Local Boy in the Photograph

"Local Boy in the Photograph" is the first single by rock band Stereophonics. The song is taken from their debut album, Word Gets Around and was released on 17 March 1997. The song reached number 51 in the UK Singles Chart. On 9 February 1998,^[2] the song was re-released and reached number 14 on the same chart.

"Local Boy in the Photograph"
Single by Stereophonics
from the album Word Gets Around
B-side	"Too Many Sandwiches" "Who'll Stop the Rain?" (1998)
Released	17 March 1997 (1997-03-17)[1]
Genre	Rock Britpop
Length	3:22
Label	V2
Songwriter(s)	Kelly Jones Richard Jones Stuart Cable
Stereophonics singles chronology
"Local Boy in the Photograph" (1997) "More Life in a Tramps Vest" (1997)
"Traffic" (1997) "Local Boy in the Photograph" (1998) "The Bartender and the Thief" (1998)

Title and lyrics

During an interview with Sky Arts HD after his performance at the Hay Festival in June 2010, Kelly Jones explained the meaning of a few of his songs and said that "Local Boy in the Photograph" was based on the true story of local boy Paul David Boggis, who was killed by a train travelling between Cwmbach and Aberdare. All the songs on the album are about people and events in the Aberdare area.^[3]

Stuart Cable

Following the death of former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable, a campaign was launched on Facebook to get the song to number one in the UK charts. On 13 June 2010 it re-entered the UK charts at number 60.^[4]

Track listings

All music written by Kelly Jones, Richard Jones and Stuart Cable. All lyrics composed by Kelly Jones; Except where indicated.

Initial release (1997)

CD^[5]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Local Boy in the Photograph"	3:24
2.	"Looks Like Chaplin" (Not included on UK editions)	2:33
3.	"Too Many Sandwiches"	4:30
4.	"Buy Myself a Small Plane"	3:15

7-inch vinyl

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Local Boy in the Photograph"	3:24
2.	"Too Many Sandwiches"	4:30

Re-release (1998)

CD 1^[6]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Local Boy in the Photograph"		3:23
2.	"Who'll Stop the Rain?"	John Fogerty	2:31
3.	"Check My Eyelids for Holes"		2:42
4.	"Local Boy in the Photograph" (video)		3:17

CD 2^[6]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Local Boy in the Photograph"		3:25
2.	"Not Up to You" (Live at XFM)		4:41
3.	"The Last Resort" (Eagles cover)	Don Henley, Glenn Frey	6:21
4.	"Traffic" (video)		4:22

7-inch vinyl

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Local Boy in the Photograph"		3:23
2.	"Who'll Stop the Rain?"	John Fogerty	2:31

Personnel

Stereophonics^[7]

• Stuart Cable – drums
• Kelly Jones – vocals, guitar
• Richard Jones – bass guitar

Charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Scotland (OCC)[8]	59
UK Singles (OCC)[9]	51

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10]	74
Ireland (IRMA)[11]	28
Scotland (OCC)[12]	10
UK Singles (OCC)[13]	14
UK Indie (OCC)[14]	2

Chart (2010)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[4]	60

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[15]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

• A live version was included on the "Traffic" single, live from Belfort Festival.
• A semi-acoustic version recorded for Radio One was released on the "Just Looking" single.
• A live version was included on the "Moviestar" single, recorded at SECC, Glasgow.
• A live version was included on the band's first Live album, "Live from Dakota".