View source for Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Happy Mondays]]
| cover        = Hmpillsnthrills.jpg
| alt          = Multi-layered sweet labels resembling the band's name and the album's title
| released     = {{Start date|1990|11|5|df=y}}
| recorded     = {{hlist|February 1990|July–September 1990}}
| studio       = * [[Capitol Studios|Capitol]] (Los Angeles)
* [[Eden Studios|Eden]] (London)
| genre        = <!-- sourced in prose -->* [[Madchester]]
* [[baggy]]
* [[Rock music|rock]]
* [[dance-rock]]
| length       = {{duration|m=43|s=49}}
| label        = [[Factory Records|Factory]]
| producer     = * [[Paul Oakenfold]]
* [[Steve Osborne]]
| prev_title   = [[Hallelujah (EP)|Hallelujah]]
| prev_year    = 1989
| next_title   = [[Yes Please!]]
| next_year    = 1992
| misc         = {{Singles
| name        = Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
| type        = studio
| single1     = [[He's Gonna Step On You Again#Happy Mondays version|Step On]]
| single1date = 26 March 1990
| single2     = [[Kinky Afro]]
| single2date = 8 October 1990
| single3     = Loose Fit
| single3date = 25 February 1991
| single4     = Bob's Yer Uncle
| single4date = April 1991 <small>(US only)</small>
}}
}}
'''''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches''''' is the third studio album by the English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Happy Mondays]], released on 5 November 1990 by [[Factory Records]]. [[Disc jockey]] (DJ) [[Paul Oakenfold]] and collaborator [[Steve Osborne]] were previously enlisted by the band for remixes. The success of these led to the pair producing "[[He's Gonna Step On You Again#Happy Mondays version|Step On]]", a cover of the [[John Kongos]] song, for Happy Mondays. The band went on a tour of the United States, and by the end of which, had started recording their next album with Oakenfold and Osborne at [[Capitol Studios]] in Los Angeles, California. They returned to the United Kingdom, where further recording took place at [[Eden Studios]] in London until September 1990. Described as a [[Madchester]] album, ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' saw substantial input from Oakenfold and Osborne, with the former making [[Loop (music)|loop]]s while the latter handled song arrangements.
The release of ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' was aided by a distribution and licensing deal between Factory Records and [[major label]] [[London Recordings]]. "[[Kinky Afro]]" was released as the second [[Single (music)|single]] from the album on 8 October 1990; the album was promoted with an arena tour in the UK, with support from [[Donovan]], to close out the year. Preceded by festival appearances in the UK and Brazil, "Loose Fit" was released as the album's third single in February 1991. Treks in mainland Europe and the US followed over the course of the next three months. After this, touring continued into August 1991 across a variety of festival performances and headlining shows.
''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' received generally positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]], several of whom considered it the band's creative peak. It peaked at number four on the [[UK Albums Chart]], as well as charting in Austria, New Zealand, and Sweden. The album went on to sell 400,000 copies in the UK, where it was certified platinum. "Step On" reached the top five in the UK (where it would be certified gold) and appeared on several ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' charts in the US. "Kinky Afro" had similar success, also reaching the top five in the UK  (where it would be certified silver). "Loose Fit" charted in the UK top 20; "Bob's Yer Uncle" peaked within the top 30 on two US charts. ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' appeared on album of the year and best of decade lists by ''[[Melody Maker]]'', ''[[NME]],'' and ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''.
==Background==
Happy Mondays released their second studio album, ''[[Bummed]]'', which was produced by [[Martin Hannett]], in November 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bummed-mw0000203094|title=Bummed – Happy Mondays|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=9 February 2014|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|archive-date=12 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212091920/http://www.allmusic.com/album/bummed-mw0000203094|url-status=live}}</ref> To promote it, the band supported [[James (band)|James]] and [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]] on separate tours as well as headlining treks of their own in the United Kingdom.<ref name=Spence313-5>Spence 2015, pp. 313–315</ref> The album's [[lead single]], "Wrote for Luck", became the defining track of the [[acid house]] era.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 125</ref> Scott Plagenhoef of ''[[Stylus Magazine|Stylus]]'' considered the album "the perfect summation of the [[Second Summer of Love|1988 British Summer of Love]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/happy-mondays-bummed.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205091729/http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/happy-mondays-bummed.htm|title=Happy Mondays - Bummed - On Second Thought|work=[[Stylus Magazine|Stylus]]|author=Plagenhoef, Scott|date=1 September 2003|archivedate=5 February 2010|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref> "Wrote for Luck" was remixed by [[Disc jockey|DJ]] [[Paul Oakenfold]], with assistance from [[Steve Osborne]] and [[Vince Clarke]] of [[Erasure (duo)|Erasure]].<ref>Spence 2015, pp. 162–163</ref> The remixes, under the name "W.F.L.", appeared in September 1989, peaking at number 68 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name=Spence313-5/><ref name=UKartist>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26199/happy-mondays/|title=Happy Mondays {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=6 October 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501173728/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26199/happy-mondays/|url-status=live}}</ref> Happy Mondays' second [[extended play]] (EP), ''[[Madchester Rave On]],'' was released in November 1989, again produced by Hannett.<ref>Spence 2015, pp. 179, 315</ref> It peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name=UKartist/>
Oakenfold and Osborne were enlisted again to create remixes, which were successful commercially and critically.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 183</ref> Around this time, the band appeared on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' with [[the Stone Roses]], which acted as a catalyst for the [[Madchester]] scene.<ref>Middles 1997, pp. 82, 100</ref> Relationships between band members became strained, while manager Nathan McGough spent more time partying than assisting them. Frontman [[Shaun Ryder]] was especially disconnected from the others, using [[heroin]] as a crutch.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 194</ref> In February 1990, Happy Mondays' label in the United States, [[Elektra Records]], picked them to contribute a cover for a [[Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary|40th anniversary compilation album]].<ref>Middles 1997, pp. 103–104</ref> Happy Mondays initially considered doing a [[Tom Waits]] track, until someone suggested [[John Kongos]]; they recorded Kongos' "[[He's Gonna Step on You Again]]" (1971) at [[Eden Studios]] in London.<ref name=Middles104>Middles 1997, p. 104</ref><ref name=Spence198/> At the suggestion of McGough, Oakenfold and Osborne produced the song, marking the first time either of them did so.<ref name=Spence198>Spence 2015, p. 198</ref>
