A Thousand Dropped Names

suss · In the Long Grass

A Thousand Dropped Names

jamieuka · House on Fire

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Adolf
- I never loved Eva Braun

Agatha
- Keep It Up

Arnold
- ???

Barbara
- Diamond Smiles

Bill
- Watch Out For the Normal People

Billy
- Rat Trap

Bob
- Nice and Neat

Charlie (x2)
1) She's so Modern
2) Go Man Go

Dale
- Diamond Smiles

Dave
- Dave

Diamond
- Diamond Smiles

Eva
- I never loved Eva Braun

Fifi
- Go Man Go

Frankie
- When the Night Comes

Garry
- ???

Harry
- Nothing Happened Today

Hercules
- Me and Howard Hughes

Howard
- Me and Howard Hughes

Ian
- Another Piece of Red

Jack (x2)
1) Watch Out For the Normal People
2) ???

Jean
- She's So Modern

Jill
- Watch Out For the Normal People

Joe
- Up All Night

Joey
- Joey's on the Street Again

Johnnie
- Mary of the Fourth Form

Johnny
- Another Sad Story

Judy
- Rat Trap

Lisa
- She's So Modern

Louise
- House on Fire

Magenta
- She's so Modern

Mary
- Mary of the Fourth Form

Mick
- Say Hello to Mick

Mona
- She's so Modern

Ray
- Nice and Neat

Sally
- ???

Sissy
- ???

Susan
- She's So Modern

Suzie
- She's So Modern

Tricia
- Neon Heart

P.S. You missed Jean :) And I suppose Tarzan doesn't count? ;

BTR · Tonight

Jack 2 - Looking After No.1.

Arnold - Arnold Layne.

suss · In the Long Grass

jamieuka wrote:

Bill
- Watch Out For the Normal People
Bob
- Nice and Neat
Susan
- She's So Modern
Very impressive response there. Were you two Up All Night ?

Jean was on the list, and correctly answered. The one's above don't match the answers I had in mind but I'll need to double check if I missed a couple.

BTR correct on two of the ??? ones by the way.

jamieuka · House on Fire

suss wrote:
Very impressive response there. Were you two Up All Night ?

I wasn't (very good!), rather just quickly ran through them, and without Googling any either, hence my mistakes:

- Susan: not She's So Modern (got confused with Suzie? even though they are next to each other?!) Don't know what it is, though.

- Jean: clearly in the list (doh!)

- Google for 'Boomtown + Arnold' and immediately get Arnold Layne, an unreleased tracks that I'm not familiar with. Sadly I've never been into bootlegs, not that I'm not interested, rather I don't have any to swap in the first place (those Dudgeon tapes posted recently on a certain forum are my first ones!) So if the list includes unreleased tracks, more obscure b-side and the like (and there's no reason why it shouldn't) then I don't stand a chance of scoring 100% ;)

- Jack = Looking After Number One: I really should have got that one!

Sincere thanks for posting, it was fun! :)

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Great post, too late for me to have ago. Although my memory is hopeless, wouldn't have got all of them. Susan?

I did get Arnold Layne biggrin

, but it wasn't the only one lol. I couldn't think of Dale first of all, but then I realised Dale Carnegie!

Interesting how many names were used in the tracks.

suss · In the Long Grass

Good to see it's got a few thinking. Thanks for responses to date. Will leave for a while to see if others can fill the gaps (without looking up I would hope).

None are strictly bootlegs as they can all be found on re-issue CDs, although admittedly one or two are little known tracks (I'd never heard of them prior to CDs coming out).

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Would Garry be on How Do you Spell Dun Laoghaire? biggrin

I know Bob is...

suss · In the Long Grass

Jules wrote:

Would Garry be on How Do you Spell Dun Laoghaire? I know Bob is...

