"Hats" is the second studio album by the Scottish band The Blue Nile, released on October 16, 1989, through Linn Records and A&M Records. Following a challenging production process that involved scrapping an entire album's worth of material, Hats was met with critical acclaim, receiving a rare five-star rating from Q magazine and becoming the band's most successful release, reaching number 12 on the UK album charts.
After promoting their debut album, A Walk Across the Rooftops, the band faced significant difficulties in creating a follow-up. Initial recording sessions in a house in Gullane, near Castlesound Studios, were marred by homesickness, arguments, and a lack of material. Tensions rose as Virgin Records pressured Linn to deliver new content, leading to an exhausting and unproductive experience.
After nearly three years of struggle, the band returned to Glasgow, where they found renewed inspiration and began recording ideas on a portastudio. When they returned to Castlesound in 1988, they were ready to finalize Hats, managing to complete much of it in just a week. Frontman Paul Buchanan reflected on this process, noting that going home helped them rediscover their creative flow and routines.
Upon its release, Hats was marketed in both the UK and the US, with slight alterations to the cover art for the American version. A&M Records promoted the album with a full-page ad in Billboard, offering free CDs to interested listeners.
The album peaked at number 12 in the UK and produced three singles: "The Downtown Lights," "Headlights on the Parade," and "Saturday Night." In the US, Hats reached number 108 on the Billboard 200, with "The Downtown Lights" achieving a spot on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.
In November 2012, Hats was reissued as a two-CD "Collector's Edition," featuring remastered tracks and a selection of bonus material, with input from the band and the original engineer. This release further cemented the album's status as a significant work in the band's discography and highlighted its enduring appeal.
