The Real New Fall LP (Formerly Country on the Click)
Encyclopedia
The Real New Fall LP is an album
by The Fall. It was released on Action Records
in the United Kingdom
in 2003, and then on Narnack Records
in the United States
, with a slightly altered tracklisting, in 2004.
The subtitle is explained by the fact that the tracks were originally scheduled for release under the title Country on the Click. The tracks were recorded between December 2002 and January 2003, and mixed, by Grant Showbiz and Jim Watts, in February 2003. Promos were sent out and three of the new songs were previewed in the band's 23rd Peel Session, recorded 19 February and broadcast 13 March 2003. The release was delayed after a mix appeared on the internet, prompting Mark E. Smith
to partially remix, re-record and re-sequence the album. The original title still appears on the CD spine.
The album features the song "Theme from Sparta F.C.", which, since 2005, has been used as the theme music to the Final Score section of BBC television's Saturday afternoon sports coverage. In 2006, Smith was also invited to read out the classified football results on the BBCi interactive service "Score"; this performance was in turn released by the Sonic Arts Network
on their Stewart Lee
compiled album The Topography of Chance. An alternative version of the tune, "Theme from Sparta F.C. #2", was released as a UK single in 2004, and this version also appears on the U.S. formats of the album. A further version appeared on Interim.
Mike's Love Xexagon:
This song underwent the most major change, from what was a fairly normal bass-drums-guitar-keyboard arrangement to something more avant garde. The lyrics from the second verse onwards were rewritten, and the previously two-part chorus (featuring a solo lead vocal in the first and a group chorus-vocal in the second) was condensed to one, the two vocal parts now doing call-and-response. The bass was all but mixed out of this version, making for a more tribal sound.
Boxoctosis:
The new version was simplified, and what in the original was a basic 4 chord preamble to the winding chorus riff, now supplanted the latter as the main riff of the song. The backing vocals also played a more prominent role.
Mountain Energei:
Whereas the original version had a very dense sound, with layered vocals in the chorus and shorter verses, the new version was very sparse, mainly driven by bass and drums with minimal interjection from guitar and keyboard. In the chorus, the backing vocal harmony from the old version becomes the solo lead-vocal in the new version. There were also some lyrical changes.
Janet, Johnny + James:
On the released version of the album, this song replaced the single A-side Susan Vs Youthclub from the previous year. An earlier version had appeared as the B-side to that single, under the name Janet vs Johnny. This is version is a faster, more assured run through than slower, more ethereal early version.
Other songs were partially or completely rerecorded, whilst the material remained essentially the same:
Green Eyed Loco-Man:
The vocals were rerecorded in a manner closer to the Peel version, the group vocals were removed from the chorus, and the keyboards were lowered in the mix.
Theme From Sparta F.C.:
Rerecorded from scratch, this version was faster and more guitar centered. The keyboard arrangements were removed leaving a sparser sound, and a portion of the bassline (which used to precede the group-chant) was dropped.
Contraflow:
Another slightly faster version, with a sung section removed from the vocals, and most of the keyboards taken out.
The Past:
This was previously a fully fleshed out punk song featuring the whole band. The released version has bass and guitar removed, leaving only drums, keyboards and vocals. Additionally the vocals are rerecorded, and the original lyrical hook
('Only humans carry their past around') is now just a one-off aside.
Recovery Kit:
Layered vocals are removed, the keyboards are less to the forefront, and the lyrics are altered. In particular the phrase 'Oh father', which originally played a key role, is absent here.
The remaining songs - "Houston", "Proteinprotection" and "Last Commands of Xyralothep Via M.E.S." - are the only tracks to remain essentially the same. In addition to the noted changes, there also appear to be sarcastic references to the leaking of the album on the internet, most obviously in the new title, but also in various lyrical asides (The song "The Past" was incorrectly titled "The Fast" on the file-sharing networks. In the new version he sings 'Only humans carry their fast around, their past around'. "Mikes Love Xexagon" originally started with the line 'The room was a hexagon'. Fans speculated online that he could be referring to the hexagonal studio at Maida Vale where bands - including the Fall - recorded for John Peel
. The released version starts with 'Studio was a hexagon').
