This Nation's Saving Grace is a 1985 LP by The Fall. It reached number 54 in the UK charts and is frequently cited, along with Hex Enduction Hour as one of the group's strongest and most consistent. Paul Hanley left The Fall in November 1984, leaving Karl Burns as the group's sole drummer. Bassist Steve Hanley took four months' paternity leave in the early part of 1985 so consequently he took very little part in the writing of the album, ('Bombast' being his sole writing credit). After tours of the North of England and the U.S, the group recorded the double a-sided single "Couldn't Get Ahead / Rollin' Dany" and subsequent single "Cruiser's Creek" with Simon Rogers standing in on bass. The group had met Rogers through ballet dancer Michael Clark and he had already co-produced the early recordings of Brix Smith's side project The Adult Net. When Hanley returned, Rogers remained with the group, switching to guitar and keyboards - Hanley's return was marked with the inscription "S Hanley! He's Back" on the run-out groove of side one of the album.
On 24 January 2011 Beggars Banquet reissued This Nation's Saving Grace in a 3CD "Omnibus Edition" box set featuring rough mixes and outtakes, Peel session recordings, all contemporary single tracks and a 48 page book.
Pitchfork Media listed This Nation's Saving Grace as 13th best album of the 1980s. It ranked at 46 in Spin's "100 Greatest Albums 1985-2005". Slant Magazine listed the album at #93 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s."
Read more about This Nation's Saving Grace: Personnel, Influences
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