•
Rating:
Wow! Let's start from the beginning, while wandering through record stores, I stumble upon the deluxe version of "Songs From The Big Chair", an album I know perfectly but didn't have on CD, so what better occasion than to purchase the "Luxury" version including all the b-sides of the singles and the "rarities," which are the extended versions of the 12" or the shortened versions of the 7". I listen to it again thoroughly and with dedication to rediscover what I remembered and perhaps to grasp what I had initially missed.
Well, the highest rating for this album, in my opinion, is obligatory, but before deciding to create my "debaserata" on this album, I think: "I wonder what they've said about 'The Big Chair' on DeBaser". To my great surprise, I discover that there is no specific review of this gem of pop-rock of immense elegance and quality. There are listings for other albums (almost all excellent) by TFF but not for this one, so I decide to make it myself. I also think that despite being relatively young (33), I spent years, between 16 and 25, convinced that albums of this genre or by these bands were for shallow kids, so I devoted myself exclusively to adoring stuff like Gentle Giant, PFM, Van Der Graaf Generator, and more or less known progressive rock. The "University of Progressive Rock" helped me enormously, and I will always be grateful for it because when I realized that other things could be interesting, I started listening to practically everything but with different mental foundations, and voilà, albums like this one, among many others, couldn’t possibly go unnoticed.
Moving on, and forgive me for doing it only now, to my assessment of this TFF "must", I find myself in the situation of reviewing the deluxe version (full of frills and trimmings) or the standard version. I decide to analyze the classic version but noting that the seven b-sides included in the first CD of this version are almost all instrumental, very minimalist "The Marauders" is the best, then "The Big Chair" and "Pharaos". Sweet, however, is "Sea Song" a splendid cover of an equally splendid song by Robert Wyatt, which would not have been out of place in the official track list. While on the second CD of "rarities," a couple of great remixes of "Shout" and "Rule The World" stand out. But let's focus on the album as "mom conceived it". "Songs From The Big Chair" has clear references to the '60s psychedelic but also, and it’s obvious, to the '80s pop. This blend of sounds, mixed as well as could be, creates a product very "ahead" for its time, even though based on already known foundations. If we want to find a little flaw in Orzabal and Smith's work, we can identify it in the vigorous decision to massively overdub the work, thus reducing the "freshness" factor.
The title is said to have been influenced by a British mini-series (book and TV) called "Sybil," which told the story of a woman with multiple personality disorder who often took refuge in her personal "big chair - big chair". Not to forget Ian Stanley's important work during the production phase (keyboardist and composer), Chris Hughes, and David Bascombe, who had the great merit of assisting the "title" duo in practicing this new sonic and compositional path. The electric start with "Shout" is record-breaking. A song so famous yet so varied. A structure that for six and a half minutes seems always on the same plane but has within it numerous points of different and excellent success: "In a violent era, you shouldn't have to sell your soul in black and white. They should really know, those over there, with an obsession in their heads, those for whom you are a good guy. Greet them, you shouldn’t jump for joy.".. It continues with the splendid elegance of "The Working Hour" with Mel Collins and William Gregory’s saxophones in great prominence and the equally extraordinary and successful "Everybody Wants To Rule The World," which with more pop rhythms unfolds a refrain that crashes into your head in an indelible way: "There’s a room where the light won’t find you, holding hands while the walls come tumbling down, when they do, I’ll be right beside you, happy we’ve almost made it, sad they have to fade it, everybody wants to rule the world".
More powerful is the engaging and obsessive "Mothers' Talk", another gem of electronic synth-rock with a thunderous job on electric percussion and more. You return to dream with the nocturnal and dreamy ballad "I Believe", a piece for sax and piano that demonstrates TFF’s uncommon versatility. Listening to this piece, which comes after memorable but always exceptionally elegant hits, one might judge "Songs From The Big Chair" surprising for having managed to sell millions and millions of copies unlike the famous "One Shot" created in the '80s "just" to sell but without offering deeper emotions even years later. "Broken" is instead the rock piece of the album. A wild and thrilling semi-instrumental with Orzabal's and especially Neil Taylor’s guitars that perhaps leave us too soon (the track unfortunately lasts only two and a half minutes) but have the merit of leading us to yet another masterpiece "Head Over Heels", where a well-executed piano riff accompanies the entire song, modifying and weaving itself also into guitar and keyboards: "I’m lost in admiration, could I need you this much? You’re wasting my time. You’re wasting my time. Something happens, and I’m head over heels. I don’t discover until I’m at my heels". The track grandly closes with a call back to the already mentioned and spectacular "Broken", further elevating its preciousness. "Listen", listen indeed, I say. A minimalist and lengthy escape from earthly reality. Let yourself be guided by the sonic framework created by the keyboards and synthesizers that will gracefully fill your ears for almost seven minutes, during which Orzabal's and Marylin Davis' voices and a few slow electric guitar riffs will help ensure you don't get lost in nothing. The album’s only "non-single" along with "Broken," but darn it, if only there were more "non-singles" like these two!
