Wud Records Awesome RSS Feed

Wud Records Awesome RSS Feed

By Wud RecordsMusic
Download on the App Store

Wud Records Awesome RSS Feed episodes

  • Dark Company: Astrologer
    Astrologer by Dark Company.
    Album: Signmaker
    ASTROLOGER
    The planets run their course and then
    Make signs we cannot read
    The stars of choice they got no voice
    Just wink and dumbly plead
    When dawnlight speaks from out the dark
    Of night’s grim cloak of ice
    All the telescopes of the scientists
    Don’t help them to be wise
    And I hear rainbows climb the sky
    Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes
    I taste sunlight’s yellow wine
    See black night fade back into time
    Mystic men write words that flame
    To banish Satan’s lies
    The human race must join the chase
    Instead it just slips and slides
    On special days weird omens come
    Judged by blind-eyed priests
    But the tribes of man like grains of sand
    Pray only for release
    And I hear rainbows climb the sky
    Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes
    I taste sunlight’s yellow wine
    See black night fade back into time
    The planets run their course and then
    Make signs we cannot read
    The stars of choice they got no voice
    Just wink and dumbly plead
    When dawnlight speaks from out the dark
    Of night’s grim cloak of ice
    All the telescopes of the scientists
    Don’t help them to be wise
    And I hear rainbows climb the sky
    Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes
    I taste sunlight’s yellow wine
    See black night fade back into time
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals
    George Davies – guitars, bass, Boss DR220A drum machine, keys, EDP Wasp
    Rowena Parsons – tenor saxophone, flute
    Sammi Lock - flute
    Recorded, mixed and produced by George Davies at Silent Running Studios, Exeter, Autumn 1991.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released 19th December 1991.
    First re-release March 1992.
    Second re-release June 2000.
    Third re-release 16th December 2010.
    Cover Art:
    Icy Eye by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * This song is in the key of E major.
    * When George wrote out the score for the sax parts, it had six sharps due to being in F# on the sax.
    * Row was somewhat wide-eyed when she saw the score as concert E major is not the best key for tenor saxophone.
    * Although it worked fine on keys, the sax part in the choruses had too many notes to make sense, so every other one was dropped.
    * Pete wrote the words for this during August 1991 whilst on holiday in Bexhill and informed George of its manifestation by postcard.
    * This song is played at 112 BPM.
    * Chords for verses are E - Emaj7 - Bm9 - Bm7.
    * Chords for choruses are Am7 - B7 - Am7 - B7.
    * The intro chords are E - Am - F#m11 - Bm11.
    * The guitars and bass were recorded straight into the desk.
    * The original idea for the music came from a James Bond theme tune.
    * Astrologer received highly positive critical acclaim from the Guild of International Songwriters and Composers.
    * Due to unfamiliarity with the gear, the DBX on the TSR-8 was switched off for the recording, causing a most horrendous amount of hiss.
    * The red LED meant the DBX was 'off', not 'on'.
    * This was later fixed with cunning use of gates and aural exciters.
    * Astrologer was later performed on the streets of Prague by Dr Watson and was also used by George during his English lessons when he worked as a TEFL teacher.
    * An attempt was made at converting this song into a Cubase sequence a couple of years later, the results of which were a somewhat twee sounding ditty that could be a splendid theme tune for a TV programme for very young children.
    * That particular arrangement of the song became one of the bonus tracks of the Signmaker album.
    * When Astrologer was released as the second single from Signmaker, it was backed with & co's Astrologer (Kiddies' TV from Hell RMX) and Animal House.
    See also:
    http://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    http://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/astrologer
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    4 min
  • Dark Company: Killer
    Killer by Dark Company.
