A Secret History

The Divine Comedy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 5, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tristar
• ASIN: B00001O31X
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,507 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. National Express

2. Something for the Weekend

3. Everybody Knows (But You)

4. Generation Sex

5. Becoming More Like Alfie

6. The Summerhouse

7. Your Daddy's Car

8. The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count

9. The Frog Princess

10. Gin Soaked Boy

11. Lucy

12. Songs of Love

13. In Pursuit of Happiness

14. I've Been to a Marvelous Party

15. The Certainty of Chance

16. Too Young to Die

17. Tonight We Fly

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Pop To Melt Your Heart, June 9, 2000

By 

Robert Janiszewski (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Secret History (Audio CD)

On a friend's recommendation, I picked up "A Secret History" blindly, not realizing The Divine Comedy would affect me like few bands ever have, and leading me to seek their entire back catalogue on the strength of this collection. From Neil Hannon's supersharp/observant/heartfelt lyrics to the top-notch arrangements, this is music to make your soul soar, have an unexpected laugh, and at the right times, reduce you to tears. Few artists convey such an unmistakable love of pop music, and it's evident through all 70 minutes here. It's impossible to pick best tracks - superior songwriting start to finish. But I'll go out on a limb: my three favorites: "Generation Sex", "In Pursuit Of Happiness" (both with mind-boggling orchestration, both so uplifting and strong you can't stop the chills), and "Tonight We Fly", easily one of my ten favorites ever, touching beyond words. "A Secret History" is one of those to spend your last dollar on in order to have, and enjoy for years. It is that good. A classic.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's cheesy to say but, the Divine Comedy is divine..., October 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Secret History (Audio CD)

First of all, this is an awkward release just because Neil Hannon's The Divine Comedy is still a vibrant, active, and important band, and "Best Of" collections usually come at the end of a career and not in the middle--but once you realize that "A Secret History" is one of those records, like REM's "Eponymous," which exists solely to fulfil a contract rather than a need, you'll be able to get past the semi-absurdity of the idea and enjoy this record for what it is: a brilliant 17 song retrospective of The Divine Comedy's career. While any hardcore fan (which I consider myself) will always quibble here and there over certain selections (such as, why isn't "Middle Class Heroes" included?), this is still a nearly perfect cross-section of the last five Divine Comedy CDs. I still prefer the old version of "The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count" (with that great guitar line during the second verse!) but the remix of "Your Daddy's Car" as well as the new song (and next single) "Gin Soaked Boy" are totally fantastic. While waiting for Neil's major label debut, "A Secret History" is an excellent package to listen to, and anyone who's unfamiliar with this great band should pick this up; there's not a bad track on it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Fall for This CD Every Time...., August 19, 2004

By 

Craobh Rua "Craobh Rua" (N. Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Secret History (Audio CD)

Technically a band, "The Divine Comedy" is centred around singer-songwriter Neil Hannon. Hannon was born in Northern Ireland in 1970 and models his singing style on Scott Walker. Aptly enough for the son of a Bishop, his band provided the theme tune for the classic sitcom "Father Ted". They also recorded a version of "My Lovely Horse", the song Ted and Dougal entered into the Eurosong Contest. (Unfortunately, it isn't included on the album !!). "A Secret History" is the band's greatest hits package, was released in 1999 and covers the band's time on the Setanta label. Two of the tracks had been previously unreleased - "Gin Soaked Boy" and "Too Young to Die".

One of my favourite tracks - "National Express" opens the album. Mocking a British coach firm, it's Neil and the band at their best. A very catchy tune, the witty lyrics and Neil's crooning all add up perfectly. (The song's video was also very funny.) "The Pop Star's Fear of the Pollen Count" is another excellent tune. It's an up-tempo number, with the brass section really adding to the mood of the song. It's immediately followed by "The Frog Princess", apparently about a French ex-girlfriend. Containing snippets of the French National Anthem, the stinging lyrics are so at odds with the gentle tune, I can't help laughing at it. "Everybody Knows (Except You)" and "Gin Soaked Boy" - one of the album's "new" tracks - also deserve special mentions.

Sometimes you find an album so good, it would be easier just to list the occasional 'bad' or slightly average track. While the tracks I've listed above are my favourites, there just aren't any bad tracks here to list. It's an excellent album from start to finish - with a runing time of seventy minutes, it's filled with catchy tunes, very cleverly written lyrics and it will prove to be money very well spent.