Brothers & Sisters (song)

"Brothers & Sisters" is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It was released as their debut single by Fierce Panda Records in 26 April 1999, following the extended play Safety (1998). The single peaked at number 92 on the UK Singles Chart and 1,500 copies of its vinyl edition were issued in a special wrap-around picture sleeve. It was re-released as an extended play by Brash Records in 2002.

"Brothers & Sisters"
Single by Coldplay
B-side
  • "Easy to Please"
  • "Only Superstition"
Released26 April 1999 (1999-04-26)
RecordedFebruary 1999
StudioStation Studios
GenreAlternative rock
Length4:05
LabelFierce Panda
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Crash
  • Coldplay
Coldplay singles chronology
"Brothers & Sisters"
(1999)
"Shiver"
(2000)
Official audio
"Brothers & Sisters" on YouTube

Background

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Following the band's performance at the Camden Falcon in December 1998,[1] Fierce Panda Records founder Simon Williams was the first journalist to write about Coldplay and offered the band to release their debut single in his label through a short record deal.[2]

Recording and versions

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According to the single's liner notes, recording was completed in only four days and cost the band £400.[1] The atmospheric sounds on the B-side track "Easy to Please" were created by setting up microphones on a wet road outside the studio.[3] There are three versions of "Brothers & Sisters": the first and original one can be found on the "Ode to Deodorant" promo cassette, from 1998. The second is this release from 1999. The third and final version appeared as a B-side of the single "Trouble", from the band's debut album Parachutes.

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Brothers & Sisters"4:05
2."Easy to Please"3:01
3."Only Superstition"3:48

Personnel

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Coldplay
Additional personnel
  • Crash – producer
  • Mike Beever – engineer, mixer
  • John Hilton – photographer, artwork

Charts

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Chart (1999) Peak
position
UK Indie (OCC)[4] 20
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 92

References

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  1. ^ a b 'Brothers and Sisters' Liner Notes
  2. ^ Coldplay [@coldplay] (15 July 2022). "Coldplay wouldn't exist without Simon Williams. He was the first journalist to write about our band + released our first single on his legendary label, Fierce Panda. His memoir is hilarious, heart-wrenching and packed with British music history PH" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Brothers & Sisters – Part 2". Coldplay. 2000. Archived from the original on 27 October 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
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