The Supernaturals
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Derek McManus, James McColl, Gavin Crawford, Mark Guthrie |
| Headquarters | Glasgow , Scotland |
Key people | James McColl (vocalist, songwriter), Mark Guthrie, Derek McManus, Gavin Crawford, Ken McAlpine |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
The Supernaturals are an indie rock group centered around guitar, originating from Glasgow, Scotland.[1][2] Led by vocalist and songwriter James McColl, the band secured a deal with Parlophone in 1996, subsequently releasing singles drawn from three studio albums and four EPs. The lineup also featured Mark Guthrie, Derek McManus, Gavin Crawford, and Ken McAlpine.[3] Their most recognizable tracks, "Smile" and "I Wasn't Built To Get Up," gained exposure through multiple television commercials. They achieved five entries within the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.[4][3] After disbanding in 2002, the band reunited in 2012 and continue to produce music and perform live.[1]
Career
Established in 1991 by Derek McManus (guitar), James McColl (guitar/vocals), Gavin Crawford (drums), and Mark Guthrie (bass), The Supernaturals debuted with their cassette "Big 7" in 1992, followed by "Dark Star" in 1993, cultivating a following through numerous tours across Scotland.[3] Keyboardist Ken McAlpine became part of the group in 1994. Initial releases comprised the CD album Sitting in the Sun (1994) and the single "Let it Bleat" (1995). Drummer Gavin Crawford departed in 1995 and was succeeded by Alan Tilston. Prior to signing with Food/EMI in November 1995, the band appeared at key UK festivals such as Phoenix Festival and T in the Park.[3]
In early 1996, their debut album was recorded under producer Pete Smith’s guidance. They supported artists including Dodgy, Tina Turner, and Sleeper. The single "Lazy Lover" was promoted alongside UK tours with Silver Sun and Grassshow. Following releases included "Day Before Yesterday's Man" (January 1997) and a reissued "Smile," leading up to their first album It Doesn't Matter Anymore released in May 1997. This album remained on Japanese charts for twelve weeks. Later that year, they toured across Europe and the UK alongside Robbie Williams.
Their sophomore effort, A Tune a Day (August 1998), generated three singles: "I Wasn't Built to Get Up," "Sheffield Song," and "Everest." Supported by festival performances and headline tours, they joined Robbie Williams and the Divine Comedy for a 30-date arena tour throughout the UK and Europe in early 1999.
After parting ways with Food/EMI at the end of 1999, The Supernaturals recorded their third album What We Did Last Summer in Glasgow, which was released via Koch/Universal in May 2002. During this phase, Mark Guthrie and Ken McAlpine exited the band; David Mitchell took over keyboards while Paul Malcolm joined on guitar, with James McColl switching to bass duties. They toured extensively across the UK and supported The Proclaimers toward the end of 2001. The lead single "Finishing Credits" faced a BBC ban following the events of September 11 due to its lyrical content.
In 1998, they received an Ivor Novello Award nomination for best contemporary song with "Smile," competing alongside The Verve's "The Drugs Don't Work" and Radiohead's "No Surprises." Additionally, they secured a Tartan Clef award as Scotland’s best new band in 1997.
Their albums frequently display thematic links connecting individual tracks. Both It Doesn't Matter Anymore and A Tune a Day garnered favorable critiques from publications such as NME and Q magazines.
Having composed approximately one hundred songs over five years, The Supernaturals performed at major UK festivals including Glastonbury and T in the Park (from 1995 to 1998), as well as various European events.[5] Their contributions appeared on compilations like Shine, complemented by radio sessions for BBC Radio 1 & 2, Virgin Radio, among others. Television appearances encompassed shows like Top of the Pops, TFI Friday, The Jack Docherty Show, Fully Booked, and The Big Breakfast. Keyboard player Ken McAlpine also made a guest appearance on Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
The track "The Day Before Yesterday's Man" was featured in TV series such as Teachers, Hollyoaks, and the movie Shooting Fish.
"Smile" achieved commercial success as theme music for bank Smile.co.uk, Arnold Clark Automobiles, Sky Movies UK, Pearl Drops, as well as advertisements for Japanese mayonnaise; it was additionally used by Australia's Nine Network for idents in 2008. This song appeared on programs including As If, Holiday Showdown, Wife Swap, That'll Teach 'Em, Grumpy Old Men, X Factor, and was recognized among VH2's top indie tracks ever. It also served as theme music for the TV review series Manic Episodes.
"I Wasn't Built to Get Up" featured prominently in a UK Direct Debit advertising campaign during 1999. Meanwhile, "Monday Mornings" was included in the soundtrack of the film Fast Food (1998), whereas "Life is a Motorway" appeared on BBC's Homes Under the Hammer.
Significantly, Rod Stewart recorded their composition "Dylan's Day Off" for his compilation album titled The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971–1998.
