Building the City of Light

"Building the City of Light" is a song from Scottish singer-songwriter Mike Scott, released as the second and final single from his first solo album Bring 'Em All In. It was written by Mike Scott, and produced by Scott and Niko Bolas. The song reached No. 60 in the UK and remained on the charts for two weeks.[2]

"Building the City of Light"
Single by Mike Scott
from the album Bring 'Em All In
B-side"Where Do You Want the Boombox, Buddy?"
Released30 October 1995[1]
Length3:52
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)Mike Scott
Producer(s)Mike Scott, Niko Bolas
Mike Scott singles chronology
"Bring 'Em All In"
(1995)		 "Building the City of Light"
(1995)		 "Love Anyway"
(1997)

A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Scott and David Anderson, and produced by Elizabeth Flowers.[3]

Background

Much of the material on Bring 'Em All In was written after Scott left New York City for Scotland in 1993. During a period when he stayed at the Findhorn Foundation, he wrote many of the songs that appeared on the album and first performed "Building the City of Light", among other tracks, at the foundation's Universal Hall.[4] At the time of its release, Scott described "Building the City of Light" as "a three and a half minute power blast with lyrics about bringing more love into the world, starting with myself".[5]

When the previous single "Bring 'Em All In" stalled at No. 56 in the UK, Chrysalis persuaded Scott to release "Building the City of Light" with different bonus tracks on two separate CD releases in the bid to generate additional sales and a hit single. In his autobiography, Scott recalled how he felt the plan was merely a "music business ploy" and a "scam". With "Building the City of Light" only reaching No. 60 in the UK, Scott recalled: "The single bombed and I felt I'd compromised myself, the fans and the music."[3]

Reception

In a review of Bring 'Em All In, Kevin O'Hare, writing for the Star Tribune described the song as a "fiery closer".[6] Dan Bennett of the North County Times wrote: "On songs such as "Sensitive Children" and "Building the City of Light", Scott has attempted to fashion a complete observational and self-realization journey in one package."[7]

Trouser Press commented: "...Scott is still carried away with his new age idealism: the lyrics of "Long Way to the Light" and "Building the City of Light" are both so insufferably earnest and overpoweringly positive that they distract all attention away from any merits the music might have."[8] Chuck Groth of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch felt "Building the City of Light" was one of the album's tracks that was "forced and melodramatic".[9]

Formats
7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Building the City of Light"3:52
2."Where Do You Want the Boombox, Buddy?"2:21
CD single (UK #1)
No.TitleLength
1."Building the City of Light"3:52
2."Where Do You Want the Boombox, Buddy?"2:21
3."Goin' Back to Glasters (Live)"3:46
4."The Whole of the Moon (Live)"4:04
CD single (UK #2)
No.TitleLength
1."Building the City of Light"3:52
2."Two Great Waves"5:25
3."My Beautiful Guide"2:34
4."Building the City of Light (Universal Hall Demo)"4:03
CD single (UK promo)
No.TitleLength
1."Building the City of Light"3:52
CD single (US promo)
No.TitleLength
1."Building the City of Light"3:52
2."Where Do You Want the Boombox, Buddy?"2:21
3."Bleecker Street"1:52
4."This Morning I Am Born Again"1:40
5."Goin' Back to Glasters (Live)"3:46

Personnel

Building the City of Light

Where Do You Want the Boombox, Buddy?

  • Mike Scott - producer
  • Chris Bruce - lead guitar
  • Brian Stanley - bass
  • Steve Holley - drums
  • Niko Bolas - recording, mixing

Other

Charts
Chart (1995) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[2] 60

References
  1. "On the road with Mike Scott". The Guardian. 27 October 1995.
  2. "Mike Scott | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  3. Scott, Mike (2017). Adventures of a Waterboy. Jawbone. pp. 242–243. ISBN 978-1911036357.
  4. Lawn, Jim (22 September 1995). "Mike's debut album". Lennox Herald.
  5. "News and reviews...". Lennox Herald. 13 October 1995.
  6. O'Hare, Kevin (10 December 1995). "Entertainment: listen up". Star Tribune.
  7. Bennett, Dan (15 March 1996). "Ex-Waterboy Mike Scott finds own way". North County Times.
  8. "Waterboys". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  9. Groth, Chuck (4 January 1996). "Two hits packages: one wonderous, one not". St Louis Post-Dispatch.
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