    Album: Signmaker
    KILLER
    Learning is a clock with only one hand
    Dreaming is a beach with speaking sands
    Knowledge is a vice that grips a man
    And Cain was a killer that didn’t understand
    Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string
    Time is a bird that cannot sing
    And you can’t stop the rain with anything
    Except love
    Wanting is a boat that doesn’t know the sea
    Needing is a pain that hurts to be free
    Waiting is a lock that doesn’t have no key
    And Cain was a killer that could have been me
    Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string
    Time is a bird that cannot sing
    And you can’t stop the rain with anything
    Except love
    War is a sore that won’t go away
    Night is a bruise on the skin of day
    Children are the reason that you say you’ll stay
    And Cain was a killer who got clean away
    Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string
    Time is a bird that cannot sing
    And you can’t stop the rain with anything
    Except love
    Teachers are people who shoot at sparks
    Lessons are knives that shine in the dark
    Sins are boats on the lake in the park
    And Cain was a killer right there at the start
    Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string
    Time is a bird that cannot sing
    And you can’t stop the rain with anything
    Except love
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/R. Parsons.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals
    George Davies – guitars, bass, Boss DR220A drum machine
    Rowena Parsons – tenor saxophone
    Recorded, mixed and produced by George Davies at Silent Running Studios, Exeter, Autumn 1991.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released 19th December 1991.
    First re-release March 1992.
    Second re-release June 2000.
    Third re-release 16th December 2010.
    Cover Art:
    Red Splat 1 by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * This song is in the key of A minor.
    * During the recording of the sax part, Row played a fabulous blort which caused much giggling and can be heard as a bonus track and on the ‘out-takes and blorts’ page at Wud Records.
    * Unfortunately much of the giggling cannot be heard.
    * This was the very first Dark Company song that was completed.
    * It received highly positive critical acclaim from the Guild of International Songwriters and Composers.
    * Due to unfamiliarity with the gear, the DBX on the TSR-8 was switched off for the recording, causing a most horrendous amount of hiss.
    * The red LED meant the DBX was 'off', not 'on'.
    * This was later fixed with cunning use of gates and aural exciters.
    * Killer was written in August 1991 and is 110 BPM.
    * The guitars were recorded straight into the desk rather than using an amplifier.
    * Killer was the first single released by Dark Company from the Signmaker album.
    * It was backed with Second Sight and the digital remix of Killer.
    * If you listen carefully to Second Sight, you can hear a little ploppy guitar line running through the song here and there, similar to the ones in Killer.
    See also:
    http://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    http://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/killer
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    4 min
  • & co: Armed & Dangerous (Digital RMX)
    Armed & Dangerous (Digital RMX) by & co.
    Album: Signmaker
    Bonus track!
    ARMED & DANGEROUS
    In the circus there’s a uniform for fun
    The love they got is fired from clownish guns
    But it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Warmed up with a yellow paper sun
    Each act in line comes right in on cue
    Bringing our emotions into view
    And it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Next time bring your mind along with you
    There’s a pistol in my smile
    It shoots grins for miles and miles
    But look into my eyes
    The reflection’s saying goodbye
    Outside the ring we sit and blankly stare
    Nobody but our own selves in the chair
    But it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Close your eyes and no-one knows you’re there
    With animals such tricks are neatly made
    They nod and wink in terminal parade
    It’s oh so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Into their souls we think we can invade
    There’s a pistol in my smile
    It shoots grins for miles and miles
    But look into my eyes
    The reflection’s saying goodbye
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/S. Lock/J. Willmot.
    Please note that there is no actualy vocal part included in this version.
    Lyrics are included so the listener can sing along.
    This remix version created at Silent Running Studios 1992 by G. Davies.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released June 2000.
    First re-release 16th December 2010.
    Performers:
    George Davies – Atari Cubase v. 2.01, E-Mu Pro-Cussion, Yamaha TG33, Kawai K4r, Akai S900.
    Cover Art:
    Basset Space by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1990 D & G Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * When Dark Company went digital in 1992, George and Jeff spent a long time making Cubase play all of their songs.
    * Many new songs were written at this time also.
    * This is an extremely embryonic version of Armed & Dangerous that was transferred to the Atari.
    * Some of the main musical themes of the original are evident.
    * This arrangement is different from the original and the track is much shorter.
    * It doesn’t have a proper ending as such.
    * Nothing further was done with this version.
    * We felt it had a curious quaint charm all of its own and that Dark Company fans would be interested to hear some of this rare material.
    * This track first appeared as a bonus track on the reissue of Signmaker in 2000.
