{"product_id":"heavenly-operation-heavenly-vinyl-lp","title":"Heavenly - Operation Heavenly Vinyl LP","description":"\u003cbody\u003e\n\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eBlack Vinyl LP\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eRelease Year: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003e2025\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eCatalogue Number: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eSKEPWAX031LP\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eBarcode: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003e5055869550680\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eRecord Grading:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eMint (M)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eSleeve Grading: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eMint (M)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eCondition Note: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003eBrand New\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003ctitle\u003e\u003c\/title\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTrack Listing \/ Description\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e1 Trophy Girlfriend\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e2 K-Klass Kisschase\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e3 Space Manatee\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e4 Ben Sherman\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e5 By The Way\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e6 Cut Off\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e7 Nous Ne Sommes Pas Des Anges\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e8 Mark Angel\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e9 Fat Lenny\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e10 Snail Trail\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e11 Pet Monkey\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e12 Art School\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e13 You Tore Me Down\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       \u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003eFor most members of the band it's the best album. But, tragically, the release of Operation Heavenly in 1996 was overshadowed by the sudden death of drummer Mathew Fletcher. The promotional tour was cancelled, the surviving members of the band went into emotional hibernation and no-one could bring themselves to celebrate these vibrant, upbeat songs.\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003eSo, this release by Skep Wax Records, nearly thirty years on, is more like an album launch than a re-issue. Time has healed most wounds, and the songs on Operation Heavenly feel like they can finally emerge onto the stage, with Mathew's spirit very much alive: his effervescent witty drumming sounding as fresh now as it did then. These tracks are gleeful, melodic, sophisticated and knowing. The tough riot grrrl edge that Heavenly had developed a year before with seminal singles P.U.N.K. Girl and Atta Girl, has been blended with a deliberate quantity of Britpop styling. Heavenly were clearly listening to what was going on, liked the energy, but didn't necessarily feel the need to join in. Some of the tracks (eg Ben Sherman) are as jaunty as early Blur, but the lyrics, mocking a narcissistic boyfriend for his obsession with hair, clothes and his own erections, show that Heavenly didn't need or want to be part of the la - or even ladette – herd.\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003eOperation Heavenly was the band's first release on a label other than Sarah Records. Matt Haynes and Clare Wadd had brought that exceptional label to a deliberate and dramatic end. The liaison with US punk label K Records continued – as did the duets with Calvin Johnson: Pet Monkey is a moving duet between a growling Calvin Johnson and a sweet-voiced Cathy Rogers, as they dramatize another complex, maybe doomed relationship, with another self-centred boy finding himself frustrated by a girl who won't take any shit. But in the UK, Heavenly needed to find a new home - and Wiija Records were welcoming hosts, ushering the band into a brasher, less cloistered world: the production on this album is brighter than before, the artwork is colourful and upbeat. With tracks as catchy and as complete as Fat Lenny, Trophy Girlfriend and Space Manatee there was an expectation that Heavenly might finally emerge from the indiepop shadows and trouble the charts. And who knows if this might have happened. Mathew was lost before the album was released, and the band had no choice but to bring things to an end.\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cbig\u003eThis reissue also contains two tracks that appeared on the B side of the 7\" single of Space Manatee. They are both cover versions, and along with Serge Gainsbourg's Nous Ne Sommes Pas Des Anges on the main album, these vivacious assaults on Art School by The Jam and You Tore Me Down by The Flamin' Groovies show that the band, briefly in its prime, could happily embrace any variant of pop music and make it something Heavenly\u003c\/big\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e                                                                                             \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003c\/body\u003e","brand":"Heavenly","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55291075101052,"sku":"CM5055869550680","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/1450\/9784\/files\/63591ed6-2a10-49a1-ba20-2b3828b0639d.jpg?v=1747743970","url":"https:\/\/diginrecords.com\/products\/heavenly-operation-heavenly-vinyl-lp","provider":"Dig In Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}