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Swimmer is the debut studio album from Scottish pop band The Big Dish, which was released by Virgin in 1986.

The album contains three singles: "Slide", "Prospect Street" and "Christina's World". "Christina's World" reached No. 84 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1987 and "Slide" peaked at No. 86 in May 1987.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Record-JournalC[4]
The Sheboygan Press[5]
Sounds[6]

On its release, Music & Media picked Swimmer as one of their "Albums of the Week" during October 1986. They described the songs as "alternating between guitar-influenced and atmospheric, melodic material". They also noted Lindsay's "strong vocals" which "lift the material up to a higher plane".[7] Billboard noted the band's "strong song sense" but added that "what may catch ears is the vocalizing of David Byrne sound-alike Steven Lindsay."[8] Cash Box wrote, "Lindsay's whispy voice and strong-based songwriting recommend the group to a wide audience. The band is at its best on heartfelt, melody-rich songs like 'Prospect Street' and 'Slide'."[9]

Paul Massey of the Evening Express noted, "Warmth and sincerity are the trademarks of Lindsay's mellow pop and the single 'Slide' is simply great."[10] Martin Wells of the Derby Evening Telegraph described Swimmer as containing "some delightful Orange Juice/Lloyd Cole-style pop songs".[11]

Brant Houston of the Hartford Courant described Swimmer as "a persuasive effort but sometimes too tidy". He added, "The songs are often sprightly, with '60s-like choruses that keep afloat the tunes that tend toward the moribund."[12] Jim Zebora of the Record-Journal as "accessible, insistent pop" but that the band "has a tendency to fall into mediocrity with many songs".[4]

In a retrospective review, William Ruhlmann of AllMusic considered the album's material to be "tasteful, cultured and a bit dull". He commented, "The guitars chime, the machine-made beats burble, and Lindsay contemplates existence, but there is a difference between swimming and treading water that he doesn't seem to recognize."[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Steven Lindsay except "Second Swimmer" by Lindsay and Brian McFie

No.TitleLength
1."Prospect Street"3:23
2."Christina's World"4:10
3."Slide"5:08
4."Big New Beginning"3:23
5."Another People's Palace"4:49
6."Swimmer"5:22
7."The Loneliest Man in the World"3:40
8."Jealous"4:28
9."Her Town"3:58
10."Beyond the Pale"3:58
11."Second Swimmer"2:41
UK CD version bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."From the Neighbourhood"3:44
13."Back Door Bound"4:05

Personnel

The Big Dish

  • Steven Lindsay – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Brian McFie – lead guitar, second guitar
  • Raymond Docherty – bass

Additional musicians

Production

  • Ian Ritchie – producer (tracks 1–3, 6–7, 9–11, 13)
  • Chris Sheldon – engineer (tracks 1–3, 6–7, 9–11, 13)
  • Paul Hardiman – producer (track 4)
  • Glyn Johns – producer (tracks 5, 12)
  • The Big Dish – producers (track 8)

Other

  • Gary Wathen – art direction
  • Red Ranch – design
  • Heather Angel – photography

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[2] 85

References

  1. ^ Strickland, Andy (27 September 1986). "News Digest" (PDF). Record Mirror. p. 50. Retrieved 25 May 2021 – via World Radio History.
  2. ^ a b "BIG DISH; full Official Chart History; Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Swimmer - Big Dish | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b Zebora, Jim (22 March 1987). "Pleasant sounds lack character". The Record-Journal. p. E2.
  5. ^ Novak, Bill (14 May 1987). "On the record...". The Sheboygan Press. p. 36.
  6. ^ Wilde, John (4 October 1986). "Albums". Sounds. p. 28.
  7. ^ "M&M Euro Tip Page". Music & Media. 18 October 1986. p. 16.
  8. ^ "Reviews: Albums". Billboard. 7 March 1987. p. 76.
  9. ^ "Reviews: Albums". Cash Box. 28 February 1987. p. 8.
  10. ^ Massey, Paul (29 October 1986). "Citysound: Albums". Evening Express. p. 11.
  11. ^ Wells, Martin (1 November 1986). "Pop albums". Derby Evening Telegraph. p. 12.
  12. ^ Houston, Brant (2 April 1987). "Records: Del Fuegos' latest, country kitsch and marvelous Marsalis". The Hartford Courant.
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