On the Record, Oct. 22
By Casey Gillis on Oct. 22, 2008
By Bradford Brady and John Maron
Q: I heard an interesting new song today, and the announcer said that it was by the Fireman, a group that includes Paul McCartney. I have never heard of this group. What can you tell me about the song and the group?
A: The Fireman is a collaborative project between Sir Paul McCartney and Martin “Youth” Glover. For those who might be too young to remember, McCartney is a former member of the 70s-era band, Wings (oh, and a little band from the 60s called the Beatles). Youth is a former bassist with Killing Joke, and lately has worked as a producer of dance music and as a producer of the Verve. The collaboration began quietly and without fanfare with the 1993 release of “Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest,” a collection of nine tracks of ambient dance music that turn out to be deconstructed versions of songs that appeared on McCartney’s 1993 release, “Off the Ground.” McCartney’s name was nowhere on “Strawberries,” and it was not known for certain that it was his project until Capitol Records confirmed the rumors some time later. McCartney’s interest in electronica and ambient music stretches back to his days with the Beatles and the experimental use of tape loops. The pair teamed up again in 1998 on the release of “Rushes.” The latest album, “Electronic Arguments,” due out in November, is the first Fireman album that actually features McCartney’s vocals. The one song we have heard, “Sing the Changes,” will undoubtedly surprise some of McCartney’s long-time fans because it does sound a little like the Verve.
Q: What is the song that plays in the background of the promos for the new TV show “My Own Worst Enemy?”
A: The song is “Club Foot” by the British band Kasabian. A Top 20 hit from May 2004, “Club Foot” was the band’s first song to place on the U.K. charts. Hailing from Leicester, the band formed in 1999. Their self-titled debut album, which includes “Club Foot,” was released in 2004 while their second album, “Empire,” was released in 2006. The band is currently working on a third album, which is scheduled to be released in April or May.
Q: Can you tell me who recorded the original version of the new James Taylor song?
A: James Taylor’s new song, “It’s Growing,” is a cover of a Temptations song from 1965. The song was the follow-up to their most famous song, “My Girl.” With “My Girl” reaching No.1, expectations were high for “It’s Growing,” but the song only reached No. 18 on the charts. This is Taylor’s second cover of a Motown song to get significant airplay. A remake of Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” reached No. 5 in 1975. Taylor’s new album, “Covers,” which includes “It’s Growing,” contains new versions of twelve of his favorite songs from the past.
What’s the name of that song? Where are they now? What does that lyric mean? Send questions to or visit http://www.musicontherecord.com. Brady and Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh, N.C.
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