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Arctic Monkeys Debut: Producer's Pride After 20 Years
23 Jan
Summary
- Debut album became fastest selling by a British band ever.
- Arctic Monkeys' debut sold 360,000 copies in its first week.
- Producer recalls band members being 17 during recording.
Twenty years ago, on January 23, 2006, Arctic Monkeys released their debut album, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not." The album shattered records, becoming the fastest-selling debut by a British band in chart history. It sold an astonishing 360,000 copies in its inaugural week alone, eventually reaching 2.5 million worldwide sales.
Alan Smythe, one of the album's producers, expressed immense pride in the work, particularly commending the "astounding" lyrics penned by the then 17-year-old band members. He recalled their exciting, witty, and charming personalities. Smythe had previously produced 18 of their early demo tracks, which formed the "Beneath the Boardwalk" collection, a testament to their prolific early output.
Smythe remembered Arctic Monkeys' raw talent from early gigs, noting the immediate impact of their original songs. He recounted how lead singer Alex Turner approached him about working together after meeting at his 2Fly studio in Sheffield. The recording sessions were rapid, with the band creating four songs every two days due to financial constraints.
