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The Blue Room E.P. is the second extended play by Coldplay and their first major-label release after signing with Parlophone Records. It was released on 11 October 1999 as the follow-up to their previous self-released EP Safety E.P. (1998) and Fierce Panda Records single "Brothers & Sisters".

Background and recording[]

After signing with record label Parlophone on 22 April 1999 for a five-album contract, Coldplay went back into the studio to record their debut album Parachutes (2000). The early recording sessions were tumultuous and stressful; Chris Allison — the producer the band were working with for the album at the time — was considered a “very meticulous about perfection” kind of person, which ended up creating apprehension and internal conflicts between the band members, especially for lead singer Chris Martin and drummer Will Champion. The pressure of a major label debut and Allison's influence on the band, coupled with Will's difficulty in keeping up rhythmically with the music that was being written at the time, ultimately led Chris to fire Will from the band, in order to replace him with someone technically better qualified.[1] In a later interview, Chris recalled, “Things were going wrong in the studio and I told Will it was his fault, telling him he was shit. I was so nervous of us fucking up our chance [with a record label] that I became a fucking twat.”[2]

Auditions for a new drummer were held following Will's departure but were not successful as the remaining members could not find anyone who might work efficiently within the unity of the band. Three days later, a remorseful Chris pleaded with Will to join back, which he accepted by saying, “One more chance, but this has to change.” To keep the group intact, Will demanded that they would operate as a democracy and split 25% of everything with each bandmate, including songwriting credits, royalties, and performances fees. Eventually, the band worked out their differences, formalised the newly established set of rules, and returned to the Parachutes sessions. Additionally, the band determined they also would fire anyone who used hard drugs.[3]

Since Coldplay had only recorded three songs which they felt could be released — "See You Soon", "High Speed", and "Don't Panic" — and the recording sessions continued to delay and drag on, Chris went briefly on a drinking binge for a week. When the recording sessions came to an end, the band embarked on their first small full United Kingdom tour. Concerning more delays and wanting to bank on the growing buzz that was being generated around a new Coldplay release during the shows and by the press, Parlophone decided to use the newest three songs recorded and throw in "Bigger Stronger" and "Such a Rush" (from the band's self-released Safety E.P.) to make up The Blue Room E.P., with both the EP and the former track serving as an official introduction to the general audience.[4]

Composition[]

The version of "Don't Panic" featured on the EP and produced by Chris Allison is different from the one that appears on the band's later record, Parachutes. The fourth track, "High Speed", also produced by Allison, made the cut for Parachutes and remained unchanged, although a second recording was also made.[5] The first track, "Bigger Stronger", and fifth track, "Such a Rush", are re-releases from Safety, and are the same versions on both EPs.[6]

Another two Parachutes tracks were worked on for the EP. An early version of "Spies" was intended to be on The Blue Room, but it was ultimately scrapped. Advertised as being from their “forthcoming EP”, this version was included only in Parlophone Records' sampler CD titled Flavour of the Label, released in mid-1999.[7][8] An early and atmospheric version of "We Never Change" also exists, but it was never released. Its intrumental version leaked on the internet in 2011.[9]

Only 5000 copies of the CD version were manufactured in the original pressing, along with a limited edition 12 inch vinyl release, which was individually numbered on the front picture sleeve. The CD version was re-released with identical packaging in 2001, making it more widely available. A 2x7" vinyl version was included with The Singles 1999–2006 box set in 2007.

Artwork and title[]

The artwork for the EP was taken from a National Geographic magazine issue in 1997.[10]

Regarding the title chosen for the EP, Chris commented in an interview: “The studio where we were recording had one of those rooms where you film things on a blue screen and then, you know, dub in Hawaii afterwards. We didn't even know what this was, CGI. So we'd go in there and play cricket and football and what we thought was a tacky set turned out to be a really expensive… So that's why it's called The Blue Room.”[11]

Track listing[]

All tracks written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, and Chris Martin.

No. Title Length
1. "Bigger Stronger" 4:49
2. "Don't Panic" 2:38
3. "See You Soon" 2:51
4. "High Speed" 4:16
5. "Such a Rush" 4:57

References[]

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