Cover of Hitsville UK
-
vacuumcleaner
- Corner Soul
- Posts: 29
- Joined: 08 Jun 2017, 3:06pm
Re: Cover of Hitsville UK
Ellen Foley sounds like she's saying "time" but it's supposed to be "trade."
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 59038
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: Cover of Hitsville UK
Ellen gets a fair amount of stick but she is a good vocalist. The problem for any Clash record is to make a statement and not be throwaway pop. The mix on Hitville UK elevates Ellen to lead vocalist with Mick the backing singer.vacuumcleaner wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 1:21pmEllen Foley sounds like she's saying "time" but it's supposed to be "trade."
JB asked earlier on in the thread if the song would catch as much flak if it wasn't a Clash song. Well I doubt it would to be honest and if it had been a track from Ellen's record as opposed to a single from Sandinista! it might be thought of in a similar way as Torchlight is. The problem is the mix and that the song is to lightweight for a Clash record. The single has great lyrics and good melody and is based on a really strong idea of the indie brigade creating a Motown catalog of hits. The single should have had a stronger mix with less of the glockenspiel on the vocal melody. Micks vocal sounds like a guide for Ellens. If this were turned around with ellen lower in the mix it might have sounded a little more like a Clash record. This Motown meets Punk/New wave can work well just listen to Town Called Malice which uses the Motown beat and virtually lifts the backing track from You Can't Hurry Love.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
Re: Cover of Hitsville UK
I wonder whether it was written with EF in mind, or whether they attempted the song with Joe or Mick on lead vox at some point.
- Heston
- God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
- Posts: 38370
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
- Location: North of Watford Junction
Re: Cover of Hitsville UK
The song as recorded is in the wrong key for Joe or Mick. Would love to think there is a demo in the vaults with a Joe and/or Mick vocal.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
- 101Walterton
- The Best
- Posts: 21973
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 5:36pm
- Location: Volcanic Rock In The Pacific
Re: Cover of Hitsville UK
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 59038
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: Cover of Hitsville UK
I just think it was the band saying we can take on any musical genre including pop music.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- 101Walterton
- The Best
- Posts: 21973
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 5:36pm
- Location: Volcanic Rock In The Pacific
Re: Cover of Hitsville UK
But wasn't it a last minute add on to the album?Marky Dread wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 5:15pmI just think it was the band saying we can take on any musical genre including pop music.
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 59038
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: Cover of Hitsville UK
No idea.101Walterton wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 8:40pmBut wasn't it a last minute add on to the album?Marky Dread wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 5:15pmI just think it was the band saying we can take on any musical genre including pop music.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia