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Versione 1
Rating: The Femmes' 3rd album has never received the attention it deserves compared to the first two albums, both masterpieces. In my day, we even danced to some tracks from this record at the disco. In fact, sadly, it is the last truly consistent album from the group, which has the merit of standing out from both the first and the second. It features a decidedly more "Mainstream" sound thanks to the production of Talking Heads guitarist-keyboardist Jerry Harrison, with many guests from Fred Frith to Leo Kottke. After the wild opening with the protest of "Old Mother Reagan," here comes the first masterpiece of the album, the compelling "No Killing," supported by the magnificent bass, this time electric, of Brian Ritchie, and an unforgettable "offbeat" chorus in which the voice of the leader is joined by those of De Lorenzo (who I believe plays with a traditional drum kit) and Ritchie. Immediately following is masterpiece number 2, the irresistible "Faith." Here, we return to territories more natural to the group; the track could have been found on the previous album, a religious gospel blues driven by horns and harmonica with another catchy chorus that doesn't let you go. Following is "Breakin' Hearts" with an interpretation that recalls the Talking Heads' leader, then the rocker "Special," "Love and me make three," and "World Without Mercy" (present only on cassettes) offers the vocal performance of Brian Ritchie and a Victor De Lorenzo, extraordinarily similar in tone to John Cale. Side B opens with "I Held Her In My Arms," years later a video was filmed of it with a new arrangement, the sax is irresistible, followed by another small masterpiece, the T-Rex cover "Children of The Revolution," simply extraordinary, one of the most successful reinterpretations of someone else's track, radio-friendly but catchy. I remember the very curious video showing the scene from the back of the album cover. Then "Good Friend" where our Gordon is inspired, without hiding it too much, by Lou Reed, a track also supported here by the splendid bass of Brian Ritchie. I've gone on too long... happy listening...
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Old Mother Reagan (00:29)
And her crew
Took away
From me and you
I hope she goes far away
She better go far away
Y'know it ain't right
When it's all wrong
This is the Old Mother Reagan
Protest song
Old Mother Reagan
She's so dumb
She's so dangerous
How come...
Old Mother Reagan went to heaven
But at the pearly gates
She was stopped!
05 Special (02:16)
"You smile,
because you know.
You smile,
because you know.
You smile,
I told you so.
Come on give me a smile,
I'm gonna let you know.
You're something special,
You're something special,
You're something special to me,
You're something special.
Your mama don't lie.
Your papa don't lie.
Your mama don't lie.
Your papa don't lie.
All of the GOOD THINGS they said about you!
They said you were my love,
I think it might be true!
You're something special
You're something special to me
You're something special
Special special what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Special special what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Get away from me...
Im gonna hurt somebody...
Get away from me...
Im gonna hurt somebody...
I....I... I dont really wanna hurt nobody
But sometimes I just gotta hurt somebody
Cause people are... dangerous
And people are... mysterious
And people are... adventurous
And people are... childish
And people are... ridiculous
And people are... suspicious
Of somebody who's SPECIAL
Special
Whats so special about him?
Whats so special about him?
You smile
Because you know
You smile
I told you so
Come on give me a smile im gonna let you know
Youre something special
Youre something special to me
Youre something special
Youre something special to me
Youre something special
Special special what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Special special what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt"
08 I Held Her In My Arms (02:50)
That I have been burnt
And I'm learning things that I
Should've already learnt
Everyone I ever knew
Was so kind and coy
I was with a girl
But it felt like I was with a boy
I can't even remember
If we were lovers
Or if I just wanted to
But I held her in my arms
I held her in my arms
I held her in my arms
But it wasn't you
I will not kill
The one thing that I love
In this world of wreckage
I look above
Help me Lord
Help me understand
What it means to be a boy
What it means to be a man
09 Children Of The Revolution (04:17)
You can bump and grind.
Have a good time.
You can twist and shout.
Let it all hang out,
but you won't fool the children of the revolution.
No you won't fool the children of the revolution.
You can tell a plane, in the falling rain.
I gotta rolls royce,
cause its good for my voice,
but you won't fool the children of the revolution.
No you won't fool the children of the revolution.
You can bump and grind.
Feeling fine.
You can twist and shout.
Knock yourself out, but you won't fool the children of the revolution.
No you won't fool the children of the revolution.
No you can't fool the children of the revolution.
No you won't fool the children of the revolution.
No you can't fool the children of the revolution.
No you won't fool the children of the revolution.
You can bump and grind, have a good time.
You can bump and grind, have a good time.
Bump and grind, have a good time.
11 Heartache (02:00)
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
I know nobody ever taught you
How to dance like that
Nobody ever taught you
How to dance like that
Nobody ever taught me
How to dance like that
Heartache---too late
And I gotta get up
Heartache---too late
And I gotta get up
Heartache---too late
And I gotta get up
I know
I been workin' twenty-five hours a day
I don't want to live this way
Five and a half weeks with one day off
Stop the train I'm getting off
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