Unbeknownst to Happy Mondays, Oakenfold and Osborne added vocals from session vocalist [[Rowetta]], who had met McGough some weeks earlier at [[the Haçienda]] in Manchester.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 199</ref><ref name=Ryder205/> As the band thought their cover would be wasted on the Elektra compilation, they gave the label a rendition of another Kongos song, "[[Tokoloshe Man]]" (1971).<ref>Ryder 2012, pp. 205–206</ref> In March 1990, they embarked on a tour of mainland Europe, leading into two headlining shows at the [[Manchester Central Convention Complex|GMEX Centre]] in Manchester.<ref name=Spence316>Spence 2015, p. 316</ref> The band's version of Kongos' track, shortened to "Step On", was released as a single on 26 March 1990.<ref name=Harrison52>Harrison 1991, p. 52</ref> The song's music video was filmed while in [[Barcelona]] on the roof of a hotel with directors the Bailey Brothers.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 201</ref> The band set up in a rehearsal room in [[Stretford]] to write material for their next album.<ref name=Spence205>Spence 2015, p. 205</ref> Following this, the band headlined [[Glastonbury Festival]] and played a one-off show in [[Ibiza]] in June 1990.<ref name=Spence316/> They embarked on a tour of the US in July 1990.<ref>Spence 2015, pp. 217, 219</ref>
==Recording==
As the US tour came to a close in Los Angeles, California, the band decided to record their next album in the city. Shaun Ryder considered it an important break away from being constantly recognised in the UK, which the rest of the band agreed with. Other recording locations had been floated and declined, such as in [[Amsterdam]] and [[Barbados]]. An extra US show was scheduled but cancelled in order for the members to get into the right head space for recording.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 221</ref> Due to the success of "Step On", Oakenfold and Osborne had been earmarked to produce Happy Mondays' next release sometime prior.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 216</ref> Elektra and [[Factory Records]], the band's UK label, booked the band to record at [[Capitol Studios]]. Upon entering it, the band had a week's time to record the seven new songs they had; they convinced both labels to extend recording by three weeks.<ref name=Spence226/> Oakenfold and Osborne sorted through the various [[Demo (music)|demos]] the band had given the pair, picking the ones that would work well and those that would not.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-happy-mondays-step?page=2|title=Classic Tracks: Happy Mondays 'Step On' (page 2)|work=[[Sound on Sound]]|author=Doyle, Tom|date=April 2020|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929192531/https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-happy-mondays-step?page=2|url-status=live}}</ref>
As the band would hang out with Mancunian and Liverpudlian people from acid house club nights in the area, the strained relationships were sedated.<ref name=Spence226/> They stayed at the Oakwood Apartments with their girlfriends and wives.<ref name=Spence226/><ref>Warburton; Ryder 2011, p. 29</ref> Recording started on 23 July 1990; the sessions would begin at midday and conclude by midnight, lasting for six days per week, with engineer Ray Blair and studio assistant Cameron.<ref name=Harrison52/><ref>Verrico 1998, p. 120</ref><ref name=PNTABbooklet/> Bassist [[Paul Ryder]] and drummer Gary Whelan would record their parts together, while the others would record theirs separately to avoid [[cabin fever]].<ref>Spence 2015, pp. 226–227</ref> The first track they recorded was "Kinky Afro", with bass and drums that Osborne laboured over to get a certain [[baggy]] sound.<ref name=Spence226>Spence 2015, p. 226</ref> Whelan would often record drum [[Loop (music)|loop]]s and record new parts on top of them. A similar instance saw Whelan play over loops that Oakenfold made by [[Scratching|scratching his records]] on "God's Cop".<ref name=Spence227>Spence 2015, p. 227</ref> Due to Bez's lacklustre skills as a percussionist, [[session musician]] Tony Castro was brought in by Blair to contribute to "Loose Fit" and "Bob's Yer Uncle".<ref>Spence 2015, p. 229</ref><ref name=Verrico129>Verrico 1998, p. 129</ref>
Spurred on by the laidback nature of the sessions, the band attempted a cover of "[[Everybody's Talkin']]" (1966) by [[Fred Neil]]. With the guidance of Oakenfold, they kept the feel of the song while scrapping everything else, eventually causing the band to write "Bob's Yer Uncle".<ref>Spence 2015, p. 228</ref> Shaun Ryder would attempt to get out of recording vocals frequently, claiming he was not in the right mood. Osborne had to talk him into the idea. As Osbourne learned from working on "Step On", Ryder was "not somebody who is a super-confident vocalist. Doing vocals for Shaun [Ryder] is not an easy thing". Ryder would subsequently only do vocals when Osborne was in the control room, aside from the occasional visit from Whelan.<ref name=Spence231>Spence 2015, p. 231</ref> Factory founder [[Tony Wilson]] visited the band, fearing they would have spent the entirety of recording partying instead of working. Upon hearing a version of "Bob's Yer Uncle", he exclaimed that the band's next release would be "one of the great British albums of the age". The band flew home on 25 August 1990; one-by-one, each member did further work on the songs at Eden Studios, where Rowetta did guest vocals.<ref name=PNTABbooklet/><ref name=Spence232>Spence 2015, p. 232</ref> Recording concluded by September 1990; Oakenfold and Osborne mixed the final tracks with assistant engineer Dave Burnham.<ref name=PNTABbooklet/>
==Composition and lyrics==
