Waiting for Bonaparte
Waiting for Bonaparte is the third studio album by The Men They Couldn't Hang. It was recorded at Woodcray Studios in Berkshire and was released in 1988. It is the first album to feature Ricky McGuire (ex UK Subs) on bass guitar. The album again features songs written about British culture and history. The only single on the album to feature a promotional video was The Colours. The video was given a Les Miserables style theme due to its historical lyrical content and features writer Paul Simmonds in drag playing the part of a woman of ill repute.[1] The song itself, however was banned by the BBC due to the line, "You've come here to watch me hang!", which echoed the events happening in South African townships at the time, in particular the plight of the Sharpeville Six. It still managed to reach number 61 in the singles chart. The Crest is the only single to have an extended remixed version.
Waiting for Bonaparte | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1988 | |||
Recorded | Woodcray Manor Studios, Berkshire | |||
Genre | Roots rock, Folk-rock, Folk-punk | |||
Length | 55:00 | |||
Label | WEA | |||
Producer | Mick Glossop, Ben Kape | |||
The Men They Couldn't Hang chronology | ||||
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Singles from Waiting for Bonaparte | ||||
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Personnel
- The Men They Couldn't Hang[2]
- Stefan Cush (a.k.a. Cush) – vocals, guitar, horn
- Ricky McGuire - bass guitar
- Jon Odgers – drums, percussion
- Philip Odgers (a.k.a. Swill) – vocals, guitar, recorder
- Paul Simmonds - guitar, bouzuki, mandolin, lute
- Additional musicians
- Lindsey Lowe and Graham Ashton – trumpet
- Bobby Valentino – Violin
- Stephen Shaw Pipe
- Stephen Wick tuba
- Producer and engineer
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "The Crest" | Paul Simmonds | Cush, Swill | 4:05 |
2. | "Smugglers" | Traditional | Swill, Cush | 4:28 |
3. | "Dover Lights" | Paul Simmonds | Cush, Swill | 3:40 |
4. | "Bounty Hunter" | Paul Simmonds | Cush | 3:36 |
5. | "Island in the Rain" | Paul Simmonds | Swill, Cush | 4:26 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
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6. | "The Colours" | Paul Simmonds | Cush, Swill | 3:51 |
7. | "Midnight Train" | Paul Simmonds | Cush, Swill | 3:08 |
8. | "Father's Wrong" | Philip Odgers | Swill | 4:32 |
9. | "Life of a Small Fry" | Stefan Cush | Cush | 3:39 |
10. | "Mary's Present" | Philip Odgers | Swill | 3:02 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
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11. | "Silver Dagger" | Traditional | Cush, Swill | 3:40 |
12. | "Restless Highway" | Paul Simmonds | Swill, Cush | 3:28 |
13. | "Country Song" | Philip Odgers | Cush, Swill | 3:46 |
14. | "The Crest (extended re-mix)" | Paul Simmonds | Cush, Swill | 12:01 |
References
- A Bag of Songs, Paul Simmonds,ISBN 9781447537274
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/waiting-for-bonaparte-mw0000946727/credits