Today's selection takes us to the 'Provision' era of 1988. The album was not nearly as successful as previous smash 'Cupid & Psyche 85,' but there were minor hits. Walk-up single "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)" performed well in the UK, making it to No. 13, and "Boom! There She Was" charted in America, peaking at No. 53. Between those two releases was "First Boy In This Town (Lovesick)." We didn't even get this one over here, but I did manage to find the 7" in the import section. There is a 12" extended mix as well, but I have never seen it. If I happen upon it in a shop, the completist in me would demand a purchase. The song always felt like it could have been one from the 'Cupid & Psyche' era... just not quite good enough to make the cut.
For uber fans, the B-side is considered one of, if not, their best. Non-album track "World Come Back To Life" features the talents of David Gamson's keyboards. His sound is tied closely to Scritti Politti's commercial appeal throughout the '80s, but he got out for a long time after 'Provision.' In 2008, Gamson told bibbly-o-tek, a blog dedicated to the band, "By that point we hated each other's guts and didn't talk to each other for 10 years." Later, he called 'Provision' "the most digital sounding analog record ever made. The most anal sounding record..."
All of these negatives aside, 'Provision' went top 10 in the UK but stalled at No. 113 here in America. Shocking when you consider the success of "Perfect Way" three years earlier. It wouldn't be too much longer before Green would throw up his hands and move to Wales. There wouldn't be another long player from Scritti Politti for more than a decade. By and large, this A-side has been forgotten. It wasn't even included on the 2011 best-of package 'Absolute.'
"First Boy In This Town (Lovesick)"
"World Come Back To Life"
5 comments:
World Come Back To Life is sublime. That oh so rubbery bass makes my pulse skip beats. First Boy In This Town has always been the track on Provision that takes me back to the magic of Cupid + Psyche '85.
Gamson's keyboards are so much the DNA of SP Mk II. Provision is as much his album as it is Green's. In the end after leaving Scritti Politti, David Gamson has had a pretty varied ride on the production side of the Rock & Rollercoaster. Gartside and Gamson would team up again on Anomie & Bonhomie - in the producers chair. It was an album that took more than 10 yrs to make and feeds into the legend of Green's recording process, but there he was along for the ride. He has continued to have a long fruitful career in music and I have to figure the songwriting royalties from co-writing Kelly Clarkson's Stronger have seen him live comfortably.
Finally - a bug in your ear Brian - I have been listening to A Little Knowledge from C+P'85 a lot recently...
Echorich, I always hope to hear from you when Scritti Politti is featured. Your knowledge of the band is humbling. I spent the evening listening to this podcast. I think you'll enjoy it. Gamson and the host spend a great deal of time on Provision.
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/compared-to-what-podcast/e/37267207
A less knowledgeable comment than Rich's- World Come Back To Life is a banger.
SA - SOMEDAY I will learn how to be satisfied with the idea of less is more...but you got it in 3 words! Mic drop.
I can't remember ever hearing 'World Come Back to Life' before, if I ever did it was a very long time ago, but Swiss Adam's comment is on the nose. Enjoy your Scritti time Brian.
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