Musically, the sound of ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' has been described as Madchester.<ref name=TPreview>{{cite web|url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/happy-mondays/|title=Happy Mondays|work=[[Trouser Press]]|author1=Brod, Doug|author2=Krugman, Michael|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=3 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203141533/https://trouserpress.com/reviews/happy-mondays/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the writer [[John Harris (journalist)|John Harris]], it is slicker than ''Bummed'' and makes the band's affinities with acid house more explicit, mixing guitar and bass with "precise and pristine keyboard sounds" and drums that are "as crisp as on any house record".<ref>The Last Party: Britpop, Blair and the Demise of English Rock, John Harris (2003), p. 20</ref> With the title, Shaun Ryder said the band wanted a "mature, a [[Classic rock|rock classic]] title, but we thought fuck it, just give it something that everyone's expecting".<ref name=Spence238>Spence 2015, p. 238</ref> Oakenfold and Osborne had more input into the music than other people would, as the band trusted them. Oakenfold said Osborne had a bigger role in the overall sound of the album due to being a multi-instrumentalist.<ref name=Verrico123>Verrico 1998, p. 123</ref> The former focused on making loops, while the latter tackled song arrangements with [[Synthesizer|synthesisers]] and keyboards.<ref name=Spence227/> All of the songs' sound is buoyed by Paul Ryder's bass parts, which Osborne felt were important to the band's dynamic. He had a laissez-faire attitude to his performances, even letting Osborne play bass on one track.<ref name=Spence227/> Osborne felt guitarist Mark Day's parts anchored a lot of the songs, often setting the tone for them.<ref>Spence 2015, pp. 227–228</ref> They initially wanted "[[Tokoloshe Man]]" (1971), another Kongos cover, on the album, but were denied it when they contributed it to Elektra's anniversary compilation in lieu of "Step On".<ref>Harrison 1991, p. 54</ref>
Shaun Ryder wrote the lyrics to the songs while in his apartment in Los Angeles, fueled by [[opium]].<ref name=Spence230>Spence 2015, p. 230</ref> The album opens with "Kinky Afro", an ode to fatherhood and Ryder's father, Derek.<ref>Warburton; Ryder 2011, p. 30</ref> The song's music is partially influenced by Paul Ryder listening to [[Hot Chocolate]], namely their song "[[Brother Louie (Hot Chocolate song)|Brother Louie]]" (1973). Shaun Ryder took one of its lines for "Kinky Afro"; despite comparisons to "[[Lady Marmalade]]" (1974) by [[Labelle]], he claimed the song's vocal hook was taken from the film ''[[Die Hard]]'' (1988).<ref name=Spence231/><ref name=Harrison55>Harrison 1991, p. 55</ref> The song was initially called "Groovy Afro", but was changed after "[[Groovy Train]]" (1990) by [[The Farm (British band)|the Farm]] was released sometime prior.<ref>Verrico 1998, p. 127</ref> "God's Cop" is inspired by [[James Anderton]], the [[chief constable]] of the [[Greater Manchester Police]], who claimed God was speaking to him.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 45</ref> It opens with a [[slide guitar]] part, leading into a [[delta blues]] riff that is heard throughout the rest of the track; it is backed by a drum loop of "[[Me Myself and I (De La Soul song)|Me Myself and I]]" (1989) by [[De La Soul]].<ref name="Selectreview"/><ref name="NMEreview"/><ref name=BBCreview/> "Donovan", which musically retreads "Mad Cyril" from ''Bummed'', was written after the band was listening to [[Donovan]]'s back catalogue while touring the US.<ref name=Harrison52/><ref name="Selectreview"/> It borrows a lyric from Donovan's "[[Sunshine Superman (song)|Sunshine Superman]]" (1966).<ref name=Spence231/>
Kongos' "Step On" is a [[protest song]] that deals with white people's [[Cultural appropriation|appropriation]] of land in Africa.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 197</ref> Happy Mondays' version opens with an [[Italo house]] piano, followed by a [[funk]] [[Swing (jazz performance style)#Swing as a rhythmic style|shuffle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/happy-mondays-step-dead-easy-111775/|title=Happy Mondays on 'Step On': 'It was dead easy!'|work=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]|author=Lewis, John|date=23 August 2019|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009100227/https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/happy-mondays-step-dead-easy-111775/|url-status=live}}</ref> Shaun Ryder ad-libbed various lines, such as "Call the cops" and "You're twisting my melon man".<ref>Spence 2015, p. 199</ref> The former was a catchphrase of a [[The Haçienda|Haçienda]] patron, while the latter was taken from a line of dialogue in ''Man on the Edge'', a documentary about [[Steve McQueen]].<ref>Ryder 2019, pp. 39–40</ref><ref>Ryder 2012, p. 203</ref> Ryder had guessed some of the lyrics as he did not have a lyric sheet in front of him, which he re-recorded after learning what they were.<ref name=Ryder205>Ryder 2012, p. 205</ref> "Holiday" incorporates a portion of "[[Sweet Jane]]" (1973) by [[the Velvet Underground]], as well as "[[A Lover's Holiday]]" (1980) by [[Change (band)|Change]].<ref name=Spence231/><ref name=Verrico128/> Ryder wrote the song about issues he faced when dealing with [[customs officer]]s.<ref name=Spence231/> For "Harmony", Ryder attempted to get Whelan to sing the track in the same manner that [[the Beatles]] would get their drummer [[Ringo Starr]] to sing a song.<ref name=Spence231/> The song describes being high on the [[rave]] drug [[ecstasy (drug)|ecstasy]].<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 57</ref> It lifts a lyric from "[[I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)]]" (1971) by [[the New Seekers]].<ref name=Spence231/>
==Release==
McGough set about making Happy Mondays' next album a success; he was concerned with Factory's ad hoc licencing agreements, finding it difficult to obtain sales numbers from [[Rough Trade Records]] in Germany.<ref name=Spence232/> With an [[Advance payment|advance]] from Wilson, McGough set up a distribution and licencing deal with [[major label]] [[London Recordings]], which would promote the album throughout the European continent.<ref name=Spence232/><ref name=Verrico130>Verrico 1998, p. 130</ref> [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] had turned down an offer to distribute the band due to their "interests outside of their musical output".<ref name=Verrico130/> During this time, the UK press noted a decline in the popularity of the Madchester scene.<ref>Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 51</ref> McGough wanted "Kinky Afro" as the next single, while Wilson aimed for "Loose Fit".<ref>Middles 1997, pp. 125–126</ref> "Kinky Afro" was ultimately released as the second single from the album on 8 October 1990.<ref name=Harrison52/> A radio mix and a live version of the same song were included as B-sides.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Kinky Afro"|people=Happy Mondays|year=1990|type=sleeve|publisher=Factory Records|id=FACD 302}}</ref> The [[music video]] for the song, directed by the Bailey Brothers, was filmed at [[Granada Studios]]. It shows the band being surrounded by dancing female models, one of whom was Whelan's girlfriend.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 235</ref>
