A guest series by The Robster
#5: Something 4 The Weekend (1996, Creation Records, CRE235)
The third single from ‘Fuzzy Logic’ wasn’t a direct lift. Something For The Weekend was an album highlight, showcasing the Furries jauntier side. However, for whatever reason, a decision was made to release a different version for the single.
mp3: Something 4 The Weekend
Note, firstly, the slight difference in the title. Secondly, the change in tempo. It was slightly slower than the album version, which is interesting as it doesn’t have quite the same impact. It’s also unusual for a single in that it’s 20 seconds longer than the original. As ever, with Super Furry Animals, you should always expect the unexpected. Regardless of all that, Something 4 The Weekend powered its way to number 18 in the UK charts following its release on 1st July 1996. It was the band’s debut in the top 20.
The single’s sleeve art depicts notorious Welsh drug dealer Howard Marks, who the band befriended, wrote a song about and even collaborated with. His autobiography Mr Big is a brilliant and hilarious read.
The 7” and cassette formats contained a song considered for the album, but which was passed over.
mp3: Waiting To Happen
If you think this sounds like a cover, you’d be… wrong. It sounds like it should be though, it’s not very Furry-like, which may explain its exclusion from ‘Fuzzy Logic’. The other b-side on the CD single though was much more conventional. Well, conventional in a SFA sense.
mp3: Arnofio/Glô In The Dark
Essentially, two songs welded together. Arnofio (trans: Floating) is a slow, trippy, keyboard-led tune sung in Welsh. After 2 minutes 18 seconds, the altogether louder, noiser (and English) Glô In The Dark kicks in for a verse. Arnofio is reprised briefly before Glô returns to the conclusion. It’s a great track this, and one the band loved too. It was aired during their 2015 reunion gigs and completely bemused the hipsters who were only there for a social media post, while the actual fans went mad. Oh, and there’s a bit of word play here as well, as glô is the Welsh word for coal.
The CD single also contained the album version of the title track (though it’s worth noting, on the US release of ‘Fuzzy Logic’, the single version replaced the UK’s album version)
mp3: Something For The Weekend
Two versions not enough for ya? OK then, here’s a bonus track bonanza! The fabulous 1995 demo version, the BBC Radio 1 Evening Show take, and a live version recorded at the ill-fated Phoenix Festival in 1996.
mp3: Something For The Weekend [1995 demo]
mp3: Something For The Weekend [Evening Session]
mp3: Something 4 The Weekend [live at the Phoenix Festival]
Five versions of the same song in a single post? Blimey. I just keep repeating myself. I just keep repeating myself. I just keep repeating myself…..
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Nice!
I also feel that the single version is rather poor compared to the brilliant album version.
– kontroller