Local Boy in the Photograph

"Local Boy in the Photograph"
Single by Stereophonics
from the album Word Gets Around
B-side
Released17 March 1997 (1997-03-17)[1]
Genre
Length3:22
LabelV2
Songwriter(s)
Stereophonics singles chronology
"Local Boy in the Photograph"
(1997) 		"More Life in a Tramps Vest"
(1997)
"Traffic"
(1997)
"Local Boy in the Photograph"
(1998)
"The Bartender and the Thief"
(1998)

"Local Boy in the Photograph" is the first single by rock band Stereophonics. The song is taken from their debut album, Word Gets Around and was released on 17 March 1997. The song reached number 51 in the UK Singles Chart. On 9 February 1998,[2] the song was re-released and reached number 14 on the same chart.

Title and lyrics

During an interview with Sky Arts HD after his performance at the Hay Festival in June 2010, Kelly Jones explained the meaning of a few of his songs and said that "Local Boy in the Photograph" was based on the true story of local boy Paul David Boggis, who was killed by a train travelling between Cwmbach and Aberdare. All the songs on the album are about people and events in the Aberdare area.[3]

Stuart Cable

Following the death of former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable, a campaign was launched on Facebook to get the song to number one in the UK charts. On 13 June 2010 it re-entered the UK charts at number 60.[4]

Track listings

All music written by Kelly Jones, Richard Jones and Stuart Cable. All lyrics composed by Kelly Jones; Except where indicated.

Initial release (1997)

CD[5]
No.TitleLength
1."Local Boy in the Photograph"3:24
2."Looks Like Chaplin" (Not included on UK editions)2:33
3."Too Many Sandwiches"4:30
4."Buy Myself a Small Plane"3:15
7-inch vinyl
No.TitleLength
1."Local Boy in the Photograph"3:24
2."Too Many Sandwiches"4:30

Re-release (1998)

CD 1[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Local Boy in the Photograph" 3:23
2."Who'll Stop the Rain?"John Fogerty2:31
3."Check My Eyelids for Holes" 2:42
4."Local Boy in the Photograph" (video) 3:17
CD 2[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Local Boy in the Photograph" 3:25
2."Not Up to You" (Live at XFM) 4:41
3."The Last Resort" (Eagles cover)Don Henley, Glenn Frey6:21
4."Traffic" (video) 4:22
7-inch vinyl
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Local Boy in the Photograph" 3:23
2."Who'll Stop the Rain?"John Fogerty2:31

Personnel

Stereophonics[7]

Charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[8] 59
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 51
Chart (1998) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 74
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 28
Scotland (OCC)[12] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 14
UK Indie (OCC)[14] 2
Chart (2010) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 60

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

  • A live version was included on the "Traffic" single, live from Belfort Festival.
  • A semi-acoustic version recorded for Radio One was released on the "Just Looking" single.
  • A live version was included on the "Moviestar" single, recorded at SECC, Glasgow.
  • A live version was included on the band's first Live album, "Live from Dakota".

References

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 15 March 1997. p. 28. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 February 1998. p. 31. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Songbook Kelly Jones". Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Local Boy in the Photograph". The Stereophonics Ltd. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Local Boy in the Photograph (re-released)". The Stereophonics Ltd. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  7. ^ Word Gets Around (CD booklet). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 1997.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 9. 28 February 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  11. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Local Boy in the Photograph". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  14. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  15. ^ "British single certifications – Stereophonics – Local Boy in the Photograph". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
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