''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' was released on 5 November 1990.<ref name=Spence317/> The cover, done by [[Central Station Design]], consists of American sweet wrappers, with the band's name and the album's title laid on top in cartoon lettering.<ref name=Spence239/> Matthew Robertson wrote in his book ''Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album'' (2006) that it blends ephemera from Los Angeles, where the album was recorded, and London, where it was mixed. Factory Records paid for Central Station Design to visit Los Angeles for a week while the band was in the midst of recording there in order to gather the materials that would end up on the final artwork. These pieces were used in the lettering, while pieces from London were used for the background.<ref name=Robertson189/> When the album was issued in the US, later in the month,<ref>Marks ed. 1990a, p. 64</ref> the artwork was changed because of fears of being sued for [[copyright infringement]].<ref name=Robertson189>Robertson 2006, p. 189</ref> A launch party was held at the [[London Zoo]] on the same day as its UK release.<ref name=Spence239>Spence 2015, p. 239</ref> The following week, on 12 November 1990, the band released the [[video album]] ''Call the Cops'', which consisted of footage shot on their tour of the US.<ref name=Harrison52/> The band promoted ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' with an arena tour in the United Kingdom in November and December 1990, with support from Donovan, whom the band had met earlier in the year.<ref name=Spence317>Spence 2015, p. 317</ref><ref name=Verrico132>Verrico 1998, p. 132</ref><ref>Ryder 2012, p. 220</ref> Happy Mondays started in 1991 with appearances at the Great British Music Weekend festival in the UK and [[Rock in Rio|Rock in Rio 2]] in Brazil.<ref name=Spence317/> Both performances were lambasted by audience members; the latter was nearly abandoned due to rain, though the band continued playing despite being told they might get electrocuted.<ref>Spence 2015, pp. 246, 248</ref>
A new music video was filmed for "Step On" on 12 January 1991 in London, directed by [[Jean-Baptiste Mondino]]. It was intended to coincide with a re-release of the song in the US.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 245</ref> Originally planned for 18 February 1991,<ref>Redmond ed. 1991, p. vi</ref> "Loose Fit" was released as the album's third single on 25 February 1991.<ref>Mann ed. 1991, p. 3</ref> Wilson decided on it, though the band wanted "God's Cop" as their next release.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 249</ref> "Bob's Yer Uncle" and a remix of "Kinky Afro" appeared as the [[A-side and B-side|B-sides]] to "Loose Fit".<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Loose Fit"|people=Happy Mondays|year=1991|type=sleeve|publisher=[[Factory Records]]|id=FACD 312}}</ref> Remixes of "Loose Fit" and "Bob's Yer Uncle", done by [[the Grid]], were released on a [[Twelve-inch single|12" vinyl]], being retitled "Loose Fix" and "Bob's Yer Tune", respectively.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Loose Fix"|people=Happy Mondays|year=1991|type=sleeve|publisher=Factory Records|id=FAC 312r}}</ref> The single, along with its music video, was delayed due to needing to remove lyrics about the Gulf War.<ref name=Verrico136>Verrico 1998, p. 136</ref> Robertson said the song has a "very dark and sinister subtext" to it, and as such, Central Station Design "set about capturing this idea by composing a murkier experience" for its front artwork. The back cover features burned fat to "simulate burnt, bubbling human flesh [which] was used to suggest the violence of warfare".<ref>Robertson 2006, p. 196</ref> Following this, they went on a tour of mainland Europe, which lasted until March 1991.<ref name=Spence317/> It took into account the territories that London Recordings released the album in, in an effort to build a fan base in those counties.<ref name=Spence250/>
Upon arriving back in the UK, the band performed "Loose Fit" on ''[[Top of the Pops]]''.<ref name=Spence250>Spence 2015, p. 250</ref> Later in March 1991, the band returned to the US, where they toured for two months.<ref name=Spence318>Spence 2015, p. 318</ref> A few of the shows were criticized by the press for their short length, often only playing for 50 minutes.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 252</ref> The New York City date of the tour, on 24 April 1991, saw the band support [[Jane's Addiction]].<ref name=Spence318/> Around this date, "Bob's Yer Uncle" was released as the next single from the album instead of the planned "Step On" reissue. McGough had wanted Elektra to release "God's Cop" or "Loose Fit" to capitalise on the band's US shows.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 253</ref> Senior management at Elektra caught wind of the band's short sets and them cancelling or not showing up to promotional meet and greet events and decided to stop pushing the band in the US.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 255</ref> Around the same time, contemporaries [[The Charlatans (English band)|the Charlatans]] had returned to the UK from their own US tour, marking the end of the Madchester scene trying to break the US.<ref>Wills; Sheehan 1999, p. 60</ref> Exhausted from the trek, Happy Mondays cancelled the last few shows in order to rest in [[Texas]].<ref>Spence 2015, p. 256</ref> A series of headlining shows and festival performances took place between May and August 1991.<ref>Spence 2015, pp. 318–319</ref>
===Reissues and related releases===
Happy Mondays released their first live album in 1991, titled ''Live'', which was recorded during a Leeds show earlier that year.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Live|people=Happy Mondays|year=1991|type=booklet|publisher=Factory Records|id=FACD 322}}</ref> It was previously released as an official [[Bootleg recording|bootleg]] under the name ''Baby Big Head'', which drew comparisons to [[the Who]]'s ''[[Live at Leeds]]'' (1970).<ref>Spence 2015, p. 260</ref> Wilson was fine with the band self-releasing the bootleg; the band's motivation for doing so in the first place stemmed from Factory owing the band around £100,000 in royalties.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 261</ref> [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Records]] reissued ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' as a two-disc set in 2007, with bonus tracks and a DVD of the band's music videos.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|people=Happy Mondays|year=2007|type=sleeve|publisher=[[Rhino Records]]|id= 5144-24011-2}}</ref> In 2012, daily newspaper ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave readers a free copy of the album in each newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/19/happy-mondays|title=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 June 2012|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212193456/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/19/happy-mondays|url-status=live}}</ref> It was included in Rhino Records' ''Original Album Series'' box set in 2013, which collected Happy Mondays' first four studio albums.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Original Album Series|people=Happy Mondays|year=2013|type=sleeve|publisher=Rhino Records|id=2564642929}}</ref> The album was re-pressed on vinyl in 2020.<ref name=Clashwrote>{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/wrote-for-luck-the-rise-and-fall-of-happy-mondays|title=Wrote For Luck: The Rise And Fall Of Happy Mondays {{!}} Features|work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|author=Murray, Robin|date=4 February 2020|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116032540/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/wrote-for-luck-the-rise-and-fall-of-happy-mondays|url-status=live}}</ref>
