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You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone
You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone
Compilation album by Saint Etienne
Released	6 December 1993
Recorded	1990–1993
Length	49:02
Label	Heavenly
Producer	Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
NME	6/10^[2]

You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone is the first compilation album by English band Saint Etienne, released on 6 December 1993 by Heavenly Recordings.^[3] It compiles singles and B-sides released by the group during the period between 1990 and 1993, most notably the non-album singles "Kiss and Make Up" (1990), "Speedwell" (1991), "Join Our Club/People Get Real" (1992) and "Who Do You Think You Are" (1993). The compilation's title is derived from the song of the same name by the Beach Boys.

Receiving good reviews, the compilation was released on CD, cassette and LP formats. Artwork was designed by Anthony Sweeney with photography by Aude Prieur and James Fry. Before its release as a standalone compilation album, the disc was originally packaged in a 2CD limited edition reissue of So Tough.

All tracks have since been released on other compilations and deluxe editions of the group's studio albums rendering the compilation technically obsolete.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, except where noted

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Who Do You Think You Are"	Des Dyer, Clive Scott	3:55
2.	"Archway People"		3:21
3.	"California Snow Story"		4:20
4.	"Kiss and Make Up" (extended version) (featuring Donna Savage)	Robert Wratten, Michael Hiscock	6:19
5.	"Duke Duvet"		3:12
6.	"Filthy" (featuring Q-Tee)	Stanley, Wiggs, Tatiana Mais	5:31
7.	"Join Our Club"		3:17
8.	"Paper"	Sarah Cracknell, Maurice Deebank	4:09
9.	"People Get Real"		4:45
10.	"Some Place Else"		3:42
11.	"Speedwell"		6:31

Tracks 2, 3 and 5 are B-sides to "You're In A Bad Way"
Tracks 8 and 10 are B-sides to "Avenue"
Track 6 is the B-side to "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Track 11 is the B-side to "Nothing Can Stop Us"

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone.

Debsey – additional vocal ("Who Do You Think You Are")
Donna Savage – vocal ("Kiss and Make Up")
Q-Tee – vocal ("Filthy")
Aude Prieur – booklet photography
James Fry – Saint Etienne picture
Anthony Sweeney – design
Author Unknown – liner notes (extract from Brian Clough, Folk Hero)

Charts

Chart performance for *You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone*
Chart (1993)	Peak position
UK Independent Albums (OCC)^[4]	2

References

^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r478568
^ Harris, John (11 December 1993). "Long Play". NME. p. 31. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
^ "Album Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 4 December 1993. p. 20. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
^ "Independent Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 11 December 1993. p. 16. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.