Save Your Face is the debutalbum by British alternative rock group Feline and was released worldwide in 1997. It was preceded by "Just As You Are", the video of which was picked up by MTV Europe. The following year, the album was repackaged, retitled as Feline and expanded with two newly recorded tracks produced by Feline guitarist Drew Richards. Three of the Save Your Face tracks were remixed by Chris Sheldon for the new release, which was preceded by "Sun In My Eyes" and the cancelled "Drama Queen".
Recording sessions
Feline recorded the bulk of Save Your Face over three weeks in December 1996 at Olympic Studios in London, England with producer David M. Allen, who was known for his work on The Cure's Disintigration and Wish. Allen was chosen to produce the record because the band purposely did not want to sound like their influences. The album was mixed by Pat Collier in London's Eden Studios; while a further two tracks were mixed by Tom Lord-Alge at South Beach Studios in Miami, Florida. Extra material was recorded for use as b-sides and a charity albumcover version of The Hollies "The Air That I Breathe". Photography for the album package was created by Andy Vella and Paul Spencer. At the start of 1998, Feline recorded new material self-produced by Drew, both of which were mixed by Chris Sheldon, who also remixed "Sun In My Eyes", "Fantasy World" and "Can't Help Myself". On 3 August, Save Your Face was re-released under the title Feline. The new edition was repackaged and expanded with the new Chris Sheldon tracks.
Single releases
On 4 August 1997, the first single from Save Your Face, "Just As You Are" was released in the UK, backed with b-sides "Highway", "Shape Changing" and "Two Minds" on CD maxi and 7" vinyl. "Just As You Are" spent a single week on the Official Charts at #81. "Just As You Are" was later issued in Europe on CD single and CD maxi. The music video for "Just As You Are" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and featured the band morphing into insects and other animals. Despite the use of CGI, the video cost the label £67,000. On 11 May 1998, Chris Sheldon's new mix of "Sun In My Eyes" was released as a single on two CD singles and 7" vinyl. The first CD featured new recordings "Innocent Smile" and "Rumour Mill", while the second CD included "The Air That I Breathe" and "Germaine". "Sun In My Eyes" peaked at #81 on the single chart the following week. In Europe, "Sun In My Eyes" was released as a single CD maxi. Newly recorded Feline cut "Drama Queen" was scheduled for single release on CD and 7" on 6 July 1998, however the single was cancelled after promos were distributed to the music press. B-sides were stated in reviews as "Wake The Dead", "Live With Me" and "Wheel" These have as yet gone unreleased.
"Just As You Are" and "Not What It Seems" mixed at Southbeach Studios, Miami, Florida by Tom Lord-Alge and "Drama Queen" and "Bad Habit" mixed by Chris Sheldon.
