"Dizzy Heights" is the fourth studio album by British alternative rock band The Lightning Seeds, released in 1996. It reached No. 11 on the UK Albums Chart and was re-issued in 1999 as part of the Sony Mid Price range.
The album was recorded at the Eel Pie Island studio, a barge on the River Thames, which was rented by bandleader Ian Broudie from Pete Townshend of The Who. The recording process was interrupted midway through 1996 when Broudie was asked to write "Three Lions," the anthem for England’s national football team in time for the Euro 96 tournament. According to Broudie, Dizzy Heights was recorded in two stages: one with the full band playing live with drums and bass guitar, and the other using loops and samplers produced by Broudie himself.
The first single from Dizzy Heights was "Ready or Not," which reached No. 20 on the UK charts. The single featured covers of "Another Girl, Another Planet" and Wire's "Outdoor Miner" as B-sides. "What If...," the second single, peaked at No. 14 in the UK and included a cover of The Beach Boys’ "Here Today" on the cassette-only B-side. The track was co-written by Broudie and Terry Hall, and its catchy pop sound was inspired by bands like The Beach Boys and The Turtles, which Broudie has cited as major influences on the song.
"Sugar Coated Iceberg," a track co-written with Stephen Jones of Babybird, features a playful sense of humor in its lyrics and was inspired by the idea of a "sugar-coated iceberg." The fourth single, "You Showed Me," a cover of the Turtles’ hit, became the band's most successful chart release, reaching No. 8 in the UK. The song was initially intended as a B-side to "What If..." but was promoted to a full single when Broudie and the band felt it was strong enough. The release coincided with a lineup change, as drummer Chris Sharrock left to join Robbie Williams' band, and Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr) replaced him in the video.
The album opens with "Imaginary Friends," a satirical commentary on modern society, followed by the more acoustic-driven "Waiting for Today to Happen," which Broudie co-wrote with Manic Street Preachers bassist Nicky Wire. "Touch and Go" and "Like You Do" are semi-autobiographical tracks that Broudie connects with earlier hits like "The Life of Riley" and "Pure," feeling as though they form part of one larger musical narrative. "Like You Do" was also the title track of the band's 1997 greatest hits compilation, though it wasn't included on the album itself. The album closes with "Fishes on the Line," which features surreal lyrics and an anthemic guitar outro.
Overall, Dizzy Heights blended the band's signature alternative pop with experimental sounds, including heavy use of loops and samplers, while also retaining an accessible, melodic quality.