Spot on. Both from D.U.N L.A.O.G.H.A.I.R.E

suss · In the Long Grass

Just looking for the answers to Bill, Susan, Sally and Sissy now I think.

do the rat · The Elephant's Graveyard

Thanks suss for keeping me busy the last couple of days.
I have found 3 of the 4 missing names.
Susan(another sad story)
Bill(never bite the hand that feeds)
Sissy(fanzine hero)

I can`t find sally anywhere but i will keep trying.

suss · In the Long Grass

Well done on those, especially Sissy, which I'd never heard of before CD came out.

Just the one to go then....will put out a clue if not answered by the end of the week.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

jamieuka wrote:

suss wrote:
Very impressive response there. Were you two Up All Night ?

I wasn't (very good!), rather just quickly ran through them, and without Googling any either, hence my mistakes:

- Susan: not She's So Modern (got confused with Suzie? even though they are next to each other?!) Don't know what it is, though.

- Jean: clearly in the list (doh!)

- Google for 'Boomtown + Arnold' and immediately get Arnold Layne, an unreleased tracks that I'm not familiar with. Sadly I've never been into bootlegs, not that I'm not interested, rather I don't have any to swap in the first place (those Dudgeon tapes posted recently on a certain forum are my first ones!) So if the list includes unreleased tracks, more obscure b-side and the like (and there's no reason why it shouldn't) then I don't stand a chance of scoring 100% ;)

- Jack = Looking After Number One: I really should have got that one!

Sincere thanks for posting, it was fun! :)

Don't know if you have the Boomtown Rats On Film DVD which came out a few years ago. The Rats perform the old Pink Floyd song Arnold Laneon a tv recording from 1982. It was mimed but the performance is good and I like this version. The tv show was the 6.55 Special not sure which network that was on.The song is featured on the extras which is crammed with Rats goodies. All fans should have a copy!

The recorded version is also featured on the re release of Mondo Bongo so these are not really bootlegs.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Monday 31st of January 2011 03:52:58 PM

jamieuka · House on Fire

Noel, Thanks for the detail. I don't have the DVD, I have to rely on such things turning up on youtube, etc ;)

As for the CD reissues, I've only acquired ITLG so far. My policy is to buy the 'first edition' CD versions only i.e. Mondo Bongo and Tonic Columbia imports circa 1992, UK Tonic around the same time, an original V Deep from 1982 (held one in my hand in a shop in 1985, wondering if CD players would ever become commonplace, but not purchased til later on eBay when it was a genuine rarity).

I did used to succumb more in the days of vinyl e.g. had to have all the different coloured picture sleeves of Mary, Irish pic sleeves in addition to UK versions, etc. I even had that Dave clear disk with the supposedly genuine concert ticket' in the middle!

suss, I officially give up on Bill, Susan, Sally and Sissy, though maintain I get a cheeky half point for Bill = Watch Out For The Normal People ;)

noelindublin · Loudmouth

In Mood Mambo Geldof sings " I talked to Father Murphy and he swore he wouldn't tell/ but some of those boys are gonna go to hell".

Is it meant to be Christian names only? Think Fr Murphy was some sort of psycho Catholic priest in Blackrock College who told Bob to play rugby and take loads of cold showers etc. Obviously didn't work.

suss · In the Long Grass

jamieuka wrote:
suss, I officially give up on Bill, Susan, Sally and Sissy, though maintain I get a cheeky half point for Bill = Watch Out For The Normal People ;)

Bill, Susan and Sissy got answered above. If 'normal will' can be stretched as a name equating to Bill then guess that half point is yours. Where else does Bill come up??!

Think you still take the virtual prize for the spectacular initial response, within about 2 hours of OP.

Just to wind this one up, Sally features in an early track, is in no sense short, and seems to prefer to leave her shoes off.

p.s. Noel, did wonder about Fr Murphy, but had set out to list first names only so stuck with that. Good selection for BTR's imminent baby there too, apart from Adolf perhaps.

jamieuka · House on Fire

suss wrote:

If 'normal will' can be stretched as a name equating to Bill then guess that half point is yours. Where else does Bill come up??!

