Here they come, waving their cheques, telling you how brilliant you are, making all your dreams come true. Then it all goes wrong, the single stiffs, the album isn`t promoted, the guy who signed you leaves the company, so you reach for your pen.
There are few things more entertaining than venting your spleen against “The Man”. The ones I know are mainly from the punk era, The Clash`s pissed off “Complete Control”, Sex Pistols up yours of “EMI”, Nick Lowes sardonic “I Love My Label”, Wreckless Erics fed up to the back teeth ” Take The Cash”. The Yachts did two I`m bloody annoyed classics, “Dont Call Us” and “Out Of Luck” on their Yacht Without Radar album.
Now here are Aha, clearly giving WEA the finger, from their 2000 comeback album “Minor Earth, Major Sky”
Anymore for anymore?
Bloody Record Companies…..
Pink Floyd – Have A Cigar
This is how much record companies know: “Oh by the way, which one’s Pink?”
I thought you’d have reached straight for Rough Trade by Stiff Little Fingers.
I’m trying to limit myself and cut down the predictability.
Oops
https://youtu.be/A7R1ZLynoTg
Not as the title suggests about Geoff Travis and co, but about their experience with Island.
Demoes done, contracts prepared, and the they decided to sign The Jags instead
https://youtu.be/YGWK_hvGgkU
Damn, how did i miss this one!
It’s got to be done…
Up 🙂
Amybody else think that Paul looks like the late Robin Gibb in that clip?
From the mighty pen of Nanker Phelge…
https://youtu.be/dIfjozLGueU
Paint a Vulgar Picture on The Smiths last album.
Everything Morrissey describes in that song is exactly what has happened to Morrissey the solo artists. No Smiths world tour or pleasing the press in Belgium, but plenty of repackaging.
Double pack with a photograph…. of Charles Hawtrey
See also “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby”, Geoff Travis’ response when Moz & Marr asked for an increase in their royalties…
Other entries could include Matthew Sweet’s “Write Your Own Song” (from the very underrated “In Reverse” album), and The Auteurs’ “Idiot Brother”…
The answer as usual is Frank Zappa. One of many
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF3tZGsY_sM
And some well chosen words on the subject by FZ
Bunch of bairns the lot of them. Life lesson, morons.
I’m with Frank.
Former Westlife long coat-wearing stool-botherer Brian McFadden sings wearily about “bullshit meetings” and hotel rooms all looking the same in his song “Real to Me”. It’s refreshing, isn’t it though, to have a pop singer reveal that perhaps stardom isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be? Especially when they are let off the leash, and penning their own global hit songs with ease. I just wish he’d stand aside and give some other artists a chance.
I rather feel for Westlife. Mrs. Paws and I were travelling back from Cataluña, staying over at the mildly nice hotel at Birmingham airport. Westlife were also staying at said airport, although we never got to say hello as some daft bugger went over and gave them “what for” just for being, well Westlife. For some reason the barman regaled us (and everyone else) with this tale, rather than remonstrating with the drunken chap. Westlife, understandably pissed off to bed.
I rather felt for them. If you can’t have a lime and soda in the bar on a Sunday evening at BHX what the heck can you do?!
Just been listening to Dr Buckles latest podcast with Spoon when they refer at length (more for Adam’s benefit than theirs!) about two tracks they recorded after being released from Electra. “Laffitte Don’t Fail Me Now” & “The Agony of Laffitte”.
Roughly ten per cent of the tracks on Van’s later albums.
Prince – Face Down (appropriately enough from the ‘Emancipation’ album)
NSFW/Parental Advisory etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StyHkBYajNg
It’s about publishers but, same principle. Ray has a good ole moan, what are the odds etc.