    * This is considered an & co track because there are no vocals and no analogue musical instruments, such as guitar or bass.
    * Jeff deserves credit for finding the splendid drum sample, the source of which remains unknown.
    See also:
    https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/armed-dangerous-digital-rmx
    https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/track/armed-dangerous
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    2 min
  • & co: Dangerous Dub
    Dangerous Dub by & co.
    Album: Signmaker
    Bonus track!
    ARMED & DANGEROUS
    In the circus there’s a uniform for fun
    The love they got is fired from clownish guns
    But it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Warmed up with a yellow paper sun
    Each act in line comes right in on cue
    Bringing our emotions into view
    And it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Next time bring your mind along with you
    There’s a pistol in my smile
    It shoots grins for miles and miles
    But look into my eyes
    The reflection’s saying goodbye
    Outside the ring we sit and blankly stare
    Nobody but our own selves in the chair
    But it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Close your eyes and no-one knows you’re there
    With animals such tricks are neatly made
    They nod and wink in terminal parade
    It’s oh so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Into their souls we think we can invade
    There’s a pistol in my smile
    It shoots grins for miles and miles
    But look into my eyes
    The reflection’s saying goodbye
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/S. Lock/J. Willmot.
    Please note that the vocal part is not fully included in this version.
    Lyrics are included so the listener can sing along.
    This remix version created at Silent Running Studios 1991 by J. Willmot.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released June 2000.
    First re-release 16th December 2010.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals
    George Davies – electric and acoustic guitars, bass, Boss DR220A drum machine
    Sammi Lock – flute
    Jeff Willmot – soprano saxophone, mixing desk
    Rowena Parsons – tenor saxophone
    Cover Art:
    Basset Space (Alien Seed) by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1990 D & G Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * This track first appeared as a bonus track on the reissue of Signmaker in 2000.
    * This is more of an & co piece as it is a remix of Armed & Dangerous.
    * One of the most interesting things about this track lies in the soprano sax and the flute.
    * Some of Jeff’s sax parts and Sammi’s flute parts present in these remixes were subsequently replaced by those you can hear in the finished Signmaker version of Armed & Dangerous.
    * This track and Armed & Dubwise came about when Jeff and George had a mix-off in the studio to make a dub mix of Armed & Dangerous.
    * Both versions are first take, no warm up or anything!
    * We cannot confirm who was the winner.
    * Nor can we confirm whether or not any eastern spices were involved.
    * We suspect there probably were.
    * This track and Dangerous Dub led to the birth of & co, the remixing division of Dark Company.
    * The name stems from the ampersand ‘&’ in ‘Armed & Dangerous’.
    See also:
    http://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    http://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/dangerous-dub
    https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/track/armed-dangerous
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    6 min
  • Dark Company: Crash (Eastenders RMX)
    Crash (Eastenders RMX) by Dark Company.
    Album: Signmaker
    Bonus track!
    CRASH
    No more candid picture shows
    Just soap bubble opera’s shallow glows
    They tell me it’s a story about my life
    To just ignore what I don’t like
    It’s so real I must live like that
    Script in my pocket and a ticket in my hat
    We gotta stop
    We’re gonna crash
    Life is money you can’t pay back
    Life is money you can’t pay back
    No more cracks in the temple walls
    Next week’s episode will save us all
    Your mirror becomes a TV tube
    What was reflection now is a view
    The face you see is not your own
    It spends its time in someone else’s home
    We gotta stop
    We’re gonna crash
    Life is money you can’t pay back
    Life is money you can’t pay back
    No more thoughts in a lazy way
    They scream from the glass: “We’ll make your day!”
    I believe it’s true because it’s on the screen
    But you can only see what they have seen
    We’re all plugged in to one beating heart
    Life don’t begin until the programme starts
    We gotta stop
    We’re gonna crash
    Life is money you can’t pay back
    Life is money you can’t pay back
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/J. Willmot/R. Holloway/M. Greatorex/G. Barbe.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals
    George Davies – guitars, Boss DR220A drum machine, organ, EDP Wasp
    Jeff Willmot – bass
    Recorded, mixed and produced by George Davies at Silent Running Studios Exeter, 1991.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released March 1992.
