Cargo Records

The Fidelity Wars

Hefner canvas bag and three badges- exclusive to Cargo customers! First come first serve.

1999 was a special year for Hefner. The original Fidelity Wars reached number one in the independent album charts, with its accompanying single, cult favourite Hymn for the Cigarettes securing them the number one place in the independent single charts. It was also the year that saw Hefner working hard for John Peel, recording three sessions for his show and having five entries in the Festive Fifty for ’99. They reached numbers two and three in the chart, only beaten to the number one spot by the Cuban Boys! Fidelity Wars saw Hefner coming of age; the rawness of songwriter Darren Hayman’s earlier music and lyrics developing into a more intelligent, observational style. Hymn for the Alcohol, tells the tale of two alcoholics falling out of love, accompanied by the sweet pedal steel of new member Jack Hayter. The Weight of the Stars has the narrator memorising the contents of a roll of camera film, which was lost on a one-night stand. Don’t Flake Out On laments upon the lost friends of our early twenties, accompanied by the broken voice of ex-Raincoat Gina Birch and brass section. This re-release of Fidelity Wars contains the original album plus an extra 29 rare and unreleased tracks including deleted EPs, b-sides, and alternate versions.

Track Listing

CD1

The original album...

1 The Hymn For The Cigarettes
2 May God Protect Your Home
3 The Hymn For The Alcohol
4 I Took Her Love For Granted
5 Every Little Gesture
6 The Weight Of The Stars
7 I Stole A Bride
8 We Were Meant To Be
9 Fat Kelly's Teeth
10 Don't Flake Out On Me
11 I Love Only You

The extras...

12 Grandmother Dies (b-side)
13 Lisa And Me (b-side)
14 A Belly Full Of Babies (b-side)
15 Mary Lee (Hefner Heart EP)
16 The Hymn For The Things
We Didn't Do (Hefner Heart EP)
17 Karen (Hefner Heart EP)
18 The Heart Of Portland (Hefner Heart EP)
19 The Hymn For Thomas
Courtney Warner (Hefner Heart EP)

CD2

More extras ...

1 The Hymn For The Alcohol (7" Version)
2 My Art College Days Are Over (b-side)
3 Don't Flake Out On Me (4-Track)
4 I Stole A Bride (4-Track)
5 May God Protect Your Home (4-Track)
6 A Belly Full Of Babies (4-Track)
7 The Hymn For Thomas Courtney Warner (4-Track)
8 Blind Girl With Halo (4-Track)
9 Harlot's Teeth (4-Track)
10 I Took Her Love For Granted (4 Track)
11 Karen (4 Track)
12 The Hymn For The Cigarettes (Rehearsal)
13 We Were Meant To Be (Rehearsal)
14 You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (Rehearsal)
15 I Took Her Love For Granted (Rehearsal)
16 I Love Only You (Rehearsal)
17 Kate Cleaver's House (Rehearsal)
18 Twisting Mary's Arm (Rehearsal)
19 The Weight Of The Stars (Rehearsal)
20 The Girl From The Coast (Rehearsal)
21 The Librarian (Rehearsal)