Silly thing
| Silly thing | |
|---|---|
| Sex pistols | |
| publication | March 30, 1979 |
| length | 2:50 |
| Genre (s) | punk |
| Author (s) | Paul Cook , Steve Jones |
| Label | Virgin Records |
| album | The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle |
Silly Thing is a song by the Sex Pistols from their late phase when they were just the two of them. It was released in 1979. It was the third single to be released as a commercial for The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle . The song was written by drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones. It was picked up after the band's actual lead singer, Johnny Rotten , left. Usually Jones played not only guitar but also bass in the studio to make up for musical inadequacies from Sid Vicious , the band's official bassist.
Silly Thing (A-side)
Paul Cook version
In the original version of the song, Paul Thomas Cook sings and Stephen Philip Jones plays the electric bass. It is the first and only Sex Pistols studio recording that Paul sings on. The chords are simple. Both Cook and Jones sing in the original video. Jones is mounted four times next to each other, both together can even be seen three times for a short time. The costumes are changed frequently. There is even an alternative video with dancing women. But that doesn't really look like punk anymore. The song was recorded at Regents Park Studios in London by sound engineer Steve Lipson in April or May 1978. The recording of further guitar overdubs and the final mixing took place in late May 1978 at Rockfield Studios in Wales. The producer was Dave Goodman. This original version of Silly Thing can be heard on the soundtrack album for The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle and the singles in New Zealand , France and Japan . Another mix of this version, in which Cook sang the verses and Jones sang the chorus, was released in Japan in 1988. Together with an outtake from the same recording sessions, the original version of the Jones / Cook composition Here We Go Again .
Steve Jones version
In the second week of March 1979, Jones and Cook played a new version of the song with sound engineer Bill Price at Wessex Studios . Andy Allen was on the electric bass. He played for the Lightning Raiders , which later became the professionals together with Cook and Jones . This version of Silly Thing was used for the singles released in the UK, Australia , Germany and Portugal . She can also be heard on the 1992 Sex Pistols sampler Kiss This .
Who Killed Bambi? (B-side 1st version)
The song Who Killed Bambi? was composed and sung by Edward Tudor-Pole . The text is by Vivienne Westwood . It was recorded, arranged and conducted by Andrew Jackman with a 45-person orchestra. The recording took place in the summer of 78 in a large studio in Wembley. Tudor-Poles chant was added later. The corresponding film sequence from Tudor-Pole was shot together with actress Irene Handl at the Rainbow Theater in London.
Somethin 'Else (B-side different version)
Recorded in February 1979 at Regents Park Studios . Number 3 hit on the UK Singles Chart. The song was released three weeks after Vicious died. There are a few (minor) changes to the text. For example, the first verse was changed from "Here comes the girl again / Wanted to go out with her since I don't know when" to "Here comes the girl again / One of the cutest since I didn't know when". The third verse was adapted from "Worked hard and saved my cash / I'll buy the car I wanted so much" to "Worked hard and saved my cash / I'll buy the car and charge it with Joe".
- Singing - Sid Vicious
- Producer - Steve Jones
- Sound engineer - Stephen Lipson
- Written by - Eddie Cochran , Shari Sheeley
Charts
In the UK, the single was in the top 75 for eight weeks, reaching number 6 on April 7, 1979.
literature
- Clinton Heylin: Never Mind the Bollocks The Sex Pistols. Schirmer Books, 1998, ISBN 0-02-864726-2 , (English).
- Jon Savage : England's Dreaming - Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock. Abridged edition. Edition Tiamat from Verlag Klaus Bittermann, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89320-045-2 , (English).
- Steve Jones: Lonely Boy Pengui Random House UK, 1988/2016, 1998, ISBN 978-0-09-951053-6 , (English).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Sex Pistols - Silly Thing Guitar Tab.Songsterr, accessed June 30, 2020 .
- ↑ SILLY THING. Facebook, accessed on July 4, 2020 (unfortunately only square instead of landscape).
- ↑ Sex Pistols - Silly Thing (TOTP LEGS & CO). dailymotion, accessed July 4, 2020 .
- ↑ Rockfield Studios. rockfieldmusicgroup, accessed July 3, 2020 .
- ↑ a b Dave Goodman: My Amazing Adventures With The Sex Pistols . The Bluecat Press (English).
- ↑ Sex Pistols / The Ex Pistols - The Swindle Continues. discogs, 1988, accessed July 4, 2020 .
- ↑ Here We Go Again lyrics. song lyrics, accessed July 8, 2020 (English).
- ↑ Silly Thing Kiss This. soundthis, 2019, accessed June 29, 2020 .
- ↑ SILLY THING FRANCE. philjens, accessed on June 28, 2020 (English).
- ↑ Vivienne Westwood: Who Killed Bambi Lyrics by Sex Pistols. In: songtexte.com. Accessed June 30, 2020 (English).
- ↑ Pistols Movie: Decision This Week? Melody Maker, March 10, 1979, p. 3 (English).
- ↑ Sex Pistols - Silly Thing. Discogs, accessed June 28, 2020 .
- ↑ Something Else Lyrics by Sex Pistols. In: songtexte.com. Accessed June 30, 2020 (English).
- ↑ Official singles Chart results matching: silly thing / who killed bambi. In: officialcharts.com. Accessed June 30, 2020 (English).