Happy Head/Out of Hand

The Mighty Lemon Drops | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 5, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1986
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B000K2UEXG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,793 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

CD reissue of this two-fer by the UK Alternative quartet, released in 1986 and 1987 respectively. Influenced by bands like Echo & The Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes, The Mighty Lemon Drops' guitar-driven debut album, Happy Head, features the radio hits 'My Biggest Thrill' and 'Like An Angel'. The Out Of Hand EP contains non-album tracks and live recordings previously unavailable on any album. Wounded Bird. 2007.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Jangly and Nifty, March 6, 2000

By 

Josh Thomas (The Hall Of Justice) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Happy Head (Audio CD)

I bought a set of all three of the Mighty Lemon Drops vinyl on the pure basis that they were cheap (two bucks each, with the other being 'The World Without End') and I'd heard them mentioned in Rhino's 'Postpunk Chronicles' along with the Chameleons. Automatically the whole record store went into the fit with all four clerks saying nearly simultaneously 'Finally!' I automatically knew I had something good, albeit obscure.

Comparisons to Echo and the Bunnymen briefly ignored (Yes, I know they're a huge influence, yes I know they're a lot alike) the Mighty Lemon Drops are very catchy, jangly, talented, melodic while still rocking and not drifting into Gin Blossoms style sugar-coated puke-pop-rock. The lyrics and the music seem to work to create a dark, yet perky atmosphere, as if you suddenly toned down the Jesus and Mary Chain. Very nice obscure purchase I do not regret at all.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb album from 1986., September 14, 2003

By 

Patrick Lafontaine "peppersquirt" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Happy Head (Audio CD)

Smith, Cure, Midnight oil fans should give this album a try. The Lemons were part of this pre-Manchester scene called "C-86". Using punk ideals but making them more melodic but still powerful is the idea here... Simple, fun and emotional tunes. A great buy especially with the bonus tracks! get it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love the Lemon Drops, July 24, 2007

By 

Ewell Bowers "hektor24" (texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Happy Head (Audio CD)

I gave this 4 stars on the merit of tracks 13-18. I would agree with the reviewer that said that the album can sound repetitive - if you listen to the whole thing straight through. My recommendation is to skip to track 13 and go from there - originally these tracks were the Out of Hand album. You will notice that a couple of these last tracks are live versions of songs that I am advising listeners to skip - the live versions are much better.

Now about tracks 13-18 - these are the 4-star material. I used to own the Out of Hand cassette and could listen to it over and over again (I would give that album by itself 5 stars). Certainly the Lemon Drops albums World Without End and Laughter were a bit better, but these tracks do show some variation and they all sound great.

I know I am in a minority, but I have always liked the the Mighty Lemon Drops more than Echo. They have to me the sound of British melancholy. Not depressing, not really dark, but rather doleful and sonorous. Good stuff.