Dead from the waist down - Catatonia

'Dead from the waist down' was released as the first single from Catatonia's fourth album 'Equally cursed and blessed'. The decision had been taken by the band quite early on that 'Dead From The Waist Down' would feature a string arrangement. Paul Jones and Owen Powell of the band previously decried the gratuitous use of strings to make a track sound 'posher' by simply plastering them over a perfectly good arrangement, and so the band were keen to find something which truly complemented what they had already recorded.

It was a good choice: the single peaked at number 7 in the UK singles chart, making it the last of their three UK top 10 hits. The single was pressed on yellow vinyl and also included a large poster featuring the cover artwork.

My collection: 7" single no. 3113

Found: HMV, London, May 14, 1999

Cost: 2,5 pounds

Tracks: 'Dead from the waist down' / 'Branding a mountain'