One of the things I’m enjoying about adding the ‘Categories’ section to the blog is that I can see where I’ve failed to post anything on T(n)VV about a particular song.
Back in 1985, Everything But The Girl released a real killer of a 45. It was backed by two tremendous b-sides, one of which was a cover that was every bit as memorable as the original. It was a single that deserved to be a huge hit but which stalled at #77.
mp3 : Everything But The Girl – When All’s Well **
mp3 : Everything But The Girl – Heaven Help Me
mp3 : Everything But The Girl – Kid
I did write about this single over on the old blog and made the observation that I was amazed at the time that fans of The Smiths fans failed to be turned on to its charms in great numbers given that all the songs weren’t a million miles removed from the sort of tunes Johnny Marr was writing and recording at the time.
A real old friend of the blog, Echorich, made a very astute comment at the time:-
“AHH…and I am greatly satisfied that we concur! EBTG’s Kid ranks among my favorite covers of any song. Tracey and Ben put their sonic stamp on it without losing the depth in the lyrics…that ambiguity is still there!
And your Morrissey/Marr connection is a valid one, especially as Johnny has the odd Harmonica contribution to some early EBTG songs and the band played Smith’s songs in concert on at least 3 tours that I can remember.”
Of course, later on Moz would take the title of this great single and release a track entitled In The Future When All’s Well.….
What has always been particularly interesting about EBTG is that they were so keen to quickly move on to different genres of music rather than run the risk of remaining pigeon-holed and becoming stale. A read through Tracey Thorn’s hugely entertaining autobiography sheds some great light on this. It also illustrates just how crazy things can get when one of your songs really takes off across Europe and further afield as it did for Tracey and Ben some nine years later.
But that’s a story for another day.
** at third time of asking I now have the link to the song sorted out. Sorry for the fuck up.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
I know your youtube policy but the video is worth a look. I can see the record execs scratching their heads wondering what to do until someone says ” i know it is called when all’s well, so lets put them in a ……”
First two links both point to Heaven Help Me…
Thanks Martin. Have sorted it out now. That’s what happens when you’re very tired but determined to blog!
Yes FORW – possibly the most ridiculous video I have ever seen. And when you realize Tracey and Ben are in separate wells … the mind boggles. In the end the “well” that Tracey is stuck in looks like an upside down…now wait for it…cathedral bell – with stricker suspended above it to boot! Ah the cocaine addled 80’s record company A&R departments…gotta love ’em.
Gorgeous song from a group I could never do without.
The first link now takes you to Morrissey’s ‘In The Future’ rather than EBTG’s ‘When All’s Well’. Oh well. Nice version of ‘Kid’.
Thanks for fixing the link. What a great song ‘When All’s Well’ is!