    First re-release June 2000.
    Second re-release 16th December 2010.
    Cover Art:
    Dark Company Vol. 1 by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1990 Pig Pen Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun facts:
    * This version of Crash is essenially identical to the oher version on the Signmaker album, except for one extra track on the reel-to-reel machine.
    * This extra track is full of EastEnders voice samples and some raher flaulent sounds from the EDP Wasp.
    * All the samples were taken from a single omnibus episode of EastEnders, which was broadcast on uk terrestrial TV in December 1991.
    * The sampling was done using the Alesis Quadraverb Plus, which has a maximum sample length of just 1.55 seconds.
    * Crash was Alien Heat’s set opener, although sadly no recordings of the Alien Heat version still exist as far as we know.
    * The key is B minor.
    * When George went to entertain the folks of Plymouth in the subways with his acoustic guitar, he used to play Crash sliced together with another Dark Company song called Ulysses.
    * Ulysses was not developed very much by Alien Heat.
    * Pete then lost the lyrics.
    * The music for Ulysses later became an Ug Brothers song, called Paperchase.
    * Crash was the very first song that Jeff played bass on for Dark Company.
    * All the guitar dirt is natural Marshall overdrive.
    * George had just had his Mk I head revalved and spent around 45 minutes playing feedback, until Pete appeared and asked him very politely to stop.
    * The guitar parts for Crash were recorded within a few days after that.
    * George and Richard wrote the organ part in George’s Haldon Road bedsit one day, when Richard came to visit with his keyboards.
    * Whatever contributions Marc and Graham made to the writing of Crash are now lost in the mists of time, although they receive a small credit here nevertheless.
    See also:
    https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/crash-eastenders-remix
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    Over the years, Crash has drawn a lot of comment as its mix of styles is very appealing. Van Halen, ZZ Top, Talking Heads, The Who and AC/DC seem to be the most frequent comparisons. This was a favourite comment on Twitter one day: "Crash sounds like the Who, Talking Heads and Yes all jamming together." - https://twitter.com/prosperousmu
    4 min
  • Dark Company: Killer (classic blort)
    Killer (classic blort) by Dark Company
    Album: Signmaker
    Bonus track!
    KILLER
    Learning is a clock with only one hand
    Dreaming is a beach with speaking sands
    Knowledge is a vice that grips a man
    And Cain was a killer that didn’t understand
    Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string
    Time is a bird that cannot sing
    And you can’t stop the rain with anything
    Except love
    Wanting is a boat that doesn’t know the sea
    Needing is a pain that hurts to be free
    Waiting is a lock that doesn’t have no key
    And Cain was a killer that could have been me
    Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string
    Time is a bird that cannot sing
    And you can’t stop the rain with anything
    Except love
    War is a sore that won’t go away
    Night is a bruise on the skin of day
    Children are the reason that you say you’ll stay
    And Cain was a killer who got clean away
    Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string
    Time is a bird that cannot sing
    And you can’t stop the rain with anything
    Except love
    Teachers are people who shoot at sparks
    Lessons are knives that shine in the dark
    Sins are boats on the lake in the park
    And Cain was a killer right there at the start
    Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string
    Time is a bird that cannot sing
    And you can’t stop the rain with anything
    Except love
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/R. Parsons.
    Please note that this is not the full version.
    Full lyrics are included all the same.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals
    George Davies – guitars, bass, Boss DR220A drum machine
    Rowena Parsons – tenor saxophone
    Recorded, mixed and produced by George Davies at Silent Running Studios Exeter, Autumn 1991.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released June 2000.
    First re-release 16th December 2010.
    Cover Art:
    Green Splat 1 by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * This is an out-take from the recording of Killer.
    * It stars Rowena on tenor saxophone.
    * If you listen carefully, you can hear the assorted gigglings of all those present after she unexpectedly blew a particularly unexpected note at the end of her phrase.
    * Killer was the very first Dark Company recording to be completed.
    * It received highly positive critical acclaim from the Guild of International Songwriters and Composers.
    * Due to unfamiliarity with the gear, the DBX on the TSR-8 was switched off for the recording, causing a most horrendous amount of hiss.
