The Magnificent Octopus
-
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:20 am
- Location: Shanghai
- Contact:
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
Neil: much as I would like to I cannot claim credit for the gag as it is a quote from Baldrick in the 'Ink & Incapability' episode of Black Adder The Third.
I do, however, stand by my original euphoric (albeit marginally over refreshed) assessment of the album.
I do, however, stand by my original euphoric (albeit marginally over refreshed) assessment of the album.
Feck
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
LOL - you are too honest! I thought it was a joke worthy of Elvis himself.
By the way, my favourite joke on National Ransom, apart from the sublime 'the longest drumroll for the shortest trick', is the one from All These Strangers: 'He's a corsair filled with horsehair, to the core.'
By the way, my favourite joke on National Ransom, apart from the sublime 'the longest drumroll for the shortest trick', is the one from All These Strangers: 'He's a corsair filled with horsehair, to the core.'
-
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:20 am
- Location: Shanghai
- Contact:
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
Neil, it's taken a while but I still can't get past 'your wan wandering smile' (or, given the number of typos on the lyric sheet could/should it have been 'your wan wOndering smile?) as the best gag.
That said I think still think that merely observing that NR is superior to SP&SC underplays the true greatness of the album.
That said I think still think that merely observing that NR is superior to SP&SC underplays the true greatness of the album.
Feck
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
Or 'your ONE wandering eye' (people from the north of England pronounce 'one' as 'wan' - and Elvis has Liverpool roots.)
Yeah, I'm not sure many (any?) of Elvis's lyrics sheets have ever had a final signoff from the great man himself - there are often obvious howlers in the (otherwise marvellous) Rhino reissues.
Yeah, I'm not sure many (any?) of Elvis's lyrics sheets have ever had a final signoff from the great man himself - there are often obvious howlers in the (otherwise marvellous) Rhino reissues.
- the_platypus
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:14 pm
- Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
Does anybody else feel that the early fade-out on Josephine was a fatal mistake?
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
the_platypus wrote:Does anybody else feel that the early fade-out on Josephine was a fatal mistake?
Absolutely! Inexplicable mistake on an otherwise beautifully-produced record. It ruins the track for me.
Dave
-
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:20 am
- Location: Shanghai
- Contact:
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
I agree, when he plays it live the whistling is an interlude/bridge before the final chorus and it works so much better that way
Feck
- verbal gymnastics
- Posts: 13667
- Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2003 6:44 am
- Location: Magic lantern land
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
I think One Bell Ringing ends too early as well.
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
On vinyl, the whistling fade coincides with the end of side one, making for an interesting effect; however, I think the song suffers from the truncation. A piddly complaint, I suppose.
- Jeremy Dylan
- Posts: 934
- Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:39 pm
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Contact:
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
I expect that he wrote the ending for the live arrangement after the sessions.paysfortheprivilege wrote:I agree, when he plays it live the whistling is an interlude/bridge before the final chorus and it works so much better that way
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
Yeah, I agree - the way he does it live gives it that extra oomph, but it's too late, now! Here he is doing the climax that's absent from the album version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekz21j8S7Js
Nx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekz21j8S7Js
Nx
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
Nope. When I saw him perform this last spring in Atlanta (before the album was made), the final verse and chorus were present after the whistling solo. I think he may have liked the idea of a whistling fade to the end the first side of the vinyl LP. But of course I'm only guessing.Jeremy Dylan wrote:I expect that he wrote the ending for the live arrangement after the sessions.paysfortheprivilege wrote:I agree, when he plays it live the whistling is an interlude/bridge before the final chorus and it works so much better that way
-
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:30 pm
- Location: Chocolate Town
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
I don't understand why the whistling is controversial. I find that sort of reaction very constipated. "Oh no, he's doing something that's not 'cool!'" The whistling works perfectly both as a tribute to an era where whistling was an option in song (a norm for some reason abandoned), and as an expression of the spirit of the song and the general creative freedom in which the entire album revels. Relax and enjoy it. My only complaint is that it fades out a bit too soon.
When man has destroyed what he thinks he owns
I hope no living thing cries over his bones
I hope no living thing cries over his bones
- And No Coffee Table
- Posts: 3546
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 2:57 pm
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
The album was recorded in February and March. He didn't play "A Slow Drag With Josephine" in concert until April.migdd wrote:When I saw him perform this last spring in Atlanta (before the album was made)
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
Oooops. I stand corrected.
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
Poor Deportee wrote:I don't understand why the whistling is controversial. I find that sort of reaction very constipated. "Oh no, he's doing something that's not 'cool!'" The whistling works perfectly both as a tribute to an era where whistling was an option in song (a norm for some reason abandoned), and as an expression of the spirit of the song and the general creative freedom in which the entire album revels. Relax and enjoy it. My only complaint is that it fades out a bit too soon.
Who's complaining about the whistling? I like it a lot! But to let the song fade out on it makes the song too short, takes the importance of the whistling solo as an instrumental bridge away, and robs me of the reprise of my favorite part of the song ("and in 3/4 time" through "hesitation.....waltz").
Dave
Re: The Magnificent Octopus
That's right - I've no objection to the whistling at all - I love it! - but seeing the live version makes you realise that on the album he could've used it not as the end of the song but as a bridge to a rousing final chorus which is absent from the (still wonderful, but shorter) studio-recorded, and therefore (for posterity) definitive version.