Avenue (song)


"Avenue" is a song by British pop group Saint Etienne, from the album So Tough. The song was originally titled Lovely Heart or Young Heart. The album version is a 7-minute version with lengthy instrumental sequences; it was edited down to around 4 minutes for radio play, though the commercial single contained the full-length version, with the radio edit only released on promotional material. The edit wasn't released commercially until 2005's Travel Edition 1990-2005.
The song describes a woman nostalgically remembering a love affair from her youth, mostly through impressionistic and surreal imagery, with the refrain: "oh, how many years / is it now Maurice?". The chorus repeats the words "Young heart". The song is recorded with echo effects that make it sound as though it is being performed in a large hall.
The birdsong on the track is sampled from the Pink Floyd track "Cirrus Minor" from the 1969 album More. "Paper" features guitarist Maurice Deebank of the band Felt. "Johnny In The Echo Café" is based on a sample from Forest's song "Bluebell Dance", from their album Full Circle.
The video for the single release depicts the band driving to Brighton.
A remix single was also released, with two remixes each by Gordon King and Rudy Tambala of A.R. Kane. King's "Variety Club Mix" was later included on the remix collection Casino Classics.

Track listing

All tracks written by Catt, Cracknell, Stanley and Wiggs; except where indicated
;12" - Heavenly / HVN 23-12, CD and Cassette
  1. "Avenue" - 7:35
  2. "Some Place Else" - 3:46
  3. "Paper" - 4:10
  4. "Johnny in the Echo Café" - 3:59
;12" - Heavenly / HVN 23-12R and CD
  1. "Avenue" - 6:21
  2. "Avenue" - 5:57
  3. "Avenue" - 6:27
  4. "Avenue" - 5:19
; CD - Heavenly / HVN 23CDP
  1. "Avenue" - 3:48
  2. "Avenue" - 7:35
  3. "Some Place Else" - 3:46
  4. "Paper" - 4:10
  5. "Johnny in the Echo Café" - 3:59
;7" - Heavenly/Universal / HVN 23
  1. "Avenue" - 3:47
  2. "Stranger In Paradise" - 3:30