    * The red LED meant the DBX was 'off', not 'on'.
    * This was later fixed with cunning use of gates and aural exciters.
    * Killer was written in August 1991.
    * The key is A minor and the tempo is 110 BPM.
    * The guitars were recorded straight into the desk rather than using an amplifier.
    * Killer was the first single released by Dark Company from the Signmaker album.
    * It was backed with Second Sight and the digital remix of Killer.
    * If you listen carefully to Second Sight, you can hear a little ploppy guitar line running through the song here and there, similar to the ones in Killer.
    See also:
    https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/killer-classic-blort
    https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/track/killer
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    1 min
  • Dark Company: Blue House (laughter version)
    Blue House (laughter version) by Dark Company.
    Album: Signmaker
    Bonus track!
    BLUE HOUSE (LAUGHTER VERSION)
    I don’t fit in your ice lolly mould
    I don’t fit in your car
    I don’t fit in your cute hornrims
    I don’t follow your star
    I’m just so awkward
    It’s too good to be true
    Got ideas like a disease
    There’s nothing in my head except John Coltrane
    I can’t make sense of what I see
    I can’t make sense of what I see
    I’m just so precious
    Cos I know I’m so right
    Got no limitations of thought
    There’s nothing in my pocket except a lump of steel
    Money’s no honey and life is short
    Money’s no honey and life is short
    I’m just so dreamy
    And I’m living a lie
    I like the lie I’m living too
    There’s nothing in my wallet except a smeared photo
    And you know it isn’t even of you
    You know it isn’t even of you
    I’m just so twisted
    Don’t want to find the door
    Outside is where you should be
    There’s nothing in my heart except a Bowie knife
    One cut, you know, it sets me free
    One cut, you know, it sets me free
    I don’t fit in your white ski pants
    I don’t fit in your tweeds
    I don’t fit in your hip Raybans
    I don’t have your needs
    I’m just so weary
    Much too tired to sleep
    Got this roller coaster bed
    There’s nothing in my soul except some hot be-bop
    What you asked is what I said
    What you asked is what I said
    I’m just so cool
    I’m cut right outta ice
    Got words like a freezing snow
    There’s nothing in my mind except a long bus ride
    I keep telling you I’ve got to go
    Keep telling you I’ve got to go
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/R. Parsons/D. Wills/J. Willmot/B. Ballard/S. Malpas.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals
    George Davies – guitar
    Don Wills – guitar
    Rowena Parsons – tenor sax
    Simon Malpas – trumpet
    Recorded, mixed and produced by George Davies at Silent Running Studios Exeter, Autumn 1991.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released June 2000.
    First re-release 16th December 2010.
    Cover Art:
    Mondo Smile by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * Watch out for the occasional expletive!
    * This recording captures a few moments of absolute hysteria.
    * It was mostly caused by Simon discovering a whole scale of entirely inappropriate notes on the trumpet.
    * Everybody giggled at some point in this song.
    * Giggles during a performance can be highly contagious, as anybody who ever watched an 'out takes' show on tv will know.
    * There was one moment where everybody caught the giggles at the same time.
    * The song almost ended in total chaos a couple times.
    * Pete did a great job keeping the band rolling along.
    * It’s not easy to play trumpet or sax when laughing because one’s mouth will not generally maintain the correct shape.
    * This song is in G#m minor and has some fabulously jazzy chords.
    * In later versions of this song, there was a section in three-time and a duel between the bass and drums.
    * A more polished version of this song will eventually be found on Dark Company’s unfinished Can of Worms album.
    See also:
    https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/blue-house-laughter-version
    https://soundcloud.com/wud-records/dark-company-blue-house?in=wud-records/sets/dark-company-can-of-worms
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    5 min
  • Dark Company: The Joker (demo)
    The Joker (demo) by Dark Company.
    Album: Signmaker
    Bonus track!
    THE JOKER
    I look out from this scratched and faded view
    Makeshift repairs instead of getting new
    Don’t you ever get tired of tracing all the wires
    Knowing that the switches won’t switch for you?