Based on me thinking one lines is, "A normal wedding on the normal bill" but it seems I could be wrong because it is based on my recollection of lyrics on the inner sleeve of the original vinyl release of ATFTT which I don't have to hand and haven't looked at for at least a decade ;)

I just checked the lyrics on the inner sleeve of the 1992 Mercury CD release of ATFTT, and the line is quoted as, "A normal wedding on a normal pill (take their pills)" and found the same line on the interwebs. But personally I question whether this version of the lyric is correct.

First, it just sounds more like 'bill' to me :) If it were 'Pill' I'd expect it to be is pronounced a little 'harder'.

Second, bill sounds more natural e.g. "Put it on the normal bill" to perhaps mean (as I used to say down my local), "Put it on my tab" (of course, it could rather refer to the Pill but I'll spare you my counterargument based on 1970s socio economic situation :)

Third, the refrain 'take their pills', being sung by backing singers, is quoted in the wrong place; it should rather follow the line in the last verse, "They get depressed in the evening". Here it makes more sense i.e. taking medication for depression (cause or cure?) I'm left wondering if the erroneous relocation of the refrain "take their pills" caused the original scribe to misprint 'bill' as 'pill'. If nothing else, it demonstrates that an inner sleeve cannot be considered the trusted source of a lyric and mistakes are perpetuated on the interwebs!

But I'm prepared to err on the side of caution and no longer claim the half point ;)

suss · In the Long Grass

That analysis is just brilliant. I just wish Bob would respond to the in depth review and dissection of one line on a 30+ year old track.

Enjoyed the rationale - cheers! Take a full point.

suss · In the Long Grass

p.s. Would be hugely ironic if it was just a typo at the pressing plant (or wherever sleeves get compiled) and Bob shared your thinking and always intended it to be "bill".

noelindublin · Loudmouth

jamieuka- what an analysis ! Need a stiff drink after that.

Suss- think I've found one or two more which you may have missed both from the same song acutally.

Apart from Sally from Barefootin' which was the Robert Parker cover on the B side on Lookin ' After No 1 the same song features the name John Henry.

The lines are "Lil John Henry he said to Sue/ If I was barefootin' would you barefoot too? Sue told John "I'm thirty two/I was barefootin' ever since I was two/ They was barefootin' "...etc

Don't know if Henry is meant as a surname or a first name in this instance.

If you google Barefootin Robert parker lyrics you can see the full lyrics and they read well- I didn't know these exact lyrics until I looked them up on the net.Some great lines which you may miss without reading in full.

PS - Just noticed Sue in the same song too. This Sue of course is not to be confused with Susan or Suzie!

-- Edited by noelindublin on Wednesday 2nd of February 2011 01:55:42 PM

jamieuka · House on Fire

suss wrote:

I just wish Bob would respond to the in depth review and dissection of one line on a 30+ year old track.

You're assuming he can remember the track at all ;) Didn't I read here recently an anecdote about Fingers hearing 'When the Night Comes' in a taxi and having forgotten all about the song?

Although to us 'fans' it can seem little incredible that such stuff which we hold dear can be forgotten by its creators, it does seems to be quite commonplace -- anyone who's familiar with the missing words round on Buzz****s should know where I'm coming from here.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

jamieuka wrote:

suss wrote:

I just wish Bob would respond to the in depth review and dissection of one line on a 30+ year old track.

You're assuming he can remember the track at all ;) Didn't I read here recently an anecdote about Fingers hearing 'When the Night Comes' in a taxi and having forgotten all about the song?

Although to us 'fans' it can seem little incredible that such stuff which we hold dear can be forgotten by its creators, it does seems to be quite commonplace -- anyone who's familiar with the missing words round on Buzz****s should know where I'm coming from here.

When being interviewed Geldof likes to go into great detail about all sorts of subjects so I'd imagine he'd be flattered to be "examined" about his songs and what they mean.

It was only recently that the current Rats started playing things like Mary Of The Fourth Form again after thirty years, and they had to go and learn the chords and words.

The phenomenon of hearing any old song that may have meant a lot in the past is very interesting. I keep coming across old songs from the Britpop years that I had completely forgotten, like obscure Belle and Sebastian singles and get a strange feeling on hearing them.

