Happy 30th. Released as a single on this date in 1991.
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
Remember it well, I was the first person among my mates to have BSkyB and therefore MTV (not intended as a brag), so we used to sit round our house more than any other watching MTV inbetween sport when I was 11.
This and Smells Like Teen Spirit were the two memorable videos that were on heavy rotation on MTV Europe in 1991 (along with all the long forgotten cock rock and Italian pop).
Brilliant story Dave.
Keep’em coming.
Brilliant album. Remember the MTV video well at the time too, was always fascinated by the people in it. Where was it filmed, Los Feliz or something like that?
Lots of U2 too, during their brief ‘good’ period (The Fly/Even Better Than The Real Thing, then later came Numb and Lemon in 93)
Nick Warren played it at Cream Birthday…3rd or 4th. Grown men in tears. Me mainly because I lined some scallys pockets with £50 for some Non Bio Daz
Phil-McRackin Grown men in tears. Me mainly because I lined some scallys pockets with £50 for some Non Bio Daz
LOL.
I’ve heard Norman Jay play it, without mixing it into any of the other records, or indeed bothering to mix any of his records at all. Only decent thing he did all night.
It’s stood the test of time imo. Still a great track despite all the plays.
Yea Ive never really been blown away by Unfinished Symphony as much as others have or indeed as much as other tracks even from around that era. I was never a Massive Attack fan in general either.
Preferred Protection & Mezzanine over Blue Lines.
Saw them live in Brixton Academy about 15 years ago. Whilst they were good, I can’t say I was blown away.
Not like I was to Underworld in the same venue the year before.
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Howells played it as an end of the night lights on track at the End during his residency
LT and Dan are the type of people who would say “yeah, Massive Attack were good but the standout album of that genre/era, to me, was Morcheeba’s Big Calm.”
Great track as it is I wouldn’t be happy if that was dropped as a last track. Give me beats for the final furlong you pompous twat.
In all seriousness, Maxinquaye was actually the genre’s standout album.
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bosstrabs Dummy was clearly the genre’s stand out album, maxinquaye was a great album too, though very, very, very disappointing live (Though Black Steel tore the place apart if I’m honest)
Massive Attack are dreadful live.
All political grandstanding with not a wrecking ball in sight.
S to the werve.
Dummy was no way as good as Maxinquaye, or Blue Lines.
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dummy was just under 45 mins so you could fit it onto each side of a 90 min cassette for the walkman. Edit, just checked and it was 49, maybe the tapes were a bit longer than 45!
Great story
Cheers Bens.
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Smallman1 Massive Attack are dreadful live.
False. Got to see them perform live in 2019, and it was BRILLIANT. Unfortunately this wasn’t on their playlist that night. Classic though! I would have loved to hear it live along with the rest. They make some damn fine music.
I’m starting to realize your taste is really lacking Ed. Thoughts and prayers.
Ed likes Bryan Adams.
Trabs, threads, bants, restaurants, nights out.
No one does it like me!
Kells77 it’s was a tour to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Mezzanine. Small wonder.
Along_the_Wire Usually, though, when bands do their ‘famous album anniversary tour’ they play a set of the album then another set, or an encore of, some of their other hits
Of course, Grant wouldn’t know from his Doves gig because everyone was bored shitless and didn’t shout for an encore, and they don’t have many hits anyway.
#FEWMIN