60's-influenced psychedelic guitar pop meshed neatly with rave rhythms, turned the band into an overnight sensation. They went from playing small clubs, raves and arenas to, in just six months, playing 30,000 seat ampitheaters and outdoor festivals. At the height of their success, the band engaged in a bitter two-year legal fight with their label, Silvertone Records. The Stoneys won the case, and were immediately signed to Geffen Records, but spent the next three years avoiding the spotlight and only sporadically working on the follow-up to their astonishing debut. In 1994, Geffen demanded a finished record, and the Stoneys delivered their follow-up album Second Coming. But by then, five long years had passed and the public's fascination with the group's members and their sound had lapsed. My selection is a song I count as my favorite by the band, "Love Spreads". At its release, it received an undeservedly unfavorable reaction from reviewers, debuting in the UK at number two rather than the expected number one. Poor reviews and reaction caused the song and the album from which it came to slide abysmally quickly into oblivion. An international tour was planned for the album in 1995, but was continually put aside just at the last minute. By 1996, several huge personnel changes and personal issues eventually led to the breakup of what was once poised to be a legendary supergroup. Last year, Jive Records released a fantastic retrospective of their best works, entitled Very Best of the Stone Roses. Both of these selections appear on the record, along with their most popular songs "I Wanna Be Adored" and "Fools Gold". This is must-have material for fans of delightful Britpop.

BONUS TRACK: Ten Storey Love Song

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