    I work at the job that’s easiest, you see
    Paying rent instead of living free
    Don’t you wanna be bad instead of just being sad
    Finding out you can be you instead of me?
    The Joker he stares proudly at the wall
    He can be who he wants to be
    But he don’t wanna ‘be’ at all
    He’s an empty Harlequin
    With colours growing dim
    And he struts about inside his little world
    I keep up with the latest lines of talk
    So I can ride instead of having to walk
    Don’t you like the fashions that gotta little passion?
    Being daring takes an extra bit of thought
    I sleep with one eye fixed upon the clock
    Waiting for the Reaper’s ghostly knock
    Don’t you keep the days checking which ones can stay
    Using them for your story’s clever plot?
    The Joker he stares proudly at the wall
    He can be who he wants to be
    But he don’t wanna ‘be’ at all
    He’s an empty Harlequin
    With colours growing dim
    And he struts about inside his little world
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/B. Ballard/S. Malpas.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals
    George Davies – guitar, bass
    Simon Malpas – trumpet
    Ben Ballard – drums
    Recorded, mixed and produced by George Davies at Silent Running Studios Exeter, Autumn 1991.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released March 1992.
    First re-release June 2000.
    Second re-release 16th December 2010.
    Cover Art:
    Bite Me! by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1989 Pig Pen Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * This song is very closely related to Armed & Dangerous as they both share the same tune in the verses.
    * George considered this tune-sharing conundrum a challenge and set about making this song and Armed & Dangerous appear to not be all that similar after all.
    * The tempo is 138BPM and the key is B minor.
    * George composed and recorded a demo of the guitar part whilst looking through Pete's lyric book during a marathon 72-hour session of studio work.
    * Ben recorded the drums at the same time as George’s guide guitar track, which was played on the Ice Maiden plugged straight into the mixing desk.
    * George was attempting to give directions to Ben throughout their performance.
    * When Pete laid down a guide vocal track, Simon was rehearsing his trumpet parts in the background.
    * If you listen carefully, you can hear little snatches of his horn being picked up by the vocal mic.
    * Some of it is rather wonderful.
    * George then added a guide bass track on the Plank, which in those days was tuned as a standard bass guitar.
    * The bassline was unplanned until its recording, and has since become a main feature of the song.
    * There is a touch too much trigger flange across the cymbals and liberal amounts of delays from the Alesis Quadraverb in this rather fun and dubby mix.
    * Even the click track makes a tastefully calculated occasional appearance!
    * It is not certain why this recording of The Joker was never finished.
    * We felt that it has a curious merit all of its own, despite a few musical blunders.
    * This demo version of The Joker was first included on the Signmaker album for its first re-release, in March 1992.
    * There is a subsequent version of The Joker by Dark Company on their Alien Heat album.
    * When Pete became too ill to perform in 1994, his replacement Andy would sometimes sing different and rather comical lyrics.
    See also:
    https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/the-joker
    https://soundcloud.com/wud-records/dark-company-the-joker?in=wud-records/sets/dark-company-alien-heat
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    6 min
  • & co: Armed & Dubwise
    Armed & Dubwise by & co.
    Album: Signmaker
    Bonus track!
    ARMED & DANGEROUS
    In the circus there’s a uniform for fun
    The love they got is fired from clownish guns
    But it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Warmed up with a yellow paper sun
    Each act in line comes right in on cue
    Bringing our emotions into view
    And it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Next time bring your mind along with you
    There’s a pistol in my smile
    It shoots grins for miles and miles
    But look into my eyes
    The reflection’s saying goodbye
    Outside the ring we sit and blankly stare
    Nobody but our own selves in the chair
    But it’s so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Close your eyes and no-one knows you’re there
    With animals such tricks are neatly made
    They nod and wink in terminal parade
    It’s oh so dangerous
    Armed laughter changing us
    Into their souls we think we can invade
    There’s a pistol in my smile
    It shoots grins for miles and miles
    But look into my eyes
    The reflection’s saying goodbye
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/S. Lock/J. Willmot.
    Please note that the vocal part is not fully included in this version.
    Lyrics are included so the listener can sing along.
    This remix version created at Silent Running Studios 1991 by G. Davies.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released June 2000.
