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Post by orioles70 on Oct 18, 2018 14:43:40 GMT
I've been listening to quite a few Idle Race tunes lately. Trying to figure out the best ones before investing in some antique vinyl or perhaps a newer re-release.
Hurry up, John is a good one. Like the bagpipe sounding guitar work.
What is your favorite from that group?
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Post by queenofthehours on Oct 19, 2018 14:40:57 GMT
Gosh, I've got so many Idle Race favourites. The compilation CD Back to the Story was never off my CD player for ages.
'I Like My Toys' always makes me laugh and 'Girl At The Window' is lovely. 'Mr. Crow and Sir Norman' is a great favourite because it's so unusual and clever and 'Sitting in My Tree' has some terrific rhymes. I love everything except maybe one or two which I like slightly less. |
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Post by orioles70 on Oct 19, 2018 15:43:01 GMT
I wasn't really interested in getting the 3rd Idle Race album (post Jeff). But the Back to the Story compilation is the most available and most affordable option and it may have better sound quality if I believe some of the comments on Amazon.
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Post by unomusette on Oct 19, 2018 22:43:51 GMT
I'm with queenofthehours, it's hard to pick a favourite as most Idle Race songs are really clever, catchy pop songs. Jeff never really captured his humourous side with ELO but with Idle Race he really seemed to enjoy it. Maybe as he grew up he thought he'd better become more serious in the lyric department. Or maybe the Idle Race lyrics were a collaboration? |
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Post by StrangeMagic on Oct 19, 2018 23:01:15 GMT
My favorite is "Days of Broken Arrows" with its vague lyrics, apparently about growing old and dying, but written by a 21-year-old. And how did Micky Mouse creep in there?
Don't be too sad when you're, waiting for death
The message on the garden wall says
Mickey Mouse is bad
I believe it was only released as a single and on compilations. I have it on Back to the Story.
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Post by queenofthehours on Oct 20, 2018 13:44:29 GMT
I wasn't really interested in getting the 3rd Idle Race album (post Jeff). But the Back to the Story compilation is the most available and most affordable option and it may have better sound quality if I believe some of the comments on Amazon.
I treasure the Back to the Story compilation but don't think I've ever listened to any track from the third album. I don't know why, I'm just not really interested, maybe because the lack of Jeff.
It's a shame Jeff doesn't use humour and wordplay more in his ELO songs but at least there's some in 'Jungle' and 'Here is the News'. |
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Post by Chippa on Oct 20, 2018 18:21:49 GMT
I love "A Better Life(The Weatherman Knows)". One of Jeff's best songs, IMO.
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Post by dcollins on Oct 22, 2018 12:43:31 GMT
My favourite is "On with the Show" - love the quirky intro
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Post by elophile on Oct 22, 2018 12:50:16 GMT
I really like Please No More Sad Songs. Isn't it nice holding you tight, remember?  A Better Life(The Weatherman Knows) and Hurry Up John are also favorites. |
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Post by tremblinwilbury on Oct 22, 2018 14:42:55 GMT
This is a good thread elophile - thank you  |
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Post by elophile on Oct 22, 2018 14:45:50 GMT
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Post by soonerorlater on Oct 23, 2018 12:44:47 GMT
Ah the Idle Race!
I have quite a few favourites, from On With The Show to The End Of The Road and Sea Of Dreams to I Like My Toys (complete with a Queen-like guitar, before Queen existed), but my great favourite is one that still splits opinion amongst IR fans... Mr. Crow And Sir Norman. My wife hates it and if I ever dare play it in her company, she'll yell at me to turn it off! For me though, it's a work of art, a music hall-style vignette totally aligned with anything offered by the White Album-era Beatles.
I'll go as far as to say that if I had to list Jeff's top ten 'all era' compositions - it would be in there! Feel free to disagree.
I still long for the much promised - never delivered box set that would finally do justice to this greatly over looked sixties band. Apparently much of its intended source material was lost/stolen?
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Post by unomusette on Oct 24, 2018 22:13:12 GMT
I'm with you soonerorlater, Mr Crown and Sir Norman is a fantastic song in every way. My kids used to love it, if they were fighting or something I only had to start off with "Ventriloquist was he...." and they were putty in my hands. I must have sung it a billion times and I still love it. |
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Post by Buttler on Oct 25, 2018 16:39:58 GMT
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Post by queenofthehours on Oct 29, 2018 17:26:33 GMT
Ah the Idle Race! I have quite a few favourites, from On With The Show to The End Of The Road and Sea Of Dreams to I Like My Toys (complete with a Queen-like guitar, before Queen existed), but my great favourite is one that still splits opinion amongst IR fans... Mr. Crow And Sir Norman. My wife hates it and if I ever dare play it in her company, she'll yell at me to turn it off! For me though, it's a work of art, a music hall-style vignette totally aligned with anything offered by the White Album-era Beatles. I'll go as far as to say that if I had to list Jeff's top ten 'all era' compositions - it would be in there! Feel free to disagree. I still long for the much promised - never delivered box set that would finally do justice to this greatly over looked sixties band. Apparently much of its intended source material was lost/stolen? I adore 'Mr Crow and Sir Norman'! Who can listen to it without smiling? Does it split opinion? It's a song of genius - this is why Jeff is such a legend, because even if he doesn't write IR-type songs anymore, the mind that composed them can do no wrong in whatever he decides to write next.
Most of my top ten all era songs would be IR songs I think. Does anyone know what Mr Crow and Sir Norman are saying to each other at the end? |
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, but we're OK. 
Apparently it's quite hard to see them with the naked eye, you need to be looking through a camera or other type of lens?