Brother Where You Bound (song)
Encyclopedia
Brother Where You Bound is the epic length title track to Supertramp
's 1985 album of the same name
. Written and sung by keyboardist Rick Davies
, it is the longest song Supertramp ever recorded clocking in at 16 and a half minutes (surpassing "Try Again" from their 1970 self titled debut
album by more than three minutes).
The introduction to the track featured readings from George Orwell
's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four
. The lyrics spoke about the Cold War
that was happening at the time of the recording 1984/85. It was also recorded as a music video, which was filmed in the derelict Pan-Pacific Auditorium
.
An excerpt from "The Internationale" can be heard from minute 1:10.
This track features drummer Bob Siebenberg
's then brother-in-law Scott Gorham
of Thin Lizzy
on rhythm guitar
. The guitar solos throughout the track were performed by Pink Floyd
guitarist David Gilmour
who used his own mixing system where he controlled every sound that went from his guitar onto the album.
In a 2002 radio interview on Rockline, Davies explained how Gilmour got involved on the title cut: "I remember saying to the guys, 'We need to find somebody that can play a bit like Gilmour' for the guitar stuff, and I think it was someone at A&M - it might have been Jordan Harris or somebody, one of those guys - and he said, 'Well, I know David - maybe he would like to come over and do it,' and he sent him a demo and he decided he'd like to do it and he was very reasonable. Came over, brought all his gear and straight to the studio. It was a home studio, my studio, and we did it."
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
's 1985 album of the same name
Brother Where You Bound
Brother Where You Bound is the ninth album by progressive rock band Supertramp, released in 1985 . It was their first album after original member Roger Hodgson left the band, leaving Richard Davies to handle the songwriting and singing on his own...
. Written and sung by keyboardist Rick Davies
Rick Davies
Rick Davies is an English musician, best known as the founder and keyboardist of progressive rock band Supertramp...
, it is the longest song Supertramp ever recorded clocking in at 16 and a half minutes (surpassing "Try Again" from their 1970 self titled debut
Supertramp (album)
Supertramp is the self-titled debut album by progressive rock band Supertramp, released in July 1970 . It has sometimes been published under the title Now and Then...
album by more than three minutes).
The introduction to the track featured readings from George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
. The lyrics spoke about the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
that was happening at the time of the recording 1984/85. It was also recorded as a music video, which was filmed in the derelict Pan-Pacific Auditorium
Pan-Pacific Auditorium
The Pan-Pacific Auditorium was a landmark structure in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, California which once stood at 7600 West Beverly Boulevard near the site of Gilmore Field, an early Los Angeles baseball venue predating Dodger Stadium...
.
An excerpt from "The Internationale" can be heard from minute 1:10.
This track features drummer Bob Siebenberg
Bob Siebenberg
Bob Siebenberg, also known as Bob C. Benberg, is an American musician, best known as a member of British progressive rock band Supertramp, playing drums and percussion...
's then brother-in-law Scott Gorham
Scott Gorham
Scott Gorham is an American guitarist and songwriter who rose to international recognition as one of the "twin lead guitarists" of the Irish-formed rock band, Thin Lizzy...
of Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
on rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
. The guitar solos throughout the track were performed by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
guitarist David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
who used his own mixing system where he controlled every sound that went from his guitar onto the album.
In a 2002 radio interview on Rockline, Davies explained how Gilmour got involved on the title cut: "I remember saying to the guys, 'We need to find somebody that can play a bit like Gilmour' for the guitar stuff, and I think it was someone at A&M - it might have been Jordan Harris or somebody, one of those guys - and he said, 'Well, I know David - maybe he would like to come over and do it,' and he sent him a demo and he decided he'd like to do it and he was very reasonable. Came over, brought all his gear and straight to the studio. It was a home studio, my studio, and we did it."
Personnel
- Rick Davies: piano, keyboards, vocals
- John Helliwell: saxophones
- Bob Siebenberg: drums, percussion
- Dougie Thomson: bass
- Marty Walsh: lead guitar
- David Gilmour: electric guitar solos
- Scott Gorham: rhythm guitar