7" : hitBACK2 : Somebody, I Can't Sleep
Released : 1995
This is the legendary white label 7" put out in 1995. The single sounds fantastic - and for a home production is absolutely excellent. It's catchy with a chanting "Somebody" opening, with lowly spoken-sung verses, and has the passion you have now come to expect from Spearmint. It was the first Spearmint single, but was never available to the extent the other singles were - because it was before they received a distribution deal with Vital. These are nearly impossible to get hold of now - but good luck in hunting. The b-side was an early version of "I Can't Sleep".
Goldmine
7" : hitBACK3 : Goldmine, At This Moment
Released : 17/6/96
The first legitimate single release, as a 1,000 run of 7" vinyl. This is another difficult single to get hold of now. This was also the first single to feature Spearmint's current bass player, James. Martin who played on Somebody had previously departed the band. The single featured "At this moment" on the b-side.
A Week Away 
7" : hitBACK4 : A Week Away, Scared Of Everything
Released : 31/3/97
Second single proper to be released, again as a limited run of 1,000 vinyl. "Scared Of Everything" was the flip side. "A Week Away" was deemed to be so good that they are saving the track for the LP proper, sometime in '99.
I Can't Sleep 
7" : hitBACK5 : I Can't Sleep, Song For The Colour Yellow
CD : hitBACK5CD : I Can't Sleep, Song For The Colour Yellow, The Other Seven, When I Get Out Of Here
Released : 6/97
The first Spearmint single to be released on CD. The two bonus CD tracks were "The Other Seven" and "When I Get Out Of Here", both of which feature on their singles & b-sides compilation "Songs For The Colour Yellow". A re-release of the track originally recorded in 1995, now re-mixed.
Sweeping The Nation 
7" : hitBACK6 : Sweeping The Nation, Best Friends
CD : hitBACK6CD : Sweeping The Nation, Best Friends, Slips Away, Do You Remember Me?
Released : 17/11/97
Arguably the turning point for Spearmint, and god knows how this single didn't get them signed. The single was single of the week on Mark Radcliffe (Radio 1), and there were people saying the breakfast show were interested too...but Gorky's got their instead. Hailed by many as the single of 1997.
A Trip Into Space EP 
7" : hitBACK7 : A Trip Into Space, This Is Green, This Is Grey
CD : hitBACK7CD A Trip Into Space, This Is Green, This Is Grey, A Bench In A Park, Bee Gee
Released : 20/4/98
Another classic single, everyone seemed to love it. The first singles chart placing for Spearmint here : 82. This is slightly misleading, though, as many Spearmint singles are traditionally sold through mail-order and small independents - therefore not getting counted for the chart. Very promising though, and if a single is released of the same strength as this next time then it almost certainly would be higher placed.
Nodding/You Were Always Happy (Live)
CD : 8708422 : Nodding, You Were Always Happy
Released : April 1999 (Holland only)
A live single released in Holland on Paradiso/Amsterdam Records. Recorded live at the Paradiso, Amsterdam in 1998 this release offers a chance to hear non album Spearmint tracks.
Nodding/Sky
7" : SYFT001 : Nodding, Sky 
Released: May 1999
Japanese release to coincide with the band's live/radio dates over there. Also gave the Japanese their first oppertunity to hear "Sky", as the song was not on their version of "Songs For The Colour Yellow. Sold at gigs, through mail order and specialist shops in Japan. Rough Trade in the UK were selling some cheap, so check out Rough Trade for the latest information.
It Won't Be Long Now
7" : hitBACK9 : It Won't Be Long Now, Hair, Vince's Holiday Tape, You Must Go 
CD : hitBACK9CD : It Won't Be Long Now, Vince's Holiday Tape, You Must Go, Hair
Released : 21/06/99
Spearmint's 'comeback' single, a non chart eligible 4 track EP. The EP was released to mixed acclaim, with some rather confusing reviews, including Stephen Wells in the NME and My Life Story in Melody Maker. The lead track received specialist airplay on Radio 1, including the Evening Session and Mark & Lard.
Sweeping The Nation
7" : hitBACK10 : Sweeping The Nation, Meet Mr Marsden, Bad Souvenirs
Spearmint's 1997 single re-issued. This was widely expected to be a breakthrough for Spearmint, and it was Single Of The Week in NME. But unfortunately, it was not playlisted by national radio, and promotional activity around the single was minimal, so this led to poor sales. The single was fairly hard to find, despite also being Mark & Lard's 'Record Of The Week' on the Radio 1 previously. It's promising for Spearmint, however, and you just never know what might be around the corner...
We're Going Out
7" : hitBACK12 : We're Going Out (Remix), The Wilderness Years, The Weather Forecaster
We're Going Out was always destined to be a single. From the moment you heard the spoken intro to the jubilent chorus that marks the fifth track on the album you knew it had to be released. The release came and sure enough it was accompanied typically by bright colours - this time pink - and a bizarre video which received plays on UK Play regularly around release. Virgin Megastores also put the CD on their listening posts nationwide on week of release, which was nice of them. It's not the same version that's on the album - it was remixed by Stephen Hague and the end result was a more radio friendly, though slightly less exciting version of the track. It did earn Spearmint their second ever placing inside the UK Top 100 singles, however.
