Album Notes

Sex & Violins (The Best of My Life Story)


Jake Shillingford, founder of the cult orchestral alternative band My Life Story has compiled Sex & Violins (The Best of My Life Story) to celebrate 10 years since the release of their first hit single 12 Reasons Why I Love Her.

The album features tracks from all three MLS albums and six top forty singles released throughout the nineties.

A key player during the inception of Britpop, Jake’s 12-piece ensemble became a huge favorite on the UK live circuit with their big shows and loyal following.

In 1993, MLS we’re spotted by Giles Martin, (the son of Beatles legend George) and offered downtime at Dad’s studio. The debut single Girl A, Girl B, Boy C was born, a bizarre love triangle with a big band soundtrack. All foxy horns and horny foxes, it was released by indie label Mother Tongue and possessed a sassy swing which sounded gloriously out of place in the year of grunge. NME and Melody Maker made it 'Single Of The Week'.

Releasing the debut album Mornington Crescent to critical acclaim on indie label Mother Tongue, MLS toured extensively in the UK and France, headlining over Oasis and supporting Blur and Pulp. In 1996, MLS signed to Parlophone and released their second album The Golden Mile. All five singles from the album became top forty hits including 12 Reasons Why I Love Her, Sparkle and Strumpet.

The My Life Story orchestra were in high demand during the Britpop era, with notable appearances on the Morrissey track ‘Interlude’, and collaborations with Marc Almond and PJ Proby on the 1996 album Legend.

By 1999 Jake felt he’d taken his pop plus orchestra formula to its natural end, MLS tested the water with the spikey and electronic, If You Can’t Live Without Me Then Why Aren’t You Dead Yet? as the UK’s first ever download only single!

The subsequent album, Joined up Talking came out in 2000 on IT Records and spawned the band’s sixth top forty hit It’s a Girl Thing.

10 years since Britpop, Shillingford reassembled 13 original members for a Xmas spectacular at London’s Astoria on Friday 8th December.

Sex & Violins (The Best of My Life Story) contains 2 previously unreleased songs The Dice Man and Here Comes the Big Weekend.