The album closes with a reprise of "The Working Hour" in a so-called "Piano Version," more stripped-down (practically mono-tone voice and keyboard, with hints of sax) but nonetheless interesting. In conclusion, I will say nothing more than to recommend you to listen if you already have it at home or buy it if you don't possess it yet.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Shout (06:32)
Shout, shout, Let it all out
These are the things I can do with out
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
In violent times
You shouldn't have to sell your soul
In black and white
They really really ought to know
Those one track minds
That took you for a working boy
Kiss them goodbye
You shouldn't have to jump for joy
You shouldn't have to jump for joy
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
They gave you life
And in return you gave them hell
As cold as ice
I hope we live to tell the tale
I hope we live to tell the tale
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out (let it all out)
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
And when you've taken down your guard
If I could change your mind
I'd really love to break your heart
I'd really love to break your heart
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
02 The Working Hour (06:31)
These things
That I've
Been told
Can rearrange
My world
My doubt
In time
But inside out
This is the working hour
We are paid by those who learn by our mistakes
This day
And age
For all
And not for one
All lies
And secrets
Put on
Put on and on
This is the working hour
We are paid by those who learn by our mistakes
Fear is such a vicious thing
It wraps me up in chains
Find out
Find out
What this fear is about
Find out
Find out
What this fear is about
03 Everybody Wants to Rule the World (04:11)
Welcome to your life
There's no turning back
Even while we sleep
We will find you
Acting on your best behavior-Turn your back on Mother Nature
Everybody wants to rule the world.
It's my own design
It's my own remorse
Help me to decide
Help me make the most
Of freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world.
There's a room where the light won't find you
Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down
When they do I'll be right behind you.
So glad we've almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world.
I can't stand this indecision
Married with a lack of vision
Everybody wants to rule the world
Say that you'll never never never never need it
One headline why believe it?
Everybody wants to rule the world.
All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world.
04 Mothers Talk (05:10)
My features form with a change in the weather
Weekend
We can work it out
My features form with a change in the weather
Weekend
We can work it out
When the wind blows
When the mothers talk
When the wind blows
When the wind blows
When the mothers talk
When the wind blows
We can work it out
It's not that you're not good enough
It's just that we can make you better
Given that you pay the price
We can keep you young and tender
Following in the footsteps of a funeral pyre
You were paid not listen now your house is on fire
Wake me up when things get started
When everything starts to happen
My features form with a change in the weather
Some of us horrified
Others never talk about it
But when the weather starts to burn
Then you'll know that you're in trouble
Following in the footsteps of a soldier girl
It is time to put your clothes on and to face the world
Don't you feel your luck is changing
When everything starts to happen
Put your head right next to my heart
The beat of the drum is the fear of the dark
My features form with a change in the weather
05 I Believe (04:54)
I believe that when the hurting and the pain has gone
We will be strong, Oh yes we will be strong
And I believe that if I'm crying while I write these words
Is it absurb ? Or am I being real
I believe that if you knew just what these tears were for
They would just pour like every drop of rain
That's why I believe it is too late for anyone to believe
I believe that if you thought for a moment, took your time
You would not resign yourself to your fate
And I believe that if it's written in the stars, that's fine
I can't deny that I'm a Virgo too
I believe that if your bristling while you hear this song
I could be wrong or have I hit a nerve ?
That's why I believe it is too late for anyone to believe
I believe that maybe somewhere in the darkness
In the nighttime, In the storm
In the casino
Casino spanish eyes
I believe, no I can't believe that every time you hear a new born scream
You just can't see the shaping of a life
The shaping of a life
07 Head Over Heels (04:09)
I wanted to be with you alone
And talk about the weather
But traditions I can trace
Against the child in your face
Won't escape my attention
You keep your distance
With a system of touch
And gentle persuasion
I'm lost in admiration
Could I need you this much
Oh, you're wasting my time
You're just wasting time
Something happens and
I'm head over heels
I never find out 'till
I'm head over heels
Something happens and
I'm head over heels
Ah, don't take my heart
Don't break my heart
Don't, don't, don't throw it away
(Throw it away)
I made a fire
I'm watching it burn
Thought of your future
With one foot in the past
Now just how long will it last
No, no, no, have you no ambition
My mother and my brothers
Used to breathe in clean air
(Changes with those)
And dreaming I'm a doctor
(They can't stop)
It's hard to be a man
When there's a gun in your hand
Oh I feel so
Something happens and
I'm head over heels
I never find out 'till
I'm head over heels
Something happens and
I'm head over heels
Ah, don't take my heart
Don't break my heart
Don't, don't, don't throw it away
And this is my four leaf clover
I'm on the line, one open mind
This is my four leaf clover
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la...
In my mind's eye
One little boy, one little man
Funny how time flies
09 Listen (06:49)
Mother Russia badly burned
Your children lick your wounds, your wounds
Pilgrim father sailed away
Found a brave new world, new world...(LISTEN...)
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
Soothe my feeling
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
Soothe my feeling
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
I feel it, soothe my feeling
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
Soothe it, soothe it, soothe my feeling, now I feel it
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
Ooooh, just like I hope the people say, soothe my feeling
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
I feel it, hold me take a look at my chance
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
Take a look at my mercy, take a look at my feeling
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
(Mama let me take you like I hope you say...)
Loading comments slowly
