"Vegas"
Single by Sleeper
from the album Smart
Released27 March 1995 (1995-03-27)[1]
Length3:15
LabelIndolent
Songwriter(s)Louise Wener
Producer(s)Bruce Lampcov
Sleeper singles chronology
"Inbetweener"
(1995)		 "Vegas"
(1995)		 "What Do I Do Now?"
(1995)

"Vegas" is a pop-rock song performed by English Britpop band Sleeper, written by the band's vocalist and guitarist Louise Wener. In March 1995, it was released as the fourth and final single from Sleeper's debut album, Smart, where it followed the success of "Inbetweener" by peaking within the UK top 40.[2] The single release of "Vegas" was backed with a number of specially recorded B-sides, including a cover of the Pretenders "Hymn to Her".[3]

Writing and composition

Louise Wener explained to the band's official fanzine that "Vegas" was about "this guy who lives in a really dingy bedsit in Peckham who's really lonely", adding that he saves up his money to fly to Las Vegas, gambles it away and meets Frank Sinatra.[4] Andy Maclure described the song as "a study of the kind of life people get trapped in, in England", adding that he thought that the character in the song would probably never get around to doing what he does.[5] Wener compared the song to "early Rod Stewart" material.[4] Percussion on "Vegas" was performed by Primal Scream's drummer.[4]

For the single release of "Vegas", the band went into the studio to completely re-record the track with record producer Bruce Lampcov. Sleeper happened to be in the studio at the same time as Blur, whom Sleeper had supported on tour previously, and asked Graham Coxon to record a saxophone part for the new version. Coxon's performance is credited to Morgan C. Hoax – an anagram of his name. The music video for "Vegas" featured fifty Elvis-lookalikes.[6] The impersonator agency did not have enough Elvises to meet the needs of the production, so sent their Humphrey Bogarts and Clint Eastwoods to make up the numbers, who were reportedly unhappy at having to dress as Elvis. "Anyone can do Elvis, they reasoned, but a Bogart, or an Eastwood, now that takes real skill!" Wener recalled later.[7]

Track listings

  • UK 7-inch single Indolent SLEEP 008
  • UK cassette single Indolent SLEEP 008MC
  1. "Vegas" – 3:21
  2. "Hymn to Her" – 3:34
  • UK 12-inch single Indolent SLEEP 008T
  • UK CD single Indolent SLEEP 008CD
  • German CD single BMG 74321 27639 2
  1. "Vegas" – 3:21
  2. "Hymn to Her" – 3:34
  3. "It's Wrong of You to Breed" – 3:02
  4. "Close" – 4:46

Personnel

  • Diid Osman – bass
  • Andy MacLure – drums
  • Jon Stewart – guitar
  • Louise Wener – vocals, guitar
  • Morgan C. Hoax – saxophone
  • Caroline Dale – strings
  • Bruce Lampcov – production ("Vegas" (Single Version))
  • Sleeper – production ("Hymn to Her" and "It's Wrong of You to Breed")
  • Jon Stewart – production ("Close")

Charts

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[8] 33
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 33

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 25 March 1997. p. 35.
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 507. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ↑ Sexton, Paul (11 February 1995). "Arista's Sleeper Awakens Interest; U.K. Group Seen as "International Band"". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Wener, Louise (1 December 1994). the album. GORGEOUS AND FULLY EQUIPPED fanzine. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  5. ↑ Trakin, Janet (1 May 1995). Power Pop Dreams. Hits magazine. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  6. ↑ Pride, Dominic (10 June 1995). "U.S. Falls Under Spidercom's Web;". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  7. ↑ Wener, Louise (2010). Different for Girls: A girl's own true-life adventures in pop (1st ed.). London: Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0091936518.
  8. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100; 02 April 1995 – 08 April 1995". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  9. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100; 02 April 1995 – 08 April 1995". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
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