The Verve

This week’s Soundwaves Vinyl of the Week is Urban Hymns by The Verve. 

 

When it comes to essential albums by The Verve, this is the one that took their career over the top. The third studio album by the English band was released in 1997 and hit with tracks including “Lucky Man” and their number one smash “Bittersweet Symphony”. This album received serious airplay on every alt rock station around the world and it’s been noted that Urban Hymns was Britpop’s swan song—often seen as the final great album of that era.

 

Even with all of the positive press, a little drama always follows. There was a legal dispute centered around the track “Bitter Sweet Symphony”. The song used a 5-second sample from “The Last Time” by The Rolling Stones and led to them claiming 100% of the royalties. Songwriting credit was initially given to Jagger/Richards, however, in 2019, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards returned the publishing rights to Richard Ashcroft.

 

Although The Verve called it quits as a band in 2009, Richard Ashcroft’s voice is still relevant today as he’s fresh off a solo headlining spot on the Oasis 2025 reunion tour. 

 

Selling over 10 million copies worldwide, Urban Hymns remains one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history.