Fishing for Luckies is an album by The Wildhearts that originated as a fan club-only release of newly recorded material, but has since been expanded and re-released with extra tracks.

Original release

The Wildhearts released the original Fishing for Luckies in December 1994 as a limited edition CD mini-album, available only via their fan club. The songs were newly recorded and featured the line-up of Ginger on vocals and guitar, C.J. on guitar and vocals, Danny McCormack on bass, and Ritch Battersby on drums. Gordon Mabbett contributed accordion on "Geordie in Wonderland" and Marc Fox played additional percussion on "Do the Channel Bop".

Track listing

All songs written by Ginger.

Fishing for More Luckies

After the top 10 success in the UK of the album P.H.U.Q. in 1995, East West Records planned to release an official version of the album, to be titled Fishing for More Luckies, with three extra demo tracks. This release was completely unsanctioned by the band and was canceled. However, cut-outs of the release were available freely in 1995. The only change to the tracks from the original fan club release was a count-in to introduce "Do The Channel Bop". Of the added tracks, a completed version of "Underkill" was later included on the "Sick of Drugs" single. A string quartet made up of Charles Mutter (violin), Thomas Norris (violin), Bruce White (viola), and Phillip Sheppard (cello) appeared on "Saddened".

Track listing

1996 version

On 20 May 1996, the band issued their "authorized" expanded version of the album. Here, the tracks "If Life Is Like A Lovebank I Want An Overdraft" and "Geordie In Wonderland" were removed, as they had been featured in a double A-side single, and newly recorded material was added. "Schizophonic" was shortened and segue instrumentals added between some songs. The new material featured a new lineup in which C.J. was replaced by new guitarist/singer Jef Streatfield. Three versions of the album were released:

European CD and cassette version track listing

UK vinyl version track listing

Side 1. Side 2. Side 3. Side 4. Both UK versions ended with a loop of the band laughing. While the loop on the CD version ran to some 20 minutes, the vinyl version was recorded on the run-off in the center of the record so it would loop forever.

Japanese CD version track listing

A further release of the album was made in 2010 on Lemon Recordings. This double CD compiled tracks from the previous versions along with the relevant B-sides.

2010 double CD version track listing

Disc 1 Disc 2