In 1992, The Wedding Present decided to release a limited edition single every month, each featuring an original track on the A side and a cover on the B side. The tracks were compiled as two LPs called Hit Parade 1 and Hit Parade 2 and re-released as a double CD in 2003 called The Hit Parade.
The plan to release 12 singles in a year was an attempt to match Elvis Presley's record of 12 top 40 singles in a year[1] which he had achieved in 1957.[2] The singles, each in an edition of 10,000, were deleted soon after release.[3] They were critically acclaimed and each charted in the top 40.[2]
Revisiting the album in 2013, the band played all the songs on their UK and European tour.[4]