Today (27th December 2025) we celebrate 30 years since the release of one of Dubstar’s top charting singles: Not So Manic Now.
Originally written (and released) by a band called Brick Supply from Wakefield, Not So Manic Now nearly didn’t make it!
Dubstar’s Steve Hillier made an arrangement of it, which was duly sung by Sarah and instrumentalised by Chris and Steve.
It wasn’t until they performed it at The Riverside in Newcastle that Graeme Robinson (Dubstar’s first manager) and Jon Kirby (his musical manager) heard it. They liked the song, but didn’t like the arrangement. Later on, they changed much of Steve’s arrangement back towards the original Brick Supply version (annoying Steve Hillier at the time).
And so, Dubstar – and the Dubstar version of Not So Manic Now – was born.
Personally, I prefer the Dubstar cover version of Not So Manic Now. Sarah’s voice is perfect for it and Steve’s intro arrangement is absolutely amazing. It was the intro part with the soaring synths that really drew my attention to it, way back in 1996 when I first “clapped ears” on it.
- Released: 27th December 1995
- Charted: 31st December 1995 (at No.20)
- Peak Chart Position: 19 (7th January 1996)
- Top Of The Pops Performance: 4th January 1996
Happy Birthday Not So Manic Now (The Dubstar version).
