"Housewife" arrived in August 2010 as a one-off release, and their fourth single overall, by the four-piece incarnation of British indie rock band The Cribs. On 9 August 2010, BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe announced during his show that he would play a brand new song that night, something previously hinted at on the official band website several days previously. The release took fans and critics by surprise due to the secretive nature of the release.[1]

"Housewife"
Single by The Cribs
B-side"Etching"
Released10 August 2010
RecordedWest Heath Studios, London in 2010
GenreIndie rock, alternative rock
Length4:07
LabelUnited KingdomRepublic of Ireland Wichita Recordings

United StatesCanada Warner Bros. Records
AustraliaNew Zealand Shock
Europe Cooperative Music

Japan Hostess
Songwriter(s)Jarman, Jarman, Jarman and Marr
Producer(s)Ryan Jarman, Edwyn Collins
The Cribs singles chronology
"So Hot Now / Separate"
(2010)
"Housewife"
(2010)
"Chi-Town"
(2012)

Physical release

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Recorded at West Heath Studios, London by Ryan with assistance from frequent collaborator Edwyn Collins, John O'Mahony mixed the song at Sunset Sound Factory, Hollywood, California. The vinyl received the catalogue number 'WEBB271S'. A traditional set-up for the band, except with Ryan providing work on organ.[2]

Etching and poem

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Unlike the majority of Cribs releases, the 7" vinyl featured no b-side. Instead, an etching appeared with the words 'SCAM', in addition to a message on the run-out groove stating 'insert me into your computer for additional content'. A poem, containing allusions to the song, appears on the back cover. The cover art featured Ryan and Gary dressed as the title of the single suggests, shot by Pat Graham, with the sleeve designed by Nick Scott, receiving assistance by Owen Richards, Corrado and Nell Frizzell.[3]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Gary Jarman, Ross Jarman, Ryan Jarman and Johnny Marr

No.TitleLength
1."Housewife"4:07

References

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  1. ^ "'Housewife' Release". Archived from the original on 2013-03-25. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  2. ^ Liner notes from "Housewife" 7" vinyl (London: Wichita Recordings, 2010)
  3. ^ "'A Tale of Two Housewives'". Retrieved 2012-08-16.
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