"Kinky Afro" and remixes of "Loose Fit", "Bob's Yer Uncle", and "Step On" appeared on Happy Mondays' first compilation album, ''Double Easy – The U.S. Singles'' (1993).<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Double Easy – The U.S. Singles|people=Happy Mondays|year=1993|type=sleeve|publisher=[[Elektra Records]]|id=9 61543-2}}</ref> "Loose Fit", "Bob's Yer Uncle", "Step On", and a remix of "Kinky Afro" were included on their second compilation album ''Loads'' (1995).<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Loads|people=Happy Mondays|year=1995|type=sleeve|publisher=[[Factory Once]]/London Recordings|id=520 036-2}}</ref> "Kinky Afro", "Loose Fit", "Bob's Yer Uncle", "Step On", and a remix of the latter appeared on the band's third compilation album, ''Greatest Hits'' (1999).<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Greatest Hits|people=Happy Mondays|year=1999|type=sleeve|publisher=London Recordings|id=556 105-2}}</ref> "Bob's Yer Uncle" and "Step On" appeared on their fourth compilation album, ''The Platinum Collection'' (2005).<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=The Platinum Collection|people=Happy Mondays|year=2005|type=sleeve|publisher=[[Warner Strategic Marketing]]|id=5101-11729-2}}</ref> "Kinky Afro", "God's Cop", "Loose Fit", "Dennis and Lois", "Bob's Yer Uncle", and "Step On" were included on the band's fifth compilation album, ''Double Double Good: The Best of Happy Mondays'' (2012).<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Double Double Good: The Best of Happy Mondays|people=Happy Mondays|year=2012|type=sleeve|publisher=Rhino Records|id=2564658951}}</ref>
==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AMreview">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pills-n-thrills-and-bellyaches-mw0000309418|title=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches – Happy Mondays|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=15 July 2012|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|archive-date=10 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810003650/https://www.allmusic.com/album/pills-n-thrills-and-bellyaches-mw0000309418|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev2score = C+<ref name="EWreview">Mack 1990, pp. 68, 70</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="LATreview">Gold 1991, p. 59</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>Harrison 2020, p. 107</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5score = 9/10<ref name="NMEreview">Maconie 1990, p. 36</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6score = 9.5/10<ref name="Pitchforkreview">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/happy-mondays-pills-n-thrills-and-bellyaches/|title=Happy Mondays: Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches Album Review|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=30 June 2024|access-date=30 June 2024|last=Cohen|first=Ian}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Happy Mondays: Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|location=London|issue=51|date=December 1990|last=Cranna|first=Ian|issn=0955-4955}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>Pearlman 2004, pp. 362–363</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''
| rev9score = 5/5<ref name="Selectreview">Harrison 1990, pp. 92–93</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Miraculous Conception|magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]|location=London|date=3 November 1990|last=Gibson|first=Robin|issn=0144-5774}}</ref>
}}
Several writers praised the writing of ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches''. [[Stuart Maconie]] of ''[[NME]]'' hailed it as "a tremendous record, and a gauntlet chucked at the feet of all the other would-be legends in town."<ref name="NMEreview"/> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' writer [[Jonathan Gold]] said any person with a "degree can tell you about pop’s [[Postmodernism|post-modern]] condition, the simultaneous existence of all forms of music at once, but you rarely hear it expressed like this on a single record".<ref name="LATreview"/> The staff at ''[[CMJ New Music Report]]'' praised the band for being "more forward-thinking, diverse and downright ''interesting'' [on this album] than most would have imagined from previous dour efforts."<ref name=CMJReportreview>Marks ed. 1990b, p. 2</ref> ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''{{'s}} [[Andrew Harrison (journalist)|Andrew Harrison]] referred to it as "ludicrously, expansively, ''stupidly'' excellent", going on to praise Oakenfold's DJ pedigree,<ref name="Selectreview"/> which the ''CMJ New Music Report'' staff also did.<ref name=CMJReportreview/>
Other reviewers were less receptive to the album. [[Simon Reynolds]], writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', called it a "perplexing mishmash" that can alienate listeners outside of Manchester's rave scene "because it's designed to confuse and repel outsiders."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/02/arts/home-entertainment-recordings-recent-releases.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203050335/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/02/arts/home-entertainment-recordings-recent-releases.html|title=Home Entertainment/Recordings: Recent Releases|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2 December 1990|archivedate=3 February 2014|access-date=5 January 2014|last=Reynolds|first=Simon|author-link=Simon Reynolds}}</ref> In a less enthusiastic review, Bob Mack of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' said that apart from "Step On" and "Donovan", the album shows that the band is less interesting than their Madchester contemporaries and does not warrant comparisons to [[the Rolling Stones]].<ref name="EWreview"/> ''[[Jornal do Brasil]]''{{'s}} Arthur Dapieve called it disappointing, stating that the titles of the songs match the monotony of their sound.<ref>Dapieve 1991, p. 41</ref> In a review for ''[[The Village Voice]]'', critic [[Robert Christgau]] cited "Grandbag's Funeral" and "Kinky Afro" as highlights but stated that "their [[Richard Hell and the Voidoids|Voidoids]] is hotter than their 'dance music{{single double}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv791-91.php|title=Consumer Guide|work=[[The Village Voice]]|date=30 July 1991|access-date=5 January 2014|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|archive-date=25 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325150314/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv791-91.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
