Travis: The Man Who [CRAFT]

Why you'll love it

This Craft Recordings LP is the remastered 20th anniversary edition. The Man Who spent nine weeks at No. 1 in the UK and has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide.

This edition

• 20th anniversary edition
• Remastered
• Hidden track "Blue Flashing Light"

About the album

The Man Who takes its title from Oliver Sacks's book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Glasgow's Travis set aside the rockier sound of their debut, teamed up with producer Nigel Godrich and made a soft, melodic record that caught the UK at exactly the right moment.

They worked over six months in six studios, including RAK and Abbey Road, with sessions at Mike Hedges's chateau in France. Fran Healy wrote the lot, and the songs are gentle, open-hearted and catchy. "Writing to Reach You" opens the album, "Driftwood" sways, "Turn" builds into a big singalong, and "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" became the song that made them stars. "Blue Flashing Light" hides at the end of side B.

That single and a Glastonbury set in 1999 gave the album a mighty push. Recording in six studios over six months is a thorough way to make a record sound this relaxed.

Also at Kops: more Travis on vinyl · browse Rock

Tracklist

Listen

On Independiente / Craft, a reissue of the 1999 album.