Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out) is the debut studio album by English rock band Happy Mondays. It was released in mid-April 1987 through Factory Records. After finalising their line-up, the band began playing local venues in Manchester, toured with New Order, and released an EP and a single in 1985. Happy Mondays' debut album was recorded at Fire House in London in December 1986, with producer John Cale. Halfway through the two weeks of sessions, they scrapped all recordings and started again. Cale and engineer Dave Young both did not understand the band members' vision for the album, finding them difficult to work with. The band sought to incorporate funk rhythms with a "spacious, trippy" sound, and most of its songs were made up akin to stories featured on The Twilight Zone. Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out) received generally positive reviews from music critics, some liked Happy Mondays' musicianship, while others were indifferent to Cale's production. It sold 3,500 copies with its six months of release. "Tart Tart" was released as the lead single from the album in March 1987. It earned the band national exposure when its music video was played on Channel 4's The Chart Show. Over the next five months, the band played various headlining shows and supporting slots for a number of bands. The most notable of these were two dates supporting New Order, one of which was an all-day benefit gig hosted by Factory Records. "24 Hour Party People" was released as the album's second single in October 1987. Background At age 16, Shaun Ryder left education in 1978, acquiring a job with his father at a post office. Two years later, he formed a band with his brother Paul Ryder on bass, their cousin Matt Carroll on guitar and the Ryders' father's drum machine. Paul Ryder joined Shaun at the post office after finishing his education. In 1981, Mark Day began working at the same post office, and quickly joined the band on guitar. As the band were rehearsing in Day's attic by early 1982, they went by the name Something in the Attic. After a few more rehearsals, Carroll left, not before giving the band their new name of Avant-Garde. Shaun Ryder learned of drummer Gary Whelan through his fiancé's sister; she and Day independently