Retrospective reviews were highly positive. In a review for [[AllMusic]], [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] called ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' a hedonistic album that was the peak of Happy Mondays' "career (and quite arguably the whole [[baggy]]/Madchester movement)&nbsp;... a celebratory collage of sex, drugs, and dead-end jobs where there's no despair because only a sucker could think that this party would ever come to an end".<ref name="AMreview"/> The staff at ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine called it their "artistic peak" and a "top-hole album",<ref>Anon. 1996, p. 102</ref> while the staff at ''[[PopMatters]]'' saw the album as the band's "masterpiece", dubbing it the "''[[Ulysses (poem)|Ulysses]]'' of modern rock music — the rock album that didn’t just question what rock music is, but ignored what rock music is".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/happymondays-pillsmft-2495937399.html|title=Happy Mondays: Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=25 March 2004|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929175726/https://www.popmatters.com/happymondays-pillsmft-2495937399.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[BBC Music]] reviewer Daryl Easlea wrote that the album "all gets a bit much toward the end, but no matter, what a hoot it is on the way there".<ref name=BBCreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/2863/|title=Review of Happy Mondays - Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches|publisher=[[BBC Music]]|author=Easlea, Daryl|date=2007|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=16 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316143141/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/2863/|url-status=live}}</ref> Edward Sharp-Paul of ''[[Junkee Media|FasterLouder]]'' said the band's tracks "still lived or died depending on whether the tone-deaf waster out front could think of something halfway coherent to mumble about."<ref name="FL">{{cite web|title=The Most Overrated Albums Of All Time|url=http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/the-most-overrated-albums-of-all-time/829875/2|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121004247/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/the-most-overrated-albums-of-all-time/829875/2|work=[[FasterLouder]]|author=Sharp-Paul, Edward|date=24 September 2012|archivedate=21 November 2015|accessdate=26 February 2024}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', Ian Cohen lauded the album as a "masterpiece that reinvented [[post-punk]] for the rave era", which "remains eternally alluring for any musical movement trying to balance drugs, thugs, and hugs, all raving under one roof."<ref name="Pitchforkreview"/>
==Commercial performance==
''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' had 150,000 pre-orders.<ref name=Spence238/> It peaked at number four on the [[UK Albums Chart]], selling 400,000 copies after spending 28 consecutive weeks on the chart.<ref name=Spence239/> It was certified platinum by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI) in March 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/8980-572-2|title=Happy Mondays Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010123023/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/8980-572-2|url-status=live}}</ref> It also charted at number 27 in New Zealand,<ref name=NZchart/> number 30 in Austria,<ref name=Autchart/> number 41 in Sweden,<ref name=Swedenchart/> number 89 in the US,<ref name=Bill200/> and number 98 in Australia.<ref name="ARIA"/> ''[[The Quietus]]'' have referred to it as the band's "[[dance-rock]] breakthrough".<ref name="Quietus">{{cite web|last1=Angus|first1=Batey|title=Three Decades On: One Thousand Years Of Trouble By Age Of Chance|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/22546-age-of-chance-one-thousand-years-of-trouble-review-anniversary|website=The Quietus|accessdate=15 September 2017|date=5 June 2017}}</ref>
"Step On" charted at number five in the UK<ref name=UKartist/> and number 46 in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Happy+Mondays&titel=Step+On&cat=s|title=Happy Mondays - Step On|publisher=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=3 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703124524/https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Happy+Mondays&titel=Step+On&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> In the US, it reached number 57 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/happy-mondays/chart-history/hsi/|title=Happy Mondays Chart History (Hot 100)|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010123024/https://www.billboard.com/music/happy-mondays/chart-history/HSI|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as number nine on [[Alternative Airplay]],<ref name=BillAA>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/happy-mondays/chart-history/mrt/|title=Happy Mondays Chart History (Alternative Airplay)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010123024/https://www.billboard.com/music/happy-mondays/chart-history/MRT|url-status=live}}</ref> number 13 on [[Dance Club Songs]],<ref name=BillDCS>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/happy-mondays/chart-history/dsi/|title=Happy Mondays Chart History (Dance Club Songs)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010123024/https://www.billboard.com/music/happy-mondays/chart-history/DSI|url-status=live}}</ref> number 46 on [[Dance Singles Sales]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/happy-mondays/chart-history/dsa/|title=Happy Mondays Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010123025/https://www.billboard.com/music/happy-mondays/chart-history/DSA|url-status=live}}</ref> It was certified gold by the BPI in May 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/14477-572-1|title=Happy Mondays Step On|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010123026/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/14477-572-1|url-status=live}}</ref> "Kinky Afro" charted at number five in the UK<ref name=UKartist/> and number 34 in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Happy+Mondays&titel=Kinky+Afro&cat=s|title=Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro|publisher=charts.org.nz|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=21 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521180133/http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Happy+Mondays&titel=Kinky+Afro&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> It peaked at number one in the US on Alternative Airplay.<ref name=BillAA/> It was certified silver by the BPI in September 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/18378-572-1|title=Happy Mondays Kinky Afro|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref> "Loose Fit" charted at number 17 in the UK and number 71 in the Netherlands.<ref name=UKartist/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Happy+Mondays&titel=Loose+Fit&cat=s|title=Happy Mondays - Loose Fit|publisher=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910122106/http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Happy+Mondays&titel=Loose+Fit&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> "Bob's Yer Uncle" peaked at number 23 in the US on Alternative Airplay and number 25 on Dance Club Songs.<ref name=BillAA/><ref name=BillDCS/>
