Legal Man

"Legal Man" is a song by Scottish indie pop band Belle and Sebastian, released as their first stand-alone single. The track features Isobel Campbell, Sarah Martin, and Rozanne Suarez (credited as the Maisonettes^[1]) on vocals and Snow Patrol drummer Jonny Quinn on congas. The cover artwork—designed by Andrew Symington—features band members Stevie Jackson and Campbell along with Adrienne Payne and Suarez. Two B-sides were released with the single: "Judy Is a Dick Slap", an instrumental, and "Winter Wooskie", which was the last time bass player Stuart David sang lead vocals before departing the band in 2000.

"Legal Man"
Single by Belle and Sebastian
B-side	"Judy Is a Dick Slap" "Winter Wooskie"
Released	16 May 2000 (2000-05-16)
Studio	CaVa (Glasgow, Scotland)
Length	2:42
Label	Jeepster Matador Spunk
Songwriter(s)	Belle and Sebastian
Producer(s)	Tony Doogan Belle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian singles chronology
"Legal Man" (2000) "Jonathan David" (2001)
Music video
"Legal Man" on YouTube

"Legal Man" was released in May 2000, first in the United States on 16 May, then in the United Kingdom six days later. It reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, number 10 in Norway, number 46 in Sweden, and number 50 in Ireland. In Canada, the track reached number four on Nielsen SoundScan's Canadian Singles Chart. It is the band's highest-selling single in the United States.^[2] The song's music video was directed by Campbell.^[3]

B-sides

"Judy Is a Dick Slap" is the first instrumental released by the band while "Winter Wooskie" is the third and final song featuring lead vocals from former bass player Stuart David, who left the band in 2000. All three tracks from the single were later collected on the Push Barman to Open Old Wounds compilation.^[4]

Track listings

All songs were written by Belle and Sebastian.

CD single^[5]

1. "Legal Man"
2. "Judy Is a Dick Slap"
3. "Winter Wooskie"

7-inch single^[6]

A. "Legal Man"

B. "Winter Wooskie"

12-inch single^[7]

A. "Legal Man"

B. "Judy Is a Dick Slap"

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK 7-inch single sleeve and disc notes.^[6]

Studio

• Recorded at CaVa Studios (Glasgow, Scotland)

Personnel

Belle and Sebastian – writing, production The Maisonettes – vocals[8] Rozanne Suarez – vocals, cover star Jonny Quinn – congas Tony Doogan – production, recording Willie Deans – recording assistant

Ian Grier – recording assistant Stevie Jackson – cover star Isobel Campbell – cover star Adrienne Payne – cover star Katrina House – back cover star Andrew Symington – cover design

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Legal Man"

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[9]	4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10]	48
Ireland (IRMA)[11]	50
Norway (VG-lista)[12]	10
Scotland (OCC)[13]	9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14]	46
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	15
UK Indie (OCC)[16]	4

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Legal Man"

Region	Date	Format	Label	ID	Ref.
United States	16 May 2000[3]	CD	Matador	OLE 448-2	[17]
		7-inch vinyl		OLE 448-7	[18]
		12-inch vinyl		OLE 448-1	[19]
United Kingdom	22 May 2000[8]	CD	Jeepster	JPRCDS 018	[5]
		7-inch vinyl		JPR7 018	[6]
		12-inch vinyl		JPR12 018	[7]
Australia	10 July 2000[20]	CD	Spunk	URA023	[21]
Japan	9 August 2000[22]		Jeepster	VJCP-61041	[23]
Brazil	2000			T050/424-2	[24]
Canada		12-inch vinyl	Matador	OLE 448-1	[19]