Initially called Arabacus Pulp, Pulp is a British indie-pop group that, following the insecure beginning and frequent member departures, managed to become one of the most successful and the most respected British band of the 90s, alongside Oasis, Blur and Suede. Formed in Sheffield in 1978, Pulp were lead by the main composer, lyricist and singer, a charismatic Jarvis Cooker. During their existence, they were also known for their innovative, highly-stylized film-like videos. They have released seven studio albums and few compilations, with their fifth record Different Class from 1995 reaching the status of a classic. As I usually do, I am going to cover the first, troubling era of their career, and the rest is on you to discover. I suggest you take their bumpy beginnings as motivational speech.
Pulp had their first professional live performance in Rotherham's Arts Centre which brought them opportunity to perform on Bouquet Of Steel Festival in Sheffield's club Leadmill. Sonically compatible with The Human League, The Comsat Angels and other similar acts of local Sheffield scene, Pulp recorded their first demo tape in 1981 and sent it to legendary British DJ John Peel. After the demo didn't experience its presentation on The John Peel Sessions, the band concluded that they have started their career in the wrong manner and decided to split. Pinchbeck and Dalton went to college, and Jarvis Cooker forms a new band comprised of Simon and David Hinkler, Peter Boam, Gary Wilson and Saskia Cooker. In 1983, they signed to independent label Red Rhino Records and replaced their post-punk new wave sound with mirthful romantic pop-folk tunes. When their debut It came out, Jarvis Cooker was dissatisfied with the lack of success and change in the direction of the sound, so he dismantles the band again and goes to the University. Third incarnation of Pulp came with the single Everybody's Problem which represented a creative twist in the sound and resembled the style of Wham. Unfortunately, the success was absent again.
Pulp's next single Little Girl (With Blue Eyes) delivered darker sound that was an initial hint of their future expression, but their progress was hindered when Jarvis Cooker injured himself when he jumped out of the window to impress his girlfriend and ended up in wheelchair for a year. As their 1987 sophomore Freaks was also a flop, Jarvis Cooker undergoes another nervous breakdown and decides to go to London to pursue degree in cinema art. There he meets Pulp's second bassist, Steve Mackeya. When My Legendary Girlfriend, the first single from their third album, was out, NME proclaimed it the single of the week, which gave them hope that the long awaited success is finally arriving. Observing that Fire Records will not release their third album soon due to arguments with Jarvis Cooker, Pulp decided to sign to Gift Records and drop the new single O.U. (Gone, Gone). After a two year delay, album Separations finally came out in 1992, filled with Leonard Cohen-like ballads on one side and disco-acid-house sound on the other. Single Razzmatazz debuted at #80 on UK Charts. In 1993, they sign a new contract with Island Records.
His 'N' Hers, Pulp's fourth studio album, peaked in top 10 on UK Album Charts and was also selected for Mercury Music Prize. In 1995, promotional single for their upcoming fifth full-length album reaches second spot on the charts, falling right behind Unchained Melody/The White Cliffs of Dover by Robson Green and Jerome Flynn. The single was Common People and it went one to become the biggest hit of their career.
If nothing, you can use this week's Sunday Spotlight as an evidence that persistence always pays off. Never give up. And don't give up on giving the rest of Pulp's discography a chance.