==Accolades and legacy==
Oakenfold and Osborne were nominated for, but ultimately lost, the [[Brit Award for British Producer of the Year|British Producer of the Year]] award at the [[Brit Awards 1991|1991 Brits]] for their work on ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches''.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 246</ref> The album was included in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]'' (2006).<ref>Shade 2006, p. 644</ref>
Dave Simpson of ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' said the band's decision to work with Oakenfold and Osborne "inspired everything from [[U2]]'s ''[[Achtung Baby]]'' and [[The Prodigy]]'s '[[Firestarter (The Prodigy song)|Firestarter]]' to [[Blur (band)|Blur]]'s hooking up with [[William Orbit]] and [[Suede (band)|Suede]] aligning themselves" with Osborne.<ref>Luck 2002, pp. 57–58</ref> Ian Cohen suggested in ''Pitchfork'' that ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches'' was "perhaps the first example of a rock band reinventing themselves as a [[sampledelia|sampledelic]] [[hip hop music|hip-hop]] act."<ref name="Pitchforkreview"/> In a retrospective piece for ''[[DJ Mag]]'', journalist Ben Cardew said tracks such as "Kinky Afro", "Loose Fit", and "God's Cop" erased the "genre distinctions between rock, funk, soul, and dance music, making it sound perfectly natural for a band raised in rainy Manchester to create sunshine funk music."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://djmag.com/features/how-happy-mondays-pills-n-thrills-and-bellyaches-became-pinnacle-madchester-sound|title=How Happy Mondays' 'Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches' became the pinnacle of the Madchester sound|work=[[DJ Mag]]|author=Cardew, Ben|date=27 September 2022|access-date=27 September 2022|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927183444/https://djmag.com/features/how-happy-mondays-pills-n-thrills-and-bellyaches-became-pinnacle-madchester-sound|url-status=live}}</ref> Author Richard Luck said in his book ''The Madchester Scene'' (2002) that while the album was "[n]either as coherent nor as polished" as the Stone Roses' [[The Stone Roses (album)|eponymous debut studio album]], it stood as one of the most important albums from the time period "if only because of Ryder's songwriting and the heady mix of high times and low lives that infuses every track".<ref>Luck 2002, p. 60</ref> In 2015, the band performed the album in its entirety on a UK tour to celebrate its 25th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/happy-mondays-7-1216505|title=Happy Mondays announce 'Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches' tour|work=[[NME]]|author=Renshaw, David|date=14 April 2015|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009154845/https://www.nme.com/news/music/happy-mondays-7-1216505|url-status=live}}</ref> They repeated this feat in Australia in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/happy-mondays-to-play-pills-n-thrills-bellyaches-album-in-full-on-2019-aussie-tour/tOaspqmoq6o/23-10-18/|title=Happy Mondays To Play 'Pills 'n' Thrills & Bellyaches' Album In Full On 2019 Aussie Tour|work=[[The Music (magazine)|The Music]]|date=22 October 2018|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930132856/https://themusic.com.au/news/happy-mondays-to-play-pills-n-thrills-bellyaches-album-in-full-on-2019-aussie-tour/tOaspqmoq6o/23-10-18/|url-status=live}}</ref> Dzidziuś I Diabeł covered "Loose Fit" for their album ''Impreza'' (1993), while [[Gavin Hardkiss|Hawke]] included a remix of "Bob's Yer Uncle" on his album ''+++'' (2009).<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Impreza|people=Dzidziuś I Diabeł|year=1993|type=sleeve|publisher=Sonic Records|id=SON 37}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=+++|people=Hawke|year=2009|type=sleeve|publisher=Eighth Dimension Records|id=8TH 026 D}}</ref>
==Track listing==
All lyrics by [[Shaun Ryder]], all music by [[Happy Mondays]], except where noted.<ref name=PNTABbooklet/>
{{Track listing
| title1 = [[Kinky Afro]]
| length1 = 3:59
| title2 = God's Cop
| length2 = 4:58
| title3 = Donovan
| length3 = 4:04
| title4 = Grandbag's Funeral
| length4 = 3:20
| title5 = Loose Fit
| length5 = 5:07
| title6 = Dennis and Lois
| length6 = 4:24
| title7 = Bob's Yer Uncle
| length7 = 5:10
| title8 = [[He's Gonna Step On You Again#Happy Mondays version|Step On]]
| note8 = [[John Kongos]] cover
| writer8 = {{hlist|Kongos|[[Christos Demetriou]]}}
| length8 = 5:17
| title9 = Holiday
| length9 = 3:28
| title10 = Harmony
| length10 = 4:01
| total_length = 43:49
}}
==Personnel==
Personnel per booklet.<ref name=PNTABbooklet>{{cite AV media notes|title=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|people=[[Happy Mondays]]|year=1990|type=booklet|publisher=[[Factory Records]]|id=FACD 320}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Happy Mondays'''
* [[Shaun Ryder]] – vocals
* [[Paul Ryder]] – bass guitar
* Gary Whelan – drums
* Paul Davis – keyboards, programming
*  Mark Day – guitar
* [[Bez (dancer)|Bez]] – dancer
'''Additional musicians'''
* [[Rowetta]] – guest vocals
* Tony Castro – percussion
* Simon Machan – original programming
{{col-2}}
'''Production and design'''
* Ray Blair – recording engineer
* Cameron – studio assistant
* Dave Burnham – assistant mix engineer
* [[Paul Oakenfold]] – producer, arranger, mixing
* [[Steve Osborne]] – producer, arranger, mixing
* [[Central Station Design]] – art
{{col-end}}
==Charts and certifications==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Chart performance for ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches''
! scope="col"| Chart (1990–1991)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts]])<ref name="ARIA">{{cite Ryan|page=124}}</ref>
| 98
|-
{{album chart|Austria|30|artist=Happy Mondays|album=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|accessdate=10 October 2021|rowheader=true|refname=Autchart}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|27|artist=Happy Mondays|album=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|access-date=10 October 2021|rowheader=true|refname=NZchart}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|41|artist=Happy Mondays|album=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 October 2021|refname=Swedenchart}}
|-
{{album chart|UK|4|artist=Happy Mondays|album=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|89|artist=Happy Mondays|accessdate=10 October 2021|rowheader=true|refname=Bill200}}
|}
{{col-2}}
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|artist=Happy Mondays|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=1991|id=8980-572-2}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}
{{col-end}}
==See also==
* ''[[Some Friendly]]'' – the 1990 debut by contemporaries the Charlatans, issued a month before ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches''
==References==
'''Citations'''
{{reflist}}
'''Sources'''