    First re-release 16th December 2010.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals
    George Davies – electric and acoustic guitars, bass, Boss DR220A drum machine, mixing desk
    Sammi Lock – flute
    Jeff Willmot – soprano saxophone
    Rowena Parsons – tenor saxophone
    Cover Art:
    Basset Space (Sucked 2) by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1990 D & G Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * This track first appeared as a bonus track on the reissue of Signmaker in 2000.
    * This is more of an & co piece as it is a remix of Armed & Dangerous.
    * One of the most interesting things about this track lies in the soprano sax and the flute.
    * Some of Jeff’s sax parts and Sammi’s flute parts present in these remixes were subsequently replaced by those you can hear in the finished Signmaker version of Armed & Dangerous.
    * This track and Dangerous Dub came about when Jeff and George had a mix-off in the studio to make a dub mix of Armed & Dangerous.
    * Both versions are first take, no warm up or anything!
    * We cannot confirm who was the winner.
    * Nor can we confirm whether or not any eastern spices were involved.
    * We suspect there probably were.
    * This track and Dangerous Dub led to the birth of & co, the remixing division of Dark Company.
    * The name stems from the ampersand ‘&’ in ‘Armed & Dangerous’.
    See also:
    https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/armed-dubwise
    https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/track/armed-dangerous
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    6 min
  • Dark Company: Future Sadness Past
    Future Sadness Past by Dark Company.
    Album: Signmaker
    FUTURE SADNESS PAST
    Slow light, runway from the sun
    So right, time and times are done
    We must pay the price for fun
    Until we have Night Man on the run
    Slow light, MacBeth witches’ brew
    Best seen from some distant view
    We know, do what you have to do
    It’s an icy night we must all live through
    Now we rage against the cold sky
    Now we hate tomorrow
    Now we say we will try
    To kill the birds of sorrow
    To kill the birds of sorrow
    ★
    Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
    Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/J. Willmot.
    Performers:
    Peter Greatorex – vocals, cigarette lighter, fast fret tin
    George Davies – guitar
    Jeff Willmot – bass
    Recorded live at Silent Running Studios, Exeter, Autumn 1991.
    Audio lifted from a cassette bootleg and cleaned.
    Remastered at Wud Records Studios 2010.
    Originally released 19th December 1991.
    First re-release March 1992.
    Second re-release June 2000.
    Third re-release 16th December 2010.
    Cover Art:
    Mushroom Baby by Peter Greatorex
    Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
    Copyright © 2010 Wud Records.
    Fun Facts:
    * This song was composed using just a bass, a guitar, their volume knobs and a shiny new set of lyrics from the prolific pen of Pete.
    * An Alesis Quadraverb Plus and a few pipes of some extraordinarily good gear also deserve accreditation.
    * Several subsequent attempts were made to record Future Sadness Past using the reel-to-reel machine.
    * This live version was by far everybody’s favourite.
    * It is lifted straight off the rehearsal cassette from the day when it was originally created.
    * George plays Nicodemus for the beautiful icy ringing of the strings when played beyond the bridge and the nut.
    * Jeff was rather fond of using his Mighty Mite bass to make whale noises and would often break into them during quieter moments.
    * He would also play a solo version of Misty by Johnny Mathis on the bass, which was completely wonderful.
    * An acoustic version of Future Sadness Past song emerged a few years after the original.
    * It is based around an Em9 chord, exactly the same chord as the start of Ship to Shore.
    * Future Sadness Past is completely atemporal and relies on the performers’ interactions.
    * There are no beats at all until Pete starts flicking his unusual Zippo gas lighter by the mic and then tapping George’s Fast Fret tin with it.
    * We felt these added sounds were very atmospheric, reminiscent of the clicking of dry bones echoing from inside a fog over the darkened River Styx.
    See also:
    http://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company
    http://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker/future-sadness-past
    https://twitter.com/Dark_Company
    https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Company-154909774522910/
    https://www.instagram.com/wudrecords/
    https://twitter.com/WudRecords
    6 min

About Wud Records Awesome RSS Feed

From the publisher's feed

Contact: [email protected]