Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

[Pinhead44]

Track 8: I Want a Lover

Chronology: Please, Track 9

‘Now this anticipation, is a stimulation, no need for conversation as we’re driving home, put your arms around me, it doesn’t mean you love me, just that you want me and you need my company’

You can almost sense the anticipation and excitement in that taxi journey home. Nothing else matters tonight, except for this one night stand !

This track encapsulates everything I love about PSB, the lyrics, the story, the music. I love how we get two different synth melodies at the same time in the intro (they would do this again on Can You Forgive Her), and the retracting baseline on the first chorus.

My favourite non-single track on the album (and it’s got some stiff competition!). (9/10)

[Sandy Shaw]

Suburbia

Take one killer chorus, add a stunning keyboard melody and an awesome baseline, and what do you get? The boys back in the top 10 of the UK charts where they rightly belong !

Unfortunately for Please, the amazing re-work that became the single release isn’t on here, and after the shiny production of the previous 3 songs on the album, the music today sounds a little dated, and closer to a demo, although I used to love that about it when I was younger.

My eldest son’s favourite PSB song, and I recently introduced him to the wonder of the Full Horror. (8/10)

The killer chorus owes some of its melody to another tune...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1A4wBgvPgI

I’ve thought this for decades and you’re the first person I’ve encountered to share this view as well! My 15 year old self (as well as my current self) thanks you!!

You are welcome! When Suburbia was released I kept saying "I know the tune", but couldn't place it. I think there
was a note about the influence in the Wikipedia entry for Suburbia at one point which lead me back to the Chuck Mangione track which I would have first heard at about 13 years of age. In fact I remember it being played several times over the PA at a school fête!

[telys]

I Want a Lover

‘Now this anticipation, is a stimulation, no need for conversation as we’re driving home, put your arms around me, it doesn’t mean you love me, just that you want me and you need my company’

You can almost sense the anticipation and excitement in that taxi journey home. Nothing else matters tonight, except for this one night stand !

This track encapsulates everything I love about PSB, the lyrics, the story, the music. I love how we get two different synth melodies at the same time in the intro (they would do this again on Can You Forgive Her), and the retracting baseline on the first chorus.

My favourite non-single track on the album (and it’s got some stiff competition!). (9/10)

Still waiting for the original 1985 version produced by PSB and Blue Weaver. Wonder why it wasn't on Please FL. The Ron Dean Miller mix of Why Don't We Live Together was on FL. 1985 before West End girls was released is one of the most interesting PSB-eras. Them traveling around working with several producers and actually recording enough material for an album even before Hague joined the team.

[Neilatrone]

Track 8: I Want a Lover

Chronology: Please, Track 9

This track encapsulates everything I love about PSB, the lyrics, the story, the music. I love how we get two different synth melodies at the same time in the intro (they would do this again on Can You Forgive Her), and the retracting baseline on the first chorus.

My favourite non-single track on the album.

Completely agree. Would love to have heard different mixes of it but it's a belter.

[Drico One]

Good to see Pinhead picking up the slack (I have added the track titles and chronology to your posts so that people can follow the direction of travel in the thread. If people open discussion on the next track, please add the Track and Chronology details to keep the thread on track, so to speak).

Violence always seems to be the least interesting moment on Please, and then I listen to it and find myself enjoying it immensely. It's very melodic and the atmospheric backing is immersive, allowing the listener to remain on the mean streets of Urbanity.

I want a lover is absolutely thrilling, building frenetically to a throbbing climax. It's the first great single-that-never-was in their catalogue: The subterfuge of copping off.

Drico.

[telys]

Track 8: I Want a Lover

Chronology: Please, Track 9

This track encapsulates everything I love about PSB, the lyrics, the story, the music. I love how we get two different synth melodies at the same time in the intro (they would do this again on Can You Forgive Her), and the retracting baseline on the first chorus.

My favourite non-single track on the album.

Completely agree. Would love to have heard different mixes of it but it's a belter.

Well, there is the unrealeased 1985 Blue Weaver mix.

[Disco.]

Violence, is one of the weaker tracks on Please, prefer the Hacienda version. I want a lover is one on the other hand is one of the best tracks on the album.

[telys]

Violence, is one of the weaker tracks on Please, prefer the Hacienda version. I want a lover is one on the other hand is one of the best tracks on the album.

Lyrically Violence is way better than I Want A Lover. And they got Helena Springs on Violence, don't they? That makes it even better. Melodically, well then perhaps IWAL is better than Violence.

[Pinhead44]

Good to see Pinhead picking up the slack (I have added the track titles and chronology to your posts so that people can follow the direction of travel in the thread. If people open discussion on the next track, please add the Track and Chronology details to keep the thread on track, so to speak).

