Recording began in early 1989 at a remote studio just outside Cornwall, moved on to Lincolnshire and was completed at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio complex in Bath. It was a lengthy process, both meticulous and precise for the album whose title "Holding Back The River" was inspired by a conversation that took place in a Glasgow pub… "It’s a song about alcohol abuse" said Marti "I met an old man drinking heavily in a Glasgow bar and as he lifted his glass to his lips he said "There’s no holding back this river". Significantly, "Holding Back The River" would prove to be an even greater international seller than "Popped In Souled Out". This success reflected a greater maturity in the band’s song-writing. The Wets had become more confident, more articulate and had a greater sense of purpose and direction.

The Wets In The Park

As if by way of confirmation, The Wets were to headline the biggest free concert that Britain had ever seen - bigger even than the legendary Rolling Stones free concert at Hyde Park in 1969.

As Q stated on the day: "First there was Woodstock. Then there was Hyde Park… And then there was Glasgow Green."

The concert took place on September 10^th 1989 when 75,000 people crammed into a park in the East End of Glasgow to witness a performance that would be remembered by concertgoers for generations to come. Said Neil "We wanted to give something back to the people of Glasgow who stood by us and the fans who perhaps couldn’t afford to see us live." One week following their triumphant ‘concert in the park’ "Sweet Surrender" effortlessly became their fifth top ten single. NME said: "By now, the world must have noticed Wet Wet Wet are not as other pop groups… a product of four frighteningly seething minds.

The Wets ever growing maturity was mirrored in the audience who followed the band on their second UK and European tours. Graeme said: "After the first two gigs we knew we had crossed over from having a mainly very young audience. It was amazing. There were people in their forties clapping politely in the galleries and the younger ones screaming their hearts out down in front of the stage."

As the tour neared completion, "Broke Away" was released, revealing a previously unheard appreciation of their Celtic roots. Yet another dimension was explored on their third single "Hold Back The River" which reflected the band’s growing interest in all things jazz. Meanwhile, "Stay With Me Heartache", the fourth and last single released from "Holding Back The River" was further testimony to the bands love of reggae, first hinted at on the track "I Don’t Believe" - from the "Popped In Souled Out" LP.

On May 5^th 1990 The Wets would pay tribute to one of their all-time heroes, John Lennon, when they appeared at his 10^th anniversary concert organised by Yoko Ono - lining up alongside Sean Lennon, Lou Reed, Hall and Oates, Al Green and Cyndi Lauper etc. to perform the Lennon classic "I Feel Fine".

Also that month The Wets were honoured when asked to lead out the (disabled athletes)Special Olympics team at the 1990 Games in Glasgow.

"High On The Happy Side"

The third album saw The Wets return to America - this time to L.A. and the legendary Ocean Way Studios. "High On The Happy Side" would prove a delicate balance of The Wets diverse musical tastes with their long-held love of classic pop.

Tommy "’High On The Happy Side’ was a title born out of our state of mind at the time. We’d beaten the ‘second album syndrome’ so the title seemed appropriate."

The first single "Make It Tonight" peaked at 37, the follow up "Put The Light On", was an even greater disappointment, being the only Wets single NOT to go Top 40. As Graeme had prophetically stated: "Anything we’ve achieved had been through hard work and the belief in ourselves that The Wets are a great band. That’s something you need to have in order to get through when things are not going so well."

"Goodnight Girl"

Then came "Goodnight Girl" - a song written in five minutes in a studio in Switzerland. It was released on December 23^rd 1991 and crashed straight into the charts at No. 20. Within 3 weeks Mark Goodier was to announce on Radio One’s Top 40 Show;…. "Britain has a new No. 1.. the boys from Glasgow have done it." "Goodnight Girl" had dislodged Queen’s "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the top of the charts.

The song was the band’s first self-penned UK No. 1 and a huge hit throughout Europe. With the single at the top of the charts, now was the ideal time to release the album. "High On The Happy Side" paralleled the success of the single - entering the UK charts at No. 1 thus rewarding The Wets with a rare simultaneous No. 1 single and LP.

"Their best album yet, a pop record which is mature and complicated as well as being fun and whistleable" said Q. Select were equally praise worthy "…this LP struts and stomps with a rediscovered buoyancy… always much more than a mere pop band, their transition to adult territory has been smoother than most."