You Are Still My Brother
7" : hitBACK13 : You Are Still My Brother, The Beautiful Things, Lost On The Way
Releasing a fifth single from the album was always going to prove difficult, in fact you could call it the sixth as Sweeping The Nation was released twice. You Are Still My Brother was played on the radio, by you know who yet again, for which we thank them. The single kept up Spearmint's profile well and has wet many a fan's appetite for the forthcoming mini-album, which has a working title of Oklahoma!
The Locomotion
7": hitBACK15V: The Locomotion, Leaves, Vivian
All of the tracks from Spearmint's Oklahoma! CD album were split across three 7" singles, the first of which was The Locomotion. The Locomotion is certainly one of Spearmint's more upbeat tracks - and is perfect for dancing the night away to in your local indie club.
Howling Christmas
7": hitBACK16V: Howling Christmas, Oklahoma!, New Year Song
The second 7" single of album tracks was Howling Christmas. A haunting, low-key ballad with a powerful vocal. Definitely a stand out track from the album. Oklahoma! and New Year Song aren't that bad, either.
Happy Birthday Girl
7": hitBACK17V: Happy Birthday Girl, The Good of the Family, I Went Away.
Listed seperately to the CD below, which contains new b-sides. The 7" features one of favourite songs from Oklahoma! - I Went Away. A beautifully simple free-flowing personal song full of nostalgia. Wonderful stuff.
Happy Birthday Girl
CD: hitBACK17CD: Happy Birthday Girl, You Were Always Happy, A Mild Mannered Man
Happy Birthday Girl is taken from the band's Christmas themed LP, Oklahoma! The CD version of the single was backed with two b-sides - new track, A Mild Mannered Man and You Were Always Happy, which fans will remember from the Nodding single released in Holland. Interesting fact: According to the sleeve notes, Happy Birthday Girl contains a sample of Joe Tex's Show Me, originally recorded in 1967. The artwork for the single and the LP was desinged by the band's very own James Parsons and illustrated by the wonderfully talented Maya Gavin - if I ever need some artwork done I know who the first person is I'll call!
The Flaming Lips
CD: hitBACK18CD: The Flaming Lips, We Dyed The Bathroom Green, The Man Who Fell Asleep In The Sun
The introuductory single from the band's fantastic A Different Lifetime LP. Tactically naming the single after an in-vogue band (hey, its gotta help those net searches and Kazaa downloads), the single was very much low-key. Two good Spearming b-sides, as ever, backed up the song and you can now find lyrics to all these on this very site.
Julie Christie!
CD: hitBACK19CD: Julie Chritie!, Funny How You Know, That Familiar Feeling.
The second and what turned out to be the final single from A Different Lifetime. An uplifting high-tempo pop song, Julie Christie! exemplifies everything I love about Spearmint. Why don't more people write songs like this? The harmonies and "ooh lalas" are just sublime - but don't take my word for it - track down the single. You should be able to buy it from one of the stores listed below.
The Last Bus Home EP
CD: anda15 (released on the Spanish Primeros Pasitos Label): I Invented Someone, Don't Get Me Started, The Last Bus Home, So Long Ago.
After an uncharacteristically long absence, Spearmint fill the gap between albums with this fantastic EP. I Invented Someone is a great song about changing yourself to fit your surroundings and Don't Get Me Started is a wonderful pop song with catchy hooks that will stay in your head after the first listen. The Last Bus Home is a dark and mysterious song, apparently quite literally narrating a trip on a London night bus (cathcing glimpses of three way sex is a possibility, Shirley tells us). So Long Ago rounds off the EP and all four tracks are surely up there with the best four tracks Spearmint have ever collected together on one cd. Apparently Don't Get Me Started may appear on the new album to be released summer 2003 - we'll have to wait and see. It certainly bodes well.
Possible places to order the singles...
Action Records
CD : hitBACK10CD: Sweeping The Nation, Meer Mr Marsden, Bad Souvenirs
Released: 23/08/99
CD : hitBACK12CD : We're Going Out (Remix), The Wilderness Years, The Weather Forecaster
Released:
CD : hitBACK13CD : You Are Still My Brother, The Beautiful Things, Lost On The Way
Released : 1999
Released: 2000
Released: 2000
Released: 2000 .
7": The 7" was one third of the Oklahoma! album when released in the UK, and was not strictly a single. Sadly You Were Always Happy and A Mild Mannered Man remain unreleased on vinyl!
Released: 2000
7": hitBACK18V: The Flaming Lips, We Dyed The Bathroom Green, The Man Who Fell Asleep In The Sun
Released: 2001.
7": hitBACK19V: Julie Chritie!, Funny How You Know, That Familiar Feeling.
Released: 2001.
Released: In Spain, December 2002, in the UK it is sheduled for release sometime in 2003 via Shellshock/Cargo distribution.
Atomic Sounds
Fantastic Plastic
hitBACK Online
Key Mail Order
Opal Music
Sister Ray