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite magazine|author=Anon.|title=Happy Mondays: Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|location=London|issue=118|date=July 1996|issn=0955-4955}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Dapieve|first1=Arthur|title=The always boring Mondays|journal=[[Jornal do Brasil]]|date=10 April 1991|oclc=1754340|language=Portuguese|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dLMiAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA41|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927125926/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dLMiAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA41&pg=PA41|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|last=Gold|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Gold|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-06-ca-10807-story.html|title=Happy Mondays 'Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches' Elektra|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=6 January 1991|access-date=31 October 2015|at="Calendar" section|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429161653/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-06-ca-10807-story.html|url-status=live}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Harrison|first=Andrew|author-link=Andrew Harrison (journalist)|title=Non-Stop Ecstatic Belly-Dancing|magazine=[[Select (magazine)|Select]]|location=London|issue=6|date=December 1990|issn=0959-8367}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Harrison|first=Andrew|title=Happy Mondays & Donovan: Twin Freaks|magazine=Select|location=London|issue=7|date=January 1991|issn=0959-8367}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Harrison|first=Ian|title=Happy Mondays: Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|location=London|issue=316|date=March 2020|issn=1351-0193}}
* {{cite book|last=Luck|first=Richard|title=The Madchester Scene|date=2002|publisher=[[The Pocket Essentials]]|location=Harpenden, Hertfordshire|isbn=1-903047-80-3}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Mack|first=Bob|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/12/14/pills-n-thrills-and-bellyaches/|title=Pills 'N' Thrills and Bellyaches|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|location=New York|issue=44|date=14 December 1990|access-date=5 January 2014|issn=1049-0434|archive-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926115305/https://ew.com/article/1990/12/14/pills-n-thrills-and-bellyaches/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Maconie|first=Stuart|author-link=Stuart Maconie|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000297reviews.html|title=Aspirin' Pop Stars|magazine=[[NME]]|location=London|date=3 November 1990|access-date=30 October 2015|issn=0028-6362|archive-date=2 March 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000302203142/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000297reviews.html|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite magazine|editor-last=Mann|editor-first=Bill|title=First Reports|magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]|date=16 February 1991|issn=0144-5774|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Sounds/90s/Sounds-1991-02-16-S-OCR.pdf}}
* {{cite journal|editor-last=Marks|editor-first=Craig|title=Upcoming Releases|journal=[[CMJ New Music Report]]|date=9 November 1990|volume=24|issue=211|issn=0890-0795|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1990/CMJ-New-Music-Report-1990-11-09.pdf}}
* {{cite journal|editor-last=Marks|editor-first=Craig|title=On the Cover: Jackpot!|journal=CMJ New Music Report|date=7 December 1990b|volume=24|issue=215|issn=0890-0795|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1990/CMJ-New-Music-Report-1990-12-07.pdf}}
* {{cite book|last=Middles|first=Mick|title=Shaun Ryder: Happy Mondays, Black Grape & Other Traumas|date=1997|publisher=Independent Music Press|location=London|isbn=1-897783-11-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Pearlman|first=Nina|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|chapter=Happy Mondays|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/362|access-date=18 December 2019|chapter-url-access=registration|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|date=2004|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|location=New York|edition=4th|isbn=0-7432-0169-8}}
* {{cite journal|editor-last=Redmond|editor-first=Steve|title=New Release: Singles|journal=Music Week|date=16 February 1991a|issn=0265-1548|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1991/MW-1991-02-16.pdf}}
* {{cite book|last=Robertson|first=Matthew|title=Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album|date=2006|publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-500-28636-4|edition=paperback}}
* {{cite book|last=Ryder|first=Shaun|title=Twisting My Melon: The Autobiography|title-link=Twisting My Melon: The Autobiography|date=2012|publisher=[[Transworld Publishers|Corgi Books]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-552-16547-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Ryder|first=Shaun|title=Wrote for Luck: Selected Lyrics|date=2019|publisher=[[Faber & Faber]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-571-33093-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Shade|first=Chris|editor-last=Dimery|editor-first=Robert|chapter=Happy Mondays: Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die|title-link=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die|date=2006|publisher=[[Universe Publishing]]|location=New York|isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Spence|first=Simon|title=Happy Mondays – Excess All Areas: A Biography|title-link=Happy Mondays – Excess All Areas: A Biography|date=2015|orig-year=2014|publisher=[[The Quarto Group|Aurum Press]]|location=London|isbn=978-1-78131-499-9|edition=paperback}}
* {{cite book|last1=Verrico|first=Lisa|title=High Life 'N' Low Down Dirty: The Thrills and Spills of Shaun Ryder|date=1998|publisher=[[Ebury Publishing|Ebury Press]]|location=London|isbn=0-09-185419-9}}
* {{cite book|last1=Warburton|first1=John|last2=Ryder|first2=Shaun|title=Hallelujah!: The Extraordinary Story of Shaun Ryder and Happy Mondays|date=2011|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-7535-0781-0}}
* {{cite book|last1=Wills|first1=Dominic|last2=Sheehan|first2=Tom|title=The Charlatans: The Authorised History|publisher=Virgin Books|location=London|date=1999|isbn=0-7535-0194-5}}
{{refend}}
==External links==
<!-- These are licensed streams for the album, which are allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1xm0HhIaKcFxrYNLtvcPZKezuUQMRrd0 ''Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches''] (collector's edition) at [[YouTube]] (streamed copy where licensed)
* {{Discogs master|type=album|10610}}
{{Happy Mondays}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches}}
[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:Happy Mondays albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Paul Oakenfold]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Steve Osborne]]
[[Category:Factory Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Capitol Studios]]
[[Category:Dance-rock albums]]
[[Category:Sampledelia albums]]