Laid (album)

Laid
Six men lined up in a row and wearing dresses. They are in front of two large doors, with each man eating a banana.
Studio album by
James
Released27 September 1993
RecordedFebruary–March 1993
Studio
Genre
Length55:30
LabelFontana
ProducerBrian Eno
James chronology
Seven
(1992) 		Laid
(1993) 		Wah Wah
(1994)
Singles from Laid
  1. "Sometimes (Lester Piggott)"
    Released: 30 August 1993
  2. "Laid"
    Released: 1 November 1993

Laid is the fifth studio album by British rock band James. It was released on 27 September 1993 through Fontana Records. The album's sound, which is "stripped-down" compared to their prior releases, was inspired by their recent experience touring as supporting act to Neil Young. Enlisting Brian Eno as producer, James recorded for six weeks at The Windings in Wrexham, Wales, and Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire. The sessions also resulted in the experimental sixth studio album Wah Wah (1994). Laid is a folk and pop rock album that was reminiscent of their earlier releases with its atmosphere and minimal arrangements.

The album's lead single, "Sometimes (Lester Piggott)", was released on 30 August 1993. Bolstered by the song's success, James toured the US as part of the WOMAD festival. "Laid" was released as the album's second single on 1 November 1993. The band toured the UK the following month, supported Duran Duran in the US, and finally embarked on their own US tour. Laid has been re-pressed on vinyl three times; it was reissued on CD in 2001, in 2015 as a standalone release, and as part of a box set with Wah Wah. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom commented on Eno's production. It peaked at number three in the UK and charted in Australia and the US. It was later certified gold in the UK and the US, as was the eponymous track in the UK. "Sometimes (Lester Piggott)" and "Laid" both charted in the UK top 40 and "Laid" peaked at number 67 on the Hot 100. Laid appeared on best-of album lists compiled by Les Inrockuptibles, NME and Select, while the eponymous song appeared on best-song-of-the-decade lists by PopMatters and uDiscoverMusic.