The 1980 Russell review...

[UnusualMeme]

Did anyone ever unpick the songs Russell described in his 1980 review of Pulp live?

1. "Happy House" riff out of tune, different words
2. Sounds like "Christine" and is a disco spoof!
3. Sounds like "Don't Fear the Reaper" a bit. A dirge.

Songs we have heard that were in the set at the time were Refuse to Be Blind, Shakespeare Rock, whereas songs we know the names of, but have never heard include Disco Baby, She's a Disease, You're Too Cruel and Queen Poser.

As it's a gig that still had Jim Sellars present, we can look at some of his memories of the setlists they did then, to help pin this down. I went through some of the songs with him about 10 years ago.

He didn't remember Disco Baby from the title, which implies that its probable debut at Rotherham 5/7/80 while Mark Swift was still drumming was also its last appearance.

He remembered playing She's a Disease and You're Too Cruel ('You treat me like a fool...'), the latter of which he described as "nice and thrashy").

He remembered Queen Poser as definitely being one he played. "It was simple musically...just in 4/4 time...quite short. [It] opened with "Everywhere she goes everybody knows her / everybody knows she's the best poser" and he described it as being "a bit slower than but not unlike ''What d'ya say' which was invariably played on the same set. It's the opening guitar that sounds a little similar to teenage kicks".

He also remembered "What are You Going to do about it" as one that he played. Some lyrics went "What ya gonna do when I smash ya in the face?' / 'What ya gonna do? you look a disgrace". Jimmy says "It was slower than Crabs ...hard to describe" and that he only played it once or twice - probably at the Hallamshire.

Please Don't Worry he did remember, but wasn't sure if he'd played it live with them. He did remember playing 'What Do You Say' (written before he joined) and '...Crabs' (written while he was a member) though.

Jimmy remembered Turkey Mambo Momma as being after his time - same with What's Wrong With My Girl, Why Live and Zhivago. The titles Devil Doll, Test of Affection, Teen Angst and How Could You? and Don't Want to Know didn't mean anything to him. He did remember rehearsing Stranger on the Horizon though, but never playing it live.

I'm sure this is useful to some people

[Sturdy]

Well done on getting all this out of Jim!

The 'disco spoof' I always assumed was Disco Baby. Philip Thompson mentioned it was a Jah Wobble type bassline, I think with a disco beat. It was still in the set when they played The Royal in September 1980 - it's mentioned in a review, see https://pulpwiki.net/Pulp/Live24September1980TheRitblatTubeSheffield

No idea on the other two. 'Don't Fear the Reaper' could be what became Why Live - that 'Life Is a Circle' tune he's played a bit of has the same jangly riff.

[UnusualMeme]

Well done on getting all this out of Jim!

The 'disco spoof' I always assumed was Disco Baby. Philip Thompson mentioned it was a Jah Wobble type bassline, I think with a disco beat. It was still in the set when they played The Royal in September 1980 - it's mentioned in a review, see https://pulpwiki.net/Pulp/Live24September1980TheRitblatTubeSheffield

No idea on the other two. 'Don't Fear the Reaper' could be what became Why Live - that 'Life Is a Circle' tune he's played a bit of has the same jangly riff.

I used Messenger and sent him songs I had access to, and titles to ones I didn't. He seemed to really enjoy hearing things he hadn't heard in years. I think that off-set the more boring questions about obscure song-titles. But yeah, if Disco Baby does "Sound like "Christine" and is a disco spoof!" then that would make sense. Also with Jim not knowing it, as it looks like it had its one and only performance before he joined (edited to say: that actual review does suggest he did play on it, so presumably it's a passage-of-time thing!)

Did anyone ever work out what song 'Christine' is?

Good points on the other - I'd forgotten about Life is a Circle. Such a dull song!

[Sturdy]

I would assume this...