Hits

This compilation chronologically collects together all the singles the band released for Island with the exception of Mis-shapes which some band members now detest for reasons best known to themselves. It starts with the catchy, sexually seedy singles from the His’n’Hers LP before continuing with the epic Common People. One of the defining songs of the 90s, Common People’s true story of a rich girl trendily pretending to be poor is not dissimilar to Bob Dylan’s Like A Rolling Stone with both songs having a similar historical resonance within the context of their decades.

Following on from Common People are the other singles from Pulp’s biggest album Different Class including the beautiful Something Changed, a rare purely romantic moment amidst the sex, spite and politics elsewhere. All seemed to be going swimmingly well for the band on the surface though Jarvis found the fame he had sought for so long to be a major disappointment.

Pulp finally re-emerged a couple of years later with This Is Hardcore, the ultimate anti-Britpop LP. Resolutely uncommercial for such a major act, it now stands as a leading artistic statement. It took the fourth release from the album, the glam-tastic Bowie-esuqe Party Hard for the band to release an obvious single. Prior to that we had a poignant song written from the viewpoint of Jarvis’ estranged father with whom he’d recently been reunited, an excellent song about helping the aged and the slightly tedious title track about watching porn. Mostly good worthy stuff though not the hook-laden chart-friendly songs the band’s more mainstream fans and Island were looking for…

After a long break, Pulp returned in late 2001 with their final album We Love Life. A more optimistic LP with several song using metaphors from the joys of nature, it includes the brilliant Sunrise. Released as a double A-side single with Trees, Sunrise has an extended, uplifting coda – thrilling semi-psychedelia and possibly the best section of music the band have ever produced. It’s also free of the kitsch, bleeping synths so beloved of the band as is the final, previously unreleased track on Hits, Last Day Of The Miners' Strike.

With a harder rockier sound, Miners’ Strike shows that Pulp had plenty more mileage left in them. Taking an extended break after refusing a much-reduced new contract from Island, it now looks unlikely that they will take the stage as a unit again though individual collaborations will continue. A great shame though Hits is an excellent worthy epitaph to their legacy.