The Sisters EP
Click here to see more of the artwork
Details
- Release date: 23 May 1994
- Label: Island
- Formats: CD, 7", 12", cassette
- Recorded: October 1993 - February 1994 (Britania Row Studios, London), except Babies, July 1992 (Britannia Row Studios, London)
- Chart position: 19 (UK)
Info
The Sisters EP was released by Pulp in 1994 and was their third single released after the band signed to Island and reached number 19 in the UK charts, their highest chart position at the time.
Babies was originally released as a single on the Gift record label in 1992, then remixed for the 1994 His 'n' Hers album - the version on this EP is an edited version of the original 1992 mix. The other three tracks were recorded during the His 'n' Hers album sessions, but were not included on that album. All the B-sides were re-released on the 2006 His 'n' Hers (deluxe edition) reissue.
The vinyl editions of the EP positioned Your Sister's Clothes at the end of Side A, where the droning noise at the end was faded out to silence. On the CD and cassette editions the droning sound segued directly into the next track, Seconds.
Credits
- Sleeve design: The Designers Republic
- Sleeve image: Philip Castle
Tracklisting
- Babies (3:59)
- Your Sister's Clothes (4:37)
- Seconds (4:18)
- His 'n' Hers (6:19)
Releases
|
Date |
Formats and catalogue numbers |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
23 May 1994 |
CD - CID595 7" black vinyl - IS595 12" vinyl - 12IS595 Cassette - CIS595 |
Original UK release. The 12" included a print of the His 'n' Hers album sleeve artwork. |
|
23 August 1996 |
CD - CID595 |
UK reissue. |
|
20 November 1996 |
7" red vinyl - IS595 |
UK vinyl reissue. |
|
16 June 2023 |
Streaming and digital download |
Newly uploaded to streaming services with a scan of the artwork; the third of a series of Island Records-era EPs to be reissued to coincide with the 2023 tour. |
Notes
The first upload of the 2023 digital EP copied Babies from His 'n' Hers (though it was erroneously labelled "Single Mix") and Your Sister's Clothes faded out, matching the vinyl single and the His 'n' Hers Deluxe Edition. All four tracks were replaced sometime before 18th August, with Babies labelled "Sisters EP Version" and Your Sister's Clothes continuing directly into Seconds, as per the CD single.
Sleeve notes
"Your Sister's Clothes" features the sisters from "Babies" four years on. Now the younger sibling finally gets her revenge for earlier years.
"Seconds" explores the idea that perfect people are... well, perfectly boring to be honest.
Whilst "His 'n' Hers" is one man's fear of domestic interiors set to music.What are you frightened of ?
(And remember - shove it in sideways)
Commentary
The release of the digital EP in 2023 was heralded by the following commentary from Pulp's social media accounts, believed to have been written by Mark Webber:
The lead track on “The Sisters E.P.” was a remixed version of “Babies”, a song that was originally released as a single on the Gift Records label in October 1992. Following the success of the “His ’n’ Hers” LP and associated singles, we imagined that “Babies” might now be appreciated by a larger audience. To give added value to those feeling compelled to buy it a second time, three unused tracks from the “His ’n’ Hers” sessions were added to make up a four-track E.P. (Why were they outtakes - these are all great songs ?!?)
This release was Pulp’s first Top 20 hit and led to our first, long-awaited appearance on “Top of the Pops”. Towards the end of the performance, Jarvis opened his jacket to reveal the message “I Hate Wet Wet Wet” in protest against the record that had occupied the No. 1 spot for far too long. (No hard feelings, guys.)
Promotional video
Charts and sales
UK Singles Chart
|
Week |
Date |
Position |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
4 June '94 |
19 |
|
2 |
11 June '94 |
27 |
|
3 |
18 June '94 |
43 |
|
4 |
25 June '94 |
68 |
Reviews
Single of the week 1
It's their time, isn't it? Pulp could never lapse into self-parody. Dive headlong, maybe, but they did that for a kick-off. This is the infamous "Babies" plus three all-new graphic tales of sham-glam dirty realism. "Your Sister's Clothes" takes the characters from "Babies" four years on to a cold revenge and the line: "Try it, you might like if, but you might smudge your lipstick". Only somebody very talented could be from Sheffield AND plump for "smudge" as opposed to "smear", and not irritate me. It's full of those Pulp "crescendos" that are all the more poignant for failing to actually, um, CRESCEND...
In "Seconds" SHE HATES HIS HAIR. The other moment of godlike wisdom comes with a declaration that "sometimes second best is the best that you can get". Very grown-up, that. And "His 'N' Hers" admits to a chronic fear of James Dean posters while suggesting the most effective means of murdering someone with soap-on-a-rope. This would all be very zany and silly if it wasn't so bitter and twisted. Jarvis has his hand so far down his own trousers he's patting himself on the back. Respect is due. This is Soft Cell and hard battles. It's the fears of a clown and it huffs and it puffs and it blows the house down.
[...] By the same token, too much of PULP's 'Babies' (Island) could result in obsessions with bri-nylon and your sister's sexual habits. It's the customary genial glitz-pop from Sheffield's finest about hiding in the cupboard to spy on your sister shagging her boyfriend. Jarvis Cocker writes like JG Ballard scripting Robin's Nest, and his band - national treasures that they are - would be number one every week in an ideal universe. 'Babies' would have made it to the box marked Single Of The Month, but it was disqualified on the grounds of being a re-issue.
