Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

[Old Soak]

I like it when Neil gets angry. For a while around the '90s and early '00s I used to get frustrated at Neil being an utter drip. He was always the victim. As much as we all like a bit of self-indulgence, the "woe is me" routine gets tired. When he's in valedictory mood, his observations often carry a waspish quality. Through you works in the contrast between the rather simple, almost childish triumphalism and the weaponised character assassination that he indulges in to make his point. Loneliness has a sting, too, in that his concern is loaded with accusatory truths.

Drico.

Yes, I don't know whether the opening line of Loneliness has been discussed anywhere. The "better fight" may imply that Neil's character and the subject of the song have just been arguing...

I'd say 'The better fight' implies choose your battles wisely, don't sweat the small stuff but make a stand where most important.

[daveid]

The version of Opportunities they played live for xfm in 2003/4 was a sort-of mash-up with In the Night.

Such a shame these XFM versions have never been released. Opportunities version is stunning. There's a real opportunity (sorry!) for a compilation of new versions of songs, which I'm aware Furthermore touches on, but how about all the Nightlife tour versions , etc

There's a treasure trove there. All the tour versions. At least we got some of the Peel session-material on FL. Maybe one day we'll get box sets for all albums/eras.

The XFM-session was like getting part of the Bobby O-album that never were (Opportunities and Rent)
Discogs mentions a bootleg release
https://www.discogs.com/release/9379120 ... ve-At-X-FM

Yeah, the xfm versions are superb. They should be released, as should other tracks like Bounce and the so-called Abbey Rd version of West End girls.

[Flamboyyyant!]

I like it when Neil gets angry. For a while around the '90s and early '00s I used to get frustrated at Neil being an utter drip. He was always the victim. As much as we all like a bit of self-indulgence, the "woe is me" routine gets tired. When he's in valedictory mood, his observations often carry a waspish quality. Through you works in the contrast between the rather simple, almost childish triumphalism and the weaponised character assassination that he indulges in to make his point. Loneliness has a sting, too, in that his concern is loaded with accusatory truths.

Drico.

I think Can You Forgive Her? and For Your Own Good, to name a few, pretty much angry songs, sorry for offtop

[Silver Age]

Such a shame these XFM versions have never been released. Opportunities version is stunning. There's a real opportunity (sorry!) for a compilation of new versions of songs, which I'm aware Furthermore touches on, but how about all the Nightlife tour versions , etc

There's a treasure trove there. All the tour versions. At least we got some of the Peel session-material on FL. Maybe one day we'll get box sets for all albums/eras.

The XFM-session was like getting part of the Bobby O-album that never were (Opportunities and Rent)
Discogs mentions a bootleg release
https://www.discogs.com/release/9379120 ... ve-At-X-FM

Yeah, the xfm versions are superb. They should be released, as should other tracks like Bounce and the so-called Abbey Rd version of West End girls.

Prefect for a CD with Annually.

[telys]

Never been a big fan of this one. I'd say it's their least good B side of the 80s, apart from TSOTAS.

TSOTAS isn't meant to be "good". It's an experiment.

[ahafan02]

There was this anecdote where the engineer thought In The Night was the A-side and Opportunities the B-side. It's just that good. Also really interesting to see that they made a history lesson track so early in their career already.

I thought it was "Was That What It Was" not "In the Night" and the person was Shep Pettibone, who was remixing Opportunities.

No, it is 'In The Night'. Definitely remember them saying the mastering engineer though it was the A-side. Guessing it might have been a comment they made in the 'Alternative' booklet.

Thanks for the clarifying. I had to reread the Alternative booklet because it's not mentioned in the FL booklets.

[Patrick Bateman]

Love That’s My Impression. Yes, Neil does sound kind of butch on this. You can imagine him seething as he walks through Hyde Park.

[Drico One]

Track 14: Was that what it was?

Chronology: Please, Further Listening, Track 10

If Neil is angry on That's my impression, he's positively comatose on Was that what it was?, utterly accepting of the misstep that has blighted two lives. The tunefulness of the stunning chorus is glorious. The orchestrations that would become so central to their sound in later years get a work out, as if Chris is beginning to experiment and stretch the industrial percussiveness that dominates the crystalline soundscapes that Neil is now sleepwalking through.

Chronologically, it's tempting to view this as the denouement of the fractured relationship from the previous b-side. After all, this was the flip side of Opportunities while That's my impression supported Love comes quickly. "Something's been and gone" here, while the antagonist has "been and gone" when lying on That's my impression. By the end, Neil has utterly given up, and his feelings are contextualised by the storm-like fury of Chris's stabs - painful reminders of a tempestuous imbroglio that is finally blowing out.

Drico.

[telys]

Track 14: Was that what it was?

Chronology: Please, Further Listening, Track 10

If Neil is angry on That's my impression, he's positively comatose on Was that what it was?, utterly accepting of the misstep that has blighted two lives. The tunefulness of the stunning chorus is glorious. The orchestrations that would become so central to their sound in later years get a work out, as if Chris is beginning to experiment and stretch the industrial percussiveness that dominates the crystalline soundscapes that Neil is now sleepwalking through.

Chronologically, it's tempting to view this as the denouement of the fractured relationship from the previous b-side. After all, this was the flip side of Opportunities while That's my impression supported Love comes quickly. "Something's been and gone" here, while the antagonist has "been and gone" when lying on That's my impression. By the end, Neil has utterly given up, and his feelings are contextualised by the storm-like fury of Chris's stabs - painful reminders of a tempestuous imbroglio that is finally blowing out.

Drico.

Wouldn't have been out of place on Disco.

[tottenhammattspurs]

Their least favourite b-side. Well, Neil’s least favourite anyhow. For me, I love it. It’s the b side of the first ever single I bought of them. “4 tracks. Over 23 mins of music” said the gold sticker adorning the 12” from the shelves of my local Martin’s the Newsagents .

[TallThinMan]

Didn’t Neil have a cold or similar when recording the vocals for this? I don’t think the industrial percussion was much to do with Chris, I think it was all down to The Latin Rascals editing the tape with a razor blade.

[spacewalker]

Was that what it was? - I think the atmosphere of uncertainty is captured very well in this song. A bit of weirdness here and there makes it probably my favourite b-side of theirs.

[Disco.]

This is a really nice b-side, but a true b-side it is.

[Pinhead44]

Was that what it was? - Brilliant chorus on this. I always wanted more of it when I was younger, now I like that it only hits you 3 times across the 5 mins. Music also still sounds fab. A great track to play loud.

I think this is the track where although Shep Pettibone is credited with remixing it, it was actually his assistant who did the knob twiddling.

[leesmapman]

I love the last minute or so of the song, the long instrumental outro is pure 80s bliss.