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by The Fall. It was released on Action Records
Action Records (Music)
Action Records is a music shop and independent record label based in Preston, England, releasing records by bands such as The Boo Radleys, Dandelion Adventure, Big Red Bus, Genocides, Tompaulin, Fi-Lo Radio, Monkey Steals The Drum, Ricky Spontane amongst others...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 2003, and then on Narnack Records
Narnack Records
Narnack Records is an independent record label founded in 2002. The label developed in NYC & Brooklyn’s underground music scene, quickly becoming known for its ability for developing new artists, but also working with established bands like The Fall and The Slits...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with a slightly altered tracklisting, in 2004.
The subtitle is explained by the fact that the tracks were originally scheduled for release under the title Country on the Click. The tracks were recorded between December 2002 and January 2003, and mixed, by Grant Showbiz and Jim Watts, in February 2003. Promos were sent out and three of the new songs were previewed in the band's 23rd Peel Session, recorded 19 February and broadcast 13 March 2003. The release was delayed after a mix appeared on the internet, prompting Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
to partially remix, re-record and re-sequence the album. The original title still appears on the CD spine.
The album features the song "Theme from Sparta F.C.", which, since 2005, has been used as the theme music to the Final Score section of BBC television's Saturday afternoon sports coverage. In 2006, Smith was also invited to read out the classified football results on the BBCi interactive service "Score"; this performance was in turn released by the Sonic Arts Network
Sonic Arts Network
Sonic Arts Network was a UK-based organisation, established in 1979, that aimed to enable both audiences and practitioners to engage with the art of sound through a programme of festivals, events, commissions and education projects...
on their Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee is an English stand-up comedian, writer and director known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring, and for co-writing and directing the critically acclaimed and controversial stage show Jerry Springer - The Opera...
compiled album The Topography of Chance. An alternative version of the tune, "Theme from Sparta F.C. #2", was released as a UK single in 2004, and this version also appears on the U.S. formats of the album. A further version appeared on Interim.
Comparison between original and released UK versions
Of the twelve tracks on the album, many were altered drastically. Some songs were rewritten substantially, whilst others were rerecordings of essentially the same material. Songs rewritten were:Mike's Love Xexagon:
This song underwent the most major change, from what was a fairly normal bass-drums-guitar-keyboard arrangement to something more avant garde. The lyrics from the second verse onwards were rewritten, and the previously two-part chorus (featuring a solo lead vocal in the first and a group chorus-vocal in the second) was condensed to one, the two vocal parts now doing call-and-response. The bass was all but mixed out of this version, making for a more tribal sound.
Boxoctosis:
The new version was simplified, and what in the original was a basic 4 chord preamble to the winding chorus riff, now supplanted the latter as the main riff of the song. The backing vocals also played a more prominent role.
Mountain Energei:
Whereas the original version had a very dense sound, with layered vocals in the chorus and shorter verses, the new version was very sparse, mainly driven by bass and drums with minimal interjection from guitar and keyboard. In the chorus, the backing vocal harmony from the old version becomes the solo lead-vocal in the new version. There were also some lyrical changes.
Janet, Johnny + James:
On the released version of the album, this song replaced the single A-side Susan Vs Youthclub from the previous year. An earlier version had appeared as the B-side to that single, under the name Janet vs Johnny. This is version is a faster, more assured run through than slower, more ethereal early version.
Other songs were partially or completely rerecorded, whilst the material remained essentially the same:
Green Eyed Loco-Man:
The vocals were rerecorded in a manner closer to the Peel version, the group vocals were removed from the chorus, and the keyboards were lowered in the mix.
Theme From Sparta F.C.:
Rerecorded from scratch, this version was faster and more guitar centered. The keyboard arrangements were removed leaving a sparser sound, and a portion of the bassline (which used to precede the group-chant) was dropped.
Contraflow:
Another slightly faster version, with a sung section removed from the vocals, and most of the keyboards taken out.
The Past:
This was previously a fully fleshed out punk song featuring the whole band. The released version has bass and guitar removed, leaving only drums, keyboards and vocals. Additionally the vocals are rerecorded, and the original lyrical hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
('Only humans carry their past around') is now just a one-off aside.
Recovery Kit:
Layered vocals are removed, the keyboards are less to the forefront, and the lyrics are altered. In particular the phrase 'Oh father', which originally played a key role, is absent here.
