CAMPBELL III: This time it's impersonal... I've learned a lot from the recent debate about I Campbell, though probably rather more about the Beatles than B and S! Anyway, a few random takes on the matter aimed at nobody in particular: 1.)One of the reasons that we have this confusion regarding the song-writing is that B and S are a bunch of old lefties, God bless 'em. Instinctively disliking the notion of individualism, they prefer to celebrate the tenets of co-operation and group solidarity in their song crediting policy. So they will never say outright that one person in the band is more equal than others. Fair play to them. I still think the normal practice in bands is for one person to be expressing his or her creative vision. The other palyers can add nuances vital to the final sound, but there is a single person who is the source of the inspiration and has formed the basis of the material. You can only exercise your imagination individually, not as a group. Maybe there should be some kind of equivalent in pop of the Official Secrets Act, and in 30 years B and S will be obliged to release the documents which reveal their song-writing technique (Doogan's diaries, or something). 2.) On this same note, I wonder whether people outside the group can also have a significant influence on a band's sound? I'm thinking of the producer. For instance, can it be a co-incidence that two of Felt's best songs (as Lawrence agrees on 'Ballad of the Band') were produced by the legendary John Leckie, who also sat behind the controls for John Lennon and the Stone Roses? This is yet another bloody complication. 3.) Isobel and Ringo analogy consolidated: Ringo didn't spoil the Beatles. Fortunately, his malaise was contained. But imagine if he had put his self-penned material on the band's albums. Imagine if in a bid to get his due share of the creative limelight he sang on, say, 'Norwegian Wood'. It doesn't bear thinking about. Arguably Ringo's best vocal input is to be found on his voice-over work for Thomas the Tank Engine. 4.) In terms of B and S I say this from personal experience. If I put on the first two albums wanting to listen to just one song, I can't, because one seems to lead naturally to the next, and I feel unsatisfied until I've heard every last track on the album. With the latter two albums where the song-writing input is diversified, I no longer get that old sense. In particular I find that the Spaceman dream song (which I find embarrasing to listen to) and Beyond the Sunrise stick out like sore thumbs. This is a shame because song for song I think B and S have gone from strength to strength up to the present day. The title track of TBWTAS, Slow Graffitti and The Model, for example, I think are among their best material ever. Anyway a band does not operate as a democracy and we are not voters so they will take their own unaccountable direction. I'm still grateful for the great music they produce (when so much around is mediocre) and stand in awe of their achievements so far (and part of this magic includes Isobel's duet appearances and her string arrangements, whatever form they may take). Dougal _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "peculiarly deranged fanbase" "frighteningly named +-+ +-+ Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+