Stand Upright in a Cool Place is the fifth studio album by the British band Dodgy. Released on 19 February 2012, it also marks the reunion of the band's original line-up following the return of lead singer Nigel Clark who had left during the band's commercial peak in 1998.[2]
Background
Following Nigel Clark's departure in 1998 to work on solo projects,[3] Mathew Priest and Andy Miller continued as Dodgy with new singer Dave Bassey, keyboardist Chris Hallam and bassist Nick Abnett, releasing the fan-funded album Real Estate in 2001 before going inactive.[4] Meanwhile, Clark moved from London to the Midlands; recorded a self-financed solo album, Make Believe Love, which ended up unreleased; moved to Ireland where he worked at factories, then relocated to Worcestershire where he opened a recording studio and worked with troubled children; and finally released his solo debut album 21st Century Man in 2006.[5]
On 25 November 2006, a benefit concert was held for Andy Moore, Dodgy's former lighting technician who had been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor. Clark was one of the performers on the bill,[6] and during his set he was joined by Priest, the first time the two had performed together in almost a decade. This was the catalyst for the original Dodgy line-up of Clark, Priest and Miller to reunite, especially since Moore had always urged them to get back together.[7] Moore ultimately died on the day of the reunited band's first rehearsal.[8] The band's reunion tour was scheduled to kick off in Glasgow on 5 November 2007, but the day before the first show Miller fell out of bed and chipped a bone in his left forearm, forcing the tour to be cancelled.[9] The reunion tour finally commenced in March 2008, with the band dedicating it to the memory of Andy Moore.[10]
Recording
The album was recorded during the summer of 2011 at Clark's studio in Worcestershire, an old farmhouse with a view of the Malvern Hills where the band had been working on new material since 2007.[11] The album was mixed by Matt Pence, who was recommended by Simon Raymonde and had gained Dodgy's appreciation for his most recent work with John Grant and Midlake.[8]