I'm sure all the Rats are proud of their music but don't spent to much time playing back old albums. I always wonder do the read this forum sometimes. On the other hand they probably have lives.

suss · In the Long Grass

Re: missing names: - Noel, you beat me to it. I had a fit of paranoia that I'd misheard or imagined the Sally ref in Barefootin' so also checked lyrics and realised my omissions. Obviously haven't listened carefully enough down the years.

Re: Bob remembering:- fair points made about the band admitting they had forgotten tracks they had played on, although I really do struggle with notion that the guy who actually wrote the songs could forget his creations to that extent. That said, we all obviously have a completely different perspective on the significance of these songs so concede you're both probably right, sad to say.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

suss wrote:

Re: missing names: - Noel, you beat me to it. I had a fit of paranoia that I'd misheard or imagined the Sally ref in Barefootin' so also checked lyrics and realised my omissions. Obviously haven't listened carefully enough down the years.

Re: Bob remembering:- fair points made about the band admitting they had forgotten tracks they had played on, although I really do struggle with notion that the guy who actually wrote the songs could forget his creations to that extent. That said, we all obviously have a completely different perspective on the significance of these songs so concede you're both probably right, sad to say.

I'm not sure if the Rats actually just sang a shortened version of Barefootin' as the latter part of the lyrics don't seem that familiar to me. I think I would have noticed the John Henry and Sue references but those are the full and correct lyrics. Just checked the lyrics out of curiosity and love the vernacular style. Actually haven't heard this song for years.

I've noticed in interviews Bob Geldof seems to have a very good memory- always picking out details from his life experiences. If you Google the Geldof Georgia Straight interview from 1997 you'll see what I mean. The Georgia Straight was the magazine he wrote for in the mid seventies, in Canada, before he formed the Boomtown Rats and he brings up effortlessly details from over twenty five years previously.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
I've noticed in interviews Bob Geldof seems to have a very good memory- always picking out details from his life experiences. If you Google the Geldof Georgia Straight interview from 1997 you'll see what I mean. The Georgia Straight was the magazine he wrote for in the mid seventies, in Canada, before he formed the Boomtown Rats and he brings up effortlessly details from over twenty five years previously.

And yet "Is that It?" is plauged with inaccuracies, but I suppose he didn't write that.

You have to be a little careful believing what Geldof says as it does change. He is a good storyteller, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's true.

The whole reading the telex in Atlanta is a fabrication as when he sang the song first time out he read about it in the papers in London.

To be fair to him, Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. smile

I thought this was a Geldof quote once upon a time until I found out Oscar Wilde came up with it first!

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Bob is always the first to admit he isn't always 100% truthful. He actually said he can't remember what crap he put in Is That It? 'Did I really say that? I just put anything in there' biggrin

'Would I lie to you, well sometimes I do'.

Now it is my turn to be cynical, he may well remember things better that have been fabricated than the patchy reality. smile

jamieuka · House on Fire

Jules wrote:

'Would I lie to you, well sometimes I do'

Is this another misheard lyric from 'Watch Out for the Normal People'. I believe the line should be, "I like you | well, sometimes I do" ;)

While on the subject of Geldof telling porkies in interviews, consider 'Don't Believe What You Read' :)

noelindublin · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:

noelindublin wrote:
I've noticed in interviews Bob Geldof seems to have a very good memory- always picking out details from his life experiences. If you Google the Geldof Georgia Straight interview from 1997 you'll see what I mean. The Georgia Straight was the magazine he wrote for in the mid seventies, in Canada, before he formed the Boomtown Rats and he brings up effortlessly details from over twenty five years previously.
And yet "Is that It?" is plauged with inaccuracies, but I suppose he didn't write that.

You have to be a little careful believing what Geldof says as it does change. He is a good storyteller, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's true.

The whole reading the telex in Atlanta is a fabrication as when he sang the song first time out he read about it in the papers in London.

To be fair to him, Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
I thought this was a Geldof quote once upon a time until I found out Oscar Wilde came up with it first!

