You Must Get Them All: The Fall on Record

by Steve Pringle

Comprehensive review of all of the recorded output of The Fall

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

656 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2022

Reviews

[MJ Nicholls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Pringle’s track-by-track epic is the definitive tome on The Fall, light on the anecdotal antics of Steve Hanley and Brix Smith’s memoirs, heavy on the robust, thoughtful analysis on every ruddy track laid down by the group over forty odd (sic) years. Pringle’s assessment of each album is considered, rigorous, and never relies on self-indulgent takes—this compendious monolith is the culmination of years of research in collaboration with luminaries from the obsessive Fall Online Forum, a place where pedantry resides at the zenith of its powers, and contrarian luvvies like user ‘dannyno’ cite Levitate as their favourite album. This book also functions as a solid Fall biography, as the story of the Fall is the story of the music, with MES and that year’s musicians in a constant state of feverish, ad hoc creation—a relentless, unstoppable freight train of hard riffage, complex guitar textures, unrealized experiments, and inspired moments of unmatched brilliance. As a Fall obsessive, I inhaled this book over a few days, as you will too when you merrily realise, to misquote John Peel, that the Fall are the band against which all others are judged.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like this; books that take you behind the music, into the music and beyond. A book that delves into The Fall's 40 year catalogue is long overdue, and Steve Pringle, the man behind The Fall In Fives online was the man to do it. This is excellently researched, fluidly written and allows us to look back and reassess the great body of work that Mark E Smith and his band(s) created.

There are lots of things that I, a Fall fan since 1980, didn't know, and a great number of perspectives that I had not considered. That is the main thing, and the main reason books like this are so compelling; we can listen again with new ears, and be prepared to fall in love again.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible undertaking and an absolute triumph. Although it could so easily have been a series of lists and little more, what we actually get is a comprehensive history of this most idiosyncratic of bands and informed analysis of every single song ever performed by MES and his numerous band members across their 40 year history. Steve Pringle writes with humour, clarity and the emotional insight of a true fan (though he would be the first to admit he was a mere amateur compared with some of the contributors of 'The Annotated Fall' website!)
That's not to say that this isn't a Fall obsessives dream! There are plenty of statistics regarding songs performed, membership turnover and a full discography of the most obscure and ropy live or compilation album. However, as someone who saw the band several times in the 1980s but lost interest in their new releases somewhere in the late 90s, what this book has done is reignite my love for the band and encouraged me to invest in the best of what I missed first time round!
I don't think I'll 'get them all' as the title suggests (via John Peel), but I'll certainly be delving a little deeper.
I felt rather emotional by the end of the book. Pringle's treatment of the death of Mark E Smith in 2018 is powerfully written and his summary of Smith's deep connection with Fall fans and former band members is really touching.
This probably isn't a book for anyone unfamiliar with The Fall, but if you've got a passing interest in the band, you'll love this phenomenal piece of work.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book about the music as well as MES.

While three academic collections of essays have appeared during the past two decades, these focus on Mark E Smith. Too often, they emphasize the inimitable leader rather than the contributions of the dozens of musicians who have come, gone, and more than once, reappeared in The Fall's vast lineup.

Pringle started this compilation online many years ago. The print version expands his efforts well. He incorporates the reissues of the albums and he's spot-on with his critiques of the added material, as well as the original tracklists. This is the source to which we Fall fans will turn.

Although I wish one of my published reviews on the band's recent recordings was cited, I'll have to remain content with the author's diligence in excavating facts, his acumen in comparing the dazzling array of lyrical inspirations and musical borrowings from an utterly disparate set of influences, and his fairness to both the long-reigning frontman and bewildering vocalist and the band mates who enriched so many challenging and baffling and, yes, funny songs, under endless pressure.

[Brian Doak Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authoritative, comprehensive and in the end , emotional.

[Jonny Swift]

An excellent read and an absolute must for any Fall fan.
The research that has gone into writing this mammoth of a book is unreal.
I learnt loads of new stuff about The Fall development and their releases from reading this excellent book. Well done Steve Pringle - i could not put it down which is always a good sign!
5/5!

[Geoff Winston Leghorn Balme · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the MES fan.
We’ll miss him. I’ll miss being able to get the new fall album.
Was he always admirable, no. But who is?

Great book. Outstanding depth. Now to review all those dismissed recent albums.

[Keith Astbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I intended to do what I did with the McCartney Lyrics book. Listen to the song during, just before or just after reading the relevant part. Sure enough I played Live At The Witch Trials and Dragnet after reading about them, but then I got so into the book that I waltzed ahead! This really is an essential read for a Fall fan. Every album is discussed in chronological order, every track thereon 'reviewed', with the Fall story constantly chugging away in the background. It's informative and entertaining, whether you agree with Pringle's own personal tastes (I did for the most part). And what's more it will encourage you to listen to those albums again. (I'm working my way through them!) x

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A list of all The Fall's recorded output. Pfff! Exceptional.

[Simon Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perfect for Fall fans. It's basically all of the tracks covered with a bit of analysis, a few studio facts, and a pile of anecdotes, but it also covers the tours and a fair bit of the drama. I didn't want it to end, even though the last few pages are as hard to read as the final gigs were hard to watch. But for a few days, I got to re-live the joy of being a Fall fan. Now, back to the real world...

[Joseph Costello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb piece of work. Similar to John Peel's "always different, always the same" quote, the book manages to be simultaneously concise and comprehensive and I look forward to revisiting in the years to come.

[Matt Melia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book on The Fall - The Fall's Reveloution in the Head

[SirBilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perverted By Language. LA Bibbia ❤️

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive. Outstanding.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of hovel-cum-coven-cum-oven