Silly Thing (song)
Encyclopedia
"Silly Thing" is a song by the Sex Pistols
that was released in 1979. It was the 3rd single released in promotion of the film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
. It was written by drummer
Paul Cook and guitarist
Steve Jones, and recorded after the band's original lead singer, Johnny Rotten, left the band. Typically, Jones also played bass
in the studio, rather than suffer the ineptitude of the band's official bassist, Sid Vicious
. Essentially, it's a Cook/Jones recording more than a true band's work.
in Wales with producer Dave Goodman
in late May 1978.
This original version of “Silly Thing” appeared on the movie soundtrack album of “The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle”
and was used for the single in New Zealand, France and Japan.
A different mix of this original version, with Cook singing the verses and Jones singing the chorus, was released in 1988 in Japan, along with an outtake from the same recording sessions, the original version of the Jones/Cook composition “Here We Go Again”.
and recorded a new version of the song. On this version, bass guitar was played by Andy Allen of the Lightning Raiders
, who later in the year formed The Professionals
with Cook and Jones.
This version of “Silly Thing” was used for the single in the UK, Australia, West Germany and Portugal. It appeared on the 1992 Sex Pistols compilation Kiss This
.
, with Vivienne Westwood
contributing to the lyrics.
The song was recorded with a 45 piece orchestra, arranged and conducted by Andrew Jackman
, in a large studio in Wembley
in summer 1978. Tudor-Pole's vocals were added later at the same studio.
The subsequent movie sequence of Tudor-Pole performing the song was filmed in one day with actress Irene Handl
at Rainbow Theatre in London.
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
that was released in 1979. It was the 3rd single released in promotion of the film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle is a mockumentary film directed by Julien Temple and produced by Don Boyd and Jeremy Thomas about the British punk rock band Sex Pistols....
. It was written by drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Paul Cook and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Steve Jones, and recorded after the band's original lead singer, Johnny Rotten, left the band. Typically, Jones also played bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in the studio, rather than suffer the ineptitude of the band's official bassist, Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
. Essentially, it's a Cook/Jones recording more than a true band's work.
Paul Cook album version
The original version of the song, on which Paul Cook sings lead vocals and Steve Jones plays bass guitar, was recorded with engineer Steve Lipson at Regents Park Studios in London in April or May 1978. The recording of further guitar overdubs and the final mixing took place at Rockfield StudiosRockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
in Wales with producer Dave Goodman
Dave Goodman
Dave Goodman was a record producer and musician, perhaps best known as the live sound engineer for Sex Pistols, and the producer of three of their studio demo sessions.-Sex Pistols:...
in late May 1978.
This original version of “Silly Thing” appeared on the movie soundtrack album of “The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle”
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (album)
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle is the soundtrack album of the film of the same name. Although released under Sex Pistols' name, it includes performances by other artists.- Production :...
and was used for the single in New Zealand, France and Japan.
A different mix of this original version, with Cook singing the verses and Jones singing the chorus, was released in 1988 in Japan, along with an outtake from the same recording sessions, the original version of the Jones/Cook composition “Here We Go Again”.
Steve Jones single version
In the second week of March 1979, Jones and Cook went into Wessex Studios in London with engineer Bill PriceBill Price (record producer)
Bill Price is a producer and engineer famed for his work with The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Guns N' Roses, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Nymphs and The Waterboys....
and recorded a new version of the song. On this version, bass guitar was played by Andy Allen of the Lightning Raiders
Lightning Raiders
-History:The Lightning Raiders formed in August 1977 with an original lineup featuring John Hodge on guitar, Andy Allan on guitar/vocals, ex-Pink Fairies Duncan Sanderson on bass/vocals, Jorge Panchito on drums and Michael Wilding on sax.In February 1978 ex-Pink Fairies drummer/singer Twink...
, who later in the year formed The Professionals
The Professionals (band)
The Professionals were an English punk rock band in the late 1970s and early 1980s formed by ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and drummer and Paul Cook after that band's demise.-Career:...
with Cook and Jones.
This version of “Silly Thing” was used for the single in the UK, Australia, West Germany and Portugal. It appeared on the 1992 Sex Pistols compilation Kiss This
Kiss This
Kiss This is a "best of" compilation by the Sex Pistols released in 1992, which features all of Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols album tracks, interspersed with singles and B-sides.The tracks are split into three phases:...
.
“Who Killed Bambi?” (B-side)
The song “Who Killed Bambi?” was written and sung by Edward Tudor-PoleEdward Tudor-Pole
Edward Tudor-Pole is an English musician, singer , TV presenter and actor.- Musical career :Tudor-Pole formed the band Tenpole Tudor in 1974, and eventually came to prominence after appearing in the film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle as a possible replacement for Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols...
, with Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Westwood, DBE, RDI is a British fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.-Early life:...
contributing to the lyrics.
The song was recorded with a 45 piece orchestra, arranged and conducted by Andrew Jackman
Andrew Jackman
Andrew Pryce Jackman was a keyboard player and arranger. He was in The Syn with bassist Chris Squire . Jackman subsequently worked on Squire's solo album Fish Out of Water, on The Steve Howe Album and on the Yes album Tormato.-History:In the mid-1960s, Jackman was the keyboard player in The Selfs...
, in a large studio in Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
in summer 1978. Tudor-Pole's vocals were added later at the same studio.
The subsequent movie sequence of Tudor-Pole performing the song was filmed in one day with actress Irene Handl
Irene Handl
-Life:Irene Handl was born in Maida Vale, London, the daughter of an Austrian banker father and French mother. She took to acting at the relatively advanced age of 36, and studied at the acting school run by the sister of Dame Sybil Thorndike...
at Rainbow Theatre in London.
Charts
- In the UK, the single spent 8 weeks in the Top 75UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and reached #6 on 7 April 1979. - Virgin RecordsVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
released the single in New Zealand, West Germany and Portugal, but it charted nowhere. - Barclay RecordsBarclay RecordsBarclay Records is a French record label founded in the mid-1950s by Eddie Barclay under the alias, Edouard Ruault. Eddie Barclay also founded the Riviera label in the early-1950s....
released the single in France (with A- and B-sides reversed and using the original Paul Cook version from the movie), but it didn't chart. - Wizard Records released the single in Australia, but it didn't chart.
- Nippon Columbia released the single in Japan (using the original Paul Cook version from the movie and with “Somethin' Else” as its B-side) in July 1979, but it didn't chart.