Avenue (song)

"Avenue" is a song by British pop group Saint Etienne, from the album So Tough (1992). The song was originally titled Lovely Heart or Young Heart.[1] The album version is a 7-minute version with lengthy instrumental sequences; it was edited down to around 4 minutes for radio play, though the commercial single contained the full-length version, with the radio edit only released on promotional material. The edit wasn't released commercially until 2005's Travel Edition 1990-2005.

"Avenue"
Single by Saint Etienne
from the album So Tough
B-side
ReleasedOctober 1992
GenreElectronica
Length7:37 (12-inch single)
LabelHeavenly (HVN 23)
Songwriter(s)
Saint Etienne singles chronology
"Join Our Club"
(1992)		 "Avenue"
(1992)		 "You're in a Bad Way"
(1993)
Music video
"Avenue" on YouTube

The song describes a woman nostalgically remembering a love affair from her youth, mostly through impressionistic and surreal imagery, with the refrain: "oh, how many years / is it now Maurice?". The chorus repeats the words "Young heart". The song is recorded with echo effects that make it sound as though it is being performed in a large hall.

The birdsong on the track is sampled from the Pink Floyd track "Cirrus Minor" from the 1969 album More. "Paper" features guitarist Maurice Deebank of the band Felt. "Johnny In The Echo Café" is based on a sample from Forest's song "Bluebell Dance", from their album Full Circle.

The video for the single release depicts the band driving to Brighton.

A remix single was also released, with two remixes each by Gordon King (from World of Twist) and Rudy Tambala of A.R. Kane. King's "Variety Club Mix" was later included on the remix collection Casino Classics.

Critical reception

Tim Sendra from AllMusic said "Avenue" is "one of the best the group ever released". He described it as an "epic ballad built around a pastoral melody, a genius arrangement, and a lovely vocal by Sarah Cracknell."[2] Jim Wirth from NME called it "lush", noting "the wide-eyed love" that goes into producing the song.[3] In his review of the So Tough album, Peter Stanton from Smash Hits stated that the single, with "You're in a Bad Way", are "classic pop beauties".[4]

Track listing

All tracks written by Catt, Cracknell, Stanley and Wiggs; except where indicated

12" - Heavenly / HVN 23-12 (UK), CD (HVN 23CD) and Cassette (HVN 23CS)
  1. "Avenue" - 7:35
  2. "Some Place Else" (Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:46
  3. "Paper" (Cracknell, Maurice Deebank) - 4:10
  4. "Johnny in the Echo Café" (Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:59
12" - Heavenly / HVN 23-12R (UK) and CD (HVN 23CDR)
  1. "Avenue" (Variety Club Mix) - 6:21
  2. "Avenue" (Butlins Mix) - 5:57
  3. "Avenue" (Martial Mix) - 6:27
  4. "Avenue" (Venusian Mix) - 5:19
CD - Heavenly / HVN 23CDP (UK Promo)
  1. "Avenue" (Radio Edit) - 3:48
  2. "Avenue" - 7:35
  3. "Some Place Else" (Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:46
  4. "Paper" (Cracknell, Deebank) - 4:10
  5. "Johnny in the Echo Café" (Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:59
7" - Heavenly/Universal / HVN 23 (Part of box set Saint Etienne on 45, Part One) (2011)
  1. "Avenue" (Radio Edit) - 3:47
  2. "Stranger In Paradise" (Wright/Forrest) - 3:30

Charts
Chart (1992) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 40
UK Music Week Dance Singles[5] 27

References
  1. "Record Collector". November 1995: 36–39. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Sendra, Tim. "Saint Etienne – Avenue". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. Wirth, Jim. "ST ETIENNE – London Kentish Town Forum". NME. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. Stanton, Peter (17 February 1993). "New Albums". Smash Hits. p. 52. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  5. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 17 October 1992. p. 18. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
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