The remaining songs - "Houston", "Proteinprotection" and "Last Commands of Xyralothep Via M.E.S." - are the only tracks to remain essentially the same. In addition to the noted changes, there also appear to be sarcastic references to the leaking of the album on the internet, most obviously in the new title, but also in various lyrical asides (The song "The Past" was incorrectly titled "The Fast" on the file-sharing networks. In the new version he sings 'Only humans carry their fast around, their past around'. "Mikes Love Xexagon" originally started with the line 'The room was a hexagon'. Fans speculated online that he could be referring to the hexagonal studio at Maida Vale where bands - including the Fall - recorded for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. The released version starts with 'Studio was a hexagon').
UK version
- "Green Eyed Loco-Man" (Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
, Jim Watts) – 3:47 - "Mountain Energei" (Dave Milner, Smith) – 3:22
- "Theme From Sparta F.C." (Ben Pritchard, Smith, Watts) – 3:43
- "Contraflow" (Smith, Watts) – 4:06
- "Last Commands of Xyralothep Via M.E.S." (Milner, Smith) – 3:20
- "Open the Boxoctosis #2" (Smith, Watts) – 3:46
- "Janet, Johnny + James" (Pritchard, Smith) – 4:15
- "The Past #2" (Smith, Watts) – 2:20
- "Loop41 `Houston" (Lee HazlewoodLee HazlewoodLee Hazlewood , born Barton Lee Hazlewood was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s.Hazlewood had a distinctive baritone voice that added an ominous...
) – 3:20 - "Mike's Love Xexagon" (Smith, Watts) – 4:59
- "Proteinprotection" (Milner, Pritchard, Smith, Watts) – 3:19
- "Recovery Kit" (Pritchard, Smith) – 3:58
US version
The American release has a different cover and abbreviates the titles of several tracks, although most are identical to their UK conterparts. "Sparta 2#" and "Recovery Kit 2#" are alternate recordings, while "Mod Mock Goth" and "Portugal" were not included on the UK version of the LP but did feature on UK singles.- "Green Eyed" (Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts) – 3:46
- "Mountain" (Dave Milner, Smith) – 3:22
- "Sparta 2#" (Ben Pritchard, Smith, Watts) – 3:49
- "Contraflow" (Smith, Watts) – 4:05
- "Xralothep" (Milner, Smith) – 3:20
- "Janet vs. Johnny" (Pritchard, Smith) – 4:15
- "Boxoctosis" (Smith, Watts) – 3:45
- "The Past" (Smith, Watts) – 2:19
- "Mod Mock Goth" (Smith, Elenor Poulou) – 4:12
- "Protein Protection" (Milner, Pritchard, Smith, Watts) – 3:17
- "Mike's Love Hexagon" (Smith, Watts) – 4:59
- "41.Loop / Houston" (Lee Hazlewood) – 3:28
- "Portugal" (Smith, Simon Archer, Milner, Poulou, Pritchard) – 3:37
- "Recovery Kit 2#" (Pritchard, Smith, S. Beswick [uncredited], Rob Lally [uncredited]) – 4:03
Unreleased Original Version
- "Theme From Sparta F.C." (Ben Pritchard, Smith, Watts) – 3:48
- "Proteinprotection" (Milner, Pritchard, Smith, Watts) – 3:19
- "Mountain Energei" (Dave Milner, Smith) – 3:29
- "Contraflow" (Smith, Watts) – 4:41
- "Green Eyed Loco-Man" (Smith, Watts) – 3:57
- "Last Commands of Xyralothep Via M.E.S." (Milner, Smith) – 3:20
- "Boxoctosis" (Smith, Watts) – 3:40
- "Ho(e)uston" (Lee HazlewoodLee HazlewoodLee Hazlewood , born Barton Lee Hazlewood was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s.Hazlewood had a distinctive baritone voice that added an ominous...
) – 3:20 - "The Past" (Smith, Watts) – 2:20
- "Mike's Love Xexagon" (Smith, Watts) – 5:15
- "Recovery Kit" (Pritchard, Smith) – 4:10
- "Susan Vs Youthclub" (Dave Milner, Smith) - 3.40
Personnel
- The Fall:
- Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
– lead vocals - Ben Pritchard – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Jim Watts – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, computerComputerA computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
, backing vocals - Dave Milner – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals; lead vocals on "Portugal" - Elena Poulou – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals - Simon "Ding" Archer - bass guitar on "Green Eyed Loco Man", "Sparta 2#", "Mad Mock Goth" and "Portugal"; backing vocals on "Portugal"
- Mark E. Smith
- S. Beswick - keyboards on "Recovery Kit"
- Ed Blaney - backing vocals