The Bartender and the Thief
"The Bartender and the Thief" is a 1998 single by Welsh rock band Stereophonics. The song is the second track on their second album, Performance and Cocktails. The song's full length intro is only featured on the CD1 single and in the music video but was edited off the album. A live version from Cardiff Castle is available on CD2 of the single. Another live version from Sheffield Arena is on the "Moviestar" single. A bar version of the song is on CD 1 of the "I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio" single.
"The Bartender and the Thief" | ||||
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Single by Stereophonics | ||||
from the album Performance and Cocktails | ||||
B-side | "She Takes Her Clothes Off" | |||
Released | 9 November 1998 | |||
Recorded | 1998 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | V2 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Kelly Jones | |||
Producer(s) |
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Stereophonics singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Bartender and the Thief" on YouTube |
"Bartender" was the first single taken from Performance and Cocktails. It was released on 9 November 1998 and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. The music video features the band playing at Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand and is based on the Francis Ford Coppola movie, Apocalypse Now.
Live performances
The song, which is one of their heavier tracks, is frequently played amongst their live sets. During live performances, vocalist Kelly Jones has been known to use the two bars without vocals before the final chorus to reference the Motörhead song "Ace of Spades". The lyrics therefore are "The ace of spades, the ace of spades. The bartender and the thief were lovers..."
Track listings
CD: V2 / VVR5004653 (UK)
- "The Bartender and the Thief" - 3:09
- "She Takes Her Clothes Off" - 3:57
- "Fiddler's Green" (The Tragically Hip)- 4:08
CD: V2 / VVR5004663 (UK)
- "The Bartender and the Thief" (Live from Cardiff Castle) - 3:28
- "Traffic" (Live from Cardiff Castle) - 6:07
- "Raymond's Shop" (Live from Cardiff Castle) - 3:56
Charts
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[7] | Silver | 200,000![]() |
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References
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 48. 28 November 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Bartender and the Thief". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
- "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40-1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- "British single certifications – Stereophonics – The Bartender and the Thief". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- The Bartender and the Thief at AllMusic. Retrieved 14:21, 8 April 2015 (UTC).