Post break-up: 2005–present
Following the release of their third album in 2002, The Supernaturals entered a period of inactivity despite maintaining a dedicated audience. McColl, the band's songwriter, became involved with The Hussys and contributed to their 2007 album We Expected, which was issued by Japan's Quince Records. Their 2008 release, Super Pro, recorded at Beauly's Byre Studio, was later enhanced and reissued as Super Pro + in Japan in 2009. The UK saw the 2009 album Japanese Graffiti, characterized by an ’80s influence, succeeded by Tokyo Elephant Brothers (2010), which was uniquely recorded inside a camper van, and then Please Secure Your Valuables (2011). During this time, the band made appearances on Rapal, Channel M, and Janice Long's radio program.
Several of their songs—such as "Rock Concert," "Napoleon," "Friends Reunited," "Warm and Fuzzy," and "We Expected"—were featured on MTV series including Jersey Shore and Made. Additionally, "Rock Concert" was used in a national advertisement campaign for Payless Shoes in the United States. DJ Rodney Bingenheimer showcased tracks like "Aftershave" and "Roller Disco," which along with "Greatest Living Actress," secured top 10 radio play in Peru and throughout South America in 2009. The song "Tiger" was included in the Russian motion picture "20 Cigarettes," while "Just Think of My Heart as a Campervan" was broadcast on BBC1’s The Legalizer.
Keyboardist McAlpine shifted his career focus to camera operation, contributing to shows such as Eòrpa, Dragons Den, and directing music videos for Justin Currie. Drummer Tilston collaborated with William Orbit on the 2009 album My Oracle Lives Uptown and worked with Madonna on her 2012 release MDNA.
In February 2012, all four original members reunited to compose and record their fourth studio album, 360, which was officially released on 6 April 2015. Their fifth album, titled Bird of Luck, followed on 1 August 2019.
Archival footage from their performance on Channel 4’s TFI Friday is featured in the 2016 documentary 'The Closer We Get', directed by Karen Guthrie, who is the sister of bassist Mark Guthrie.
Since resuming live shows in 2015, The Supernaturals have supported acts like Sleeper and Embrace while performing at festivals including Loopallu, Belladrum, Mugstock, and the Star Shaped Festival at venues such as Brixton Academy.
Guitarist Derek McManus passed away on 27 June 2022 at the age of 55.
Albums
- It Doesn't Matter Anymore, May 1997 – Reached number 9 on the UK Albums Chart
- A Tune a Day, August 1998 – Peaked at number 21 UK
- What We Did Last Summer, June 2002
- 360, April 2015
- Bird of Luck, August 2019
- It Only Gets Worse, July 2023
- Show Tunes, May 2025
Cassette mini albums on Tourette Sounds
- Big Seven (1993) – seven tracks
- Dark Star (1993) – eight tracks
CD EPs on Tourette Sounds
- Sitting in the Sun (1994) – seven tracks
- Let it Bleat (1995) – five tracks
Singles
| Year | Single | UK Singles Chart peak | Scottish Singles Chart peak | Album | Video director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Smile" | 98 | 48 | It Doesn't Matter Anymore | n/a |
| "Lazy Lover" | 34 | 13 | |||
| 1997 | "The Day Before Yesterday's Man" | 25 | 10 | Hammer & Tongs | |
| "Smile" | 23 | 12 | |||
| "Love Has Passed Away" | 38 | 23 | Barry Maguire | ||
| "Prepare to Land" | 48 | 32 | |||
| 1998 | "I Wasn't Built to Get Up" | 25 | 8 | A Tune a Day | Rupert Jones |
| "Sheffield Song" | 45 | 17 | Dave Osborne | ||
| 1999 | "Everest" | 52 | 21 | Barnaby & Scott | |
| 2001 | "Finishing Credits" | 117 | 90 | What We Did Last Summer | n/a |
| 2002 | "What We Did Last Summer" | 116 | 92 | Craig Martin | |
| "Life Is a Motorway" | – | – | |||
| 2020 | "You're My Best Friend" | Warner Archives | n/a | ||
| 2022 | "I Want You Back For Xmas" | Non-album single | |||
| 2023 | "Roy Wouldn't" | Show Tunes | |||
| "Burn The Witch" | |||||
| 2025 | "Don't Let The Past Catch Up With You" |
Television appearances
| Date | Show |
|---|---|
| 14 October 1996 | The Big Breakfast |
| 16 October 1996 | Fresh Pop |
| 29 January 1997 | The Big Breakfast |
| 31 January 1997 | TFI Friday |
| 8 February 1997 | Top of the Pops |
| 4 July 1997 | The Big Breakfast |
| 2 July 1997 | Top of the Pops |
| 31 October 1997 | TFI Friday |
| 19 July 1998 | Fully Booked |
| 9 October 1998 | TFI Friday |
| 15 October 1998 | STV Box Set |
| 12 November 1998 | The Jack Docherty Show |
| 5 March 1999 | Ozone |
Timeline
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References
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