Geldof's memory is as leaky and unreliable as the Arsenal Defence at Newcastle on Saturday it seems!

Untruths from Is That It might make a good thread!

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Back to Dropped Names post....

In Whitehall 1212 the caller asks to speak to Blake Of The Yard.

I know its pushing it a bit and Blake almost certainly refers to the surname Blake but Blake can be a first name too.

The operator would then ask do you mean Sir James Blake? Then the enquirer would say No Its a totally different chap - think Blake was his bloody first name. All this in an old Ealing studios caricature type accent.

Sir James Blake,Retd, Scotland Yard was a fictional film characater from the 1930's who appeared in a series of movies from that period, fact fans.

Famous Blakes -Blake Edwards and Blake Carrington.

jamieuka · House on Fire

noelindublin wrote:

I know its pushing it a bit and Blake almost certainly refers to the surname Blake but Blake can be a first name too.

Nice try :) But I think it's almost certainly a reference to Sir James Blake.

suss · In the Long Grass

Always wondered who the Whitehall 1212 caller and operator are, along with who asks the question 'Are you really going out with Adolf' on Eva Braun.

Don't sound like band members disguising the voices, but could be I guess.

Anyone know who these potentially unsung heroes are, or if there are other guest vocals on Rats tracks from producers, record company employees, tea ladies etc?

Also, in similar vain, who is it saying 'Fall Down' on that track in between Simon's unfeasibly high notes. Doesn't sound like Bob to me.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

suss wrote:

Always wondered who the Whitehall 1212 caller and operator are, along with who asks the question 'Are you really going out with Adolf' on Eva Braun.

Don't sound like band members disguising the voices, but could be I guess.

Anyone know who these potentially unsung heroes are, or if there are other guest vocals on Rats tracks from producers, record company employees, tea ladies etc?

Also, in similar vain, who is it saying 'Fall Down' on that track in between Simon's unfeasibly high notes. Doesn't sound like Bob to me.

I've always wondered about the photographer saying "Watch the birdie ...." and ooh magic best I've ever done ..." on Having My Picture Taken.

Also wondered about backing vocals on some of the Rats songs which was done by Molly and Polly. Seems they also worked with Elvis Costello and their surname was Jackson!

Think the guy saying Fall Down is one of the Rats- it seems like a South Dublin accent so it could be Gary Roberts or Fingers but no sure.

suss · In the Long Grass

Noel,

Funnily enough I've always thought the 'magic that' bit was Bob, but agree the 'Hold it fellas' bit sounds like none of them. Similarly I always thought Do the Rat intro was the band mucking about.

Maybe all these examples are just studio enhanced and they're all band members. Where are the Molly and Polly credits out of interest? Can't say I've ever looked that closely.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

suss wrote:

Noel,

Funnily enough I've always thought the 'magic that' bit was Bob, but agree the 'Hold it fellas' bit sounds like none of them. Similarly I always thought Do the Rat intro was the band mucking about.

Maybe all these examples are just studio enhanced and they're all band members. Where are the Molly and Polly credits out of interest? Can't say I've ever looked that closely.

My ears are not the best but I always though the "Magic that.." was a spoof Northern English accent sort of cod Yorkshire or Lancs but maybe I should listen closer.

Molly and Polly are credited on Mondo Bongo and V Deep as far as I can remember.
Who knows the may have been Fingers and Briquette in drag.

I've always enjoyed reading cd inserts and the credits on albums. Well maybe enjoyed in not the right word.

There is a picture of a mysterious fat bloke and another guy on the inside cover of Geldofs new opus but I don't know who the guy is. Hope its not one of the band or producers which I didn't recognise but if anyone can tell me who the portly guy is my curiosity would be satisfied. Hes on the top left hand side!!

jamieuka · House on Fire

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Long_Grass), Molly and Polly are credited with backing vocals on Hard Times (ITLG).

BTR · Tonight

jamieuka wrote:

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Long_Grass), Molly and Polly are credited with backing vocals on Hard Times (ITLG).

Molly & Polly also sang backing vocals on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3NJwyzFlTE