Violence always seems to be the least interesting moment on Please, and then I listen to it and find myself enjoying it immensely. It's very melodic and the atmospheric backing is immersive, allowing the listener to remain on the mean streets of Urbanity.

I want a lover is absolutely thrilling, building frenetically to a throbbing climax. It's the first great single-that-never-was in their catalogue: The subterfuge of copping off.

Drico.

Thanks Drico and apologies if I've trodden on any toes.

Also thanks for creating this thread which convinced me to finally join the forum after years of lurking.

I'm assuming we are going to be working our way through the b-sides and bonus tracks, after we've done the albums ?

[Drico One]

Good to see Pinhead picking up the slack (I have added the track titles and chronology to your posts so that people can follow the direction of travel in the thread. If people open discussion on the next track, please add the Track and Chronology details to keep the thread on track, so to speak).

Violence always seems to be the least interesting moment on Please, and then I listen to it and find myself enjoying it immensely. It's very melodic and the atmospheric backing is immersive, allowing the listener to remain on the mean streets of Urbanity.

I want a lover is absolutely thrilling, building frenetically to a throbbing climax. It's the first great single-that-never-was in their catalogue: The subterfuge of copping off.

Drico.

Thanks Drico and apologies if I've trodden on any toes.

Also thanks for creating this thread which convinced me to finally join the forum after years of lurking.

I'm assuming we are going to be working our way through the b-sides and bonus tracks, after we've done the albums ?

No toes trodden on at all. I'm relieved somebody has taken up the baton. That was the intention. And yes, we aim to discuss everything on the Further Listening discs, so b-sides and bonus tracks are part of the natural chronology of the thread. So, we should be starting into A man could get arrested on Wednesday...

Welcome to the forum.

Drico.

[Neilatrone]

Well, there is the unrealeased 1985 Blue Weaver mix.

I've never heard it so I cannot comment.

[Gabby]

Violence

Neil's vocal is lovely on this track ! The music on the Please version has always been a bit disappointing for me though, although that was corrected on the fabulous reworked Hacienda version that was later released. (6/10)

This was the only dip for me on Please. I loved every other track except this one. However, the sentiment was not lost on me.

Me too. Violence (album version) was a total snorefest to my teenage self. The Hac version elevates it and that is still my preferred version, but I've come to appreciate the album version over the years.

Maybe it was a bit too highbrow for this carefree teen at the time.

[Tom Angel]

I Want a Lover - those frantic horns and the desperation in this song that captures everything a teenage boy (or girl) could have wanted.

This has never been a 'gay' album or 'queer' as someone recently tired to claim. It's the rush of electronics capturing the lust of (night) life accessible to anyone, or rather NOT everyone - as a shy young teenager this song captured what I had only outlined internally.

At this time of night when the crowds have passed
We're the last to leave, we need some company

There's no irony here, just the hedonism and metronomic propulsion of synths and those cracking trombone stabs (played by Chris Lowe apparently) of much of 'the early stuff' that sparked that collision of impossible yearning and potential promise.

[telys]

I Want a Lover - those frantic horns and the desperation in this song that captures everything a teenage boy (or girl) could have wanted.

This has never been a 'gay' album or 'queer' as someone recently tired to claim. It's the rush of electronics capturing the lust of (night) life accessible to anyone, or rather NOT everyone - as a shy young teenager this song captured what I had only outlined internally.

At this time of night when the crowds have passed
We're the last to leave, we need some company

There's no irony here, just the hedonism and metronomic propulsion of synths and those cracking trombone stabs (played by Chris Lowe apparently) of much of 'the early stuff' that sparked that collision of impossible yearning and potential promise.

I want a lover is the missing piece in what could've been a great 1985 album and where we have the other pieces:
1. Opportunities (original 12'' mix)
2. In The Night
3. A Man Could Get Arrested
4. West End Girls (10''/dance mix)
5. Stick It On
6. Why Don't We Live Together (NYC mix)
7. I Want A Lover (Blue Weaver mix)
8. Opportunities (reprise)
9. That's My Impression
10. What Have I Done To Deserve This (w A Willis) - although this is probably only a demo, the other tracks were properly recorded.

I'm also waiting for these albums:
The Camden Basement Tapes 1981-1983, a little bit of cleansing and mixing of those demoes would be a wow!
The New York "Bobby O" album 1983-1984, c'mon there is a whole album there, why can't we have it?

[Drico One]

I've always felt that I want a lover was full of coded references. You can take it at face value or you can ascribe all kinds of meanings - hiding in plain sight - to it. "Someone just like me" is conspiratorial, a lyrical wink and nod to those who want to see these things. "I don't care whether it's wrong or right" might as well preface the confessional defiance of It's a sin.

Drico.