Swings and Roundabouts

Swings and Roundabouts is the only album by the British dance music duo Shanks & Bigfoot, released on 31 July 2000.^[3] The album contains the 1999 hit single "Sweet Like Chocolate", which reached No. 1 in the UK as well as being a top 10 hit in Australia and New Zealand.^[4] Despite the success of its two singles, the album failed to break the top 75 of the UK Albums Chart.

Released a year after the runaway success of "Sweet Like Chocolate", the follow-up single "Sing-A-Long" failed to meet popular expectation, reaching No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart. The majority of the female vocals for the album were provided by Terri Walker.^[5]

Critical reception

The Guardian called the album "surprisingly palatable", writing that the duo "offer amiable kid's-party fare, now and then sneaking out a great pop song such as 'Like You'."^[6] The Scotsman wrote that "Walker's vocals are clear, vivid pop treats, but the album as a whole is so obviously directed at the commercial rewards of a string of top-ten hits that it loses all credibility."^[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Steven Meade and Danny Langsman.

1. "Sing-A-Long" – 3:31
2. "Spinning Wheel" – 3:24
3. "Five Miles Wide" – 3:22
4. "Sweet Like Chocolate" – 3:37
5. "King of Winter" – 3:32
6. "Like You" – 4:02
7. "Flower Without You" – 3:23
8. "Our Way" – 3:43
9. "Step to My Beat" – 4:56
10. "Trust in Me" – 4:04

Bonus tracks

11. "Sing-A-Long" (Wideboys vocal remix) – 4:45
12. "Sweet Like Chocolate" (Metro 7" mix) – 3:14

References

1. ^ Dibdin, Thom (21 July 2000). "Shanks & Bigfoot Swings & Roundabouts". The Scotsman. p. 14.
2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 378.
3. ^ "Shanks & Bigfoot | Biography & History". AllMusic.
4. ^ "Sweet Like Chocolate". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
5. ^ Perry, Tim (29 July 2000). "Album Reviews". The Independent. p. 37.
6. ^ Kabuubi, Maxine. "Music: Pop CD releases: Shanks & Bigfoot Swings & Roundabouts". The Guardian. p. 18.