Pelican West is the debut studio album by the British new wave band Haircut One Hundred, released on 26 February 1982 by Arista Records. It peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 31 on the Billboard 200, and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The album featured three hit singles: "Love Plus One", "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" and "Fantastic Day". It was reissued on CD in 1992, retitled as Pelican West Plus and including five bonus tracks. Pelican West was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2006). Frontman Nick Heyward later said, "It was a team effort, and everyone had their roles. My job was like the Paul McCartney one in the Beatles' Get Back film. The rest of the guys looked to me for direction, and I had to push them to turn these glorified jam sessions into three-minute pop songs."

Critical reception

The album was well received by contemporary critics. Record Mirror gave it a full five star rating. Smash Hits' Dave Hepworth was impressed by "the winning vocals, the sturdy, flexible rhythm section, creamy saxophone, the poignant, exhilirating and thoroughly British songs. Haircuts know just how far they can spin out their compositions and never resort to empty mannerisms." Retrospectively, Record Collector dubbed it "a true 1980s classic".

Track listing

Original album

Pelican West Plus (1992)

Double CD reissue (1998, 2016)

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. Haircut One Hundred Additional musicians Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles

Certifications

Cultural references

In the 1983 Central TV science fiction series Luna - first series episode two "The Clunkman Cometh" - the villainous Clunkman accepts a copy of the album as payment for alien pet Jazzmine - he reckons the album will be valuable although he himself dislikes "classical music".