Before the return to the right track with Send Away the Tigers, Manic Street Preachers went through a period when they seem eager to do anything, but a new album. Fortunately, for us, James Dean Bradfield, the Manic singer, couldn’t keep his creativity bottled up and bestowed upon us the brilliant LP The Great Western, which spawned two singles: That’s No Way to Tell a Lie and An English Gentleman, both honourable mentions.

The real wonder, safely hidden in the middle, is called Still a Long Way to Go, this sweet ballad constructed on what is probably the most endearing riff ever made by human hands. It is then accompanied by Bradfield’s voice, calm and soothing. The chorus, even though a bit more explosive than the verse, is still filled with jingle sensitivity. The lyrics also work great and make you want to dance with someone who is not near you…

It wasn’t a single, but at least Bradfield played it live in the mini tour that followd the release of The Great Western. Still, it is hardly enough for a song that should have been a genuine classic, the kind of tune covered by every r’n'b female singer at the president’s birthday… or something like that.

LISTEN TO JAMES DEAN BRADFIELD’S CLASSIC HERE