Paul Heaton

by Michael Sutton
The warm, mellifluous voice of Paul Heaton often masks the jagged satirical content of his lyrics. From pointed political jabs like "The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death" to darkly comical love stories such as "Something That You Said," Heaton's work with the Housemartins and the Beautiful South has had countless listeners obliviously humming along to his biting wit. In the '80s, Heaton was the leader of the Housemartins. Like the Smiths, the Housemartins were college radio all-stars in the U.S.; although the group's jangly riffs and brainy, humorous songs couldn't draw mainstream acceptance in America, the band shared a portion of the Smiths' sizable cult of devotees. In 1986, the video for the Housemartins' "Happy Hour" was selected as a Hip Clip of the Week on MTV; the rollicking single is still a favorite of '80s flashback shows on modern rock stations.
After the Housemartins disbanded in the late '80s, Heaton then fronted the Beautiful South, a group that mirrored the Housemartins' no-frills approach. Nevertheless, the Beautiful South expanded Heaton's musical canvas, exploring jazz and even country influences. While many critics and student-run radio stations in the U.S. continued to laud Heaton's talent, the Beautiful South became far more successful in England, where they charted several number one albums. The group called it quits in 2007, having sold more than 15 million records worldwide, and Heaton shifted his focus to his growing solo career. While Fat Chance technically marked his solo debut in 2001 (albeit under the name Biscuit Boy aka Crackerman), 2008's The Cross Eyed Gambler was billed as a genuine Heaton release.