"I can’t remember why we recorded this one, we were in the studio in Holland and everything was set up, so we put down a version which ended up being a single. I think it was the solo that did it."
(David Morris, guitar player of The Celibate Rifles)
Oh well, modesty is a virtue, isn’t it? Personally, I think THE CELIBATE RIFLES’ rendition of Patty Smith’s “Dancing Barefoot” is a truly exceptional cover that gloriously stands the test of time and thus can be considered as a true classic! First of all, the sound is astonishing: the song blasts out of the speakers and immediately thrills the listener with it’s big fat guitar sound and commanding drum beat! Then there’s that amazing voice of Damien Lovelock: at first listen, he may sound totally indifferent but that’s just a false impression because soon – and not in the least because of the compelling lyrics – introspection chases the idea of apathy and his voice suits the song in a brilliant way. Just take a listen and you might come to the same conclusion as me that it wasn’t just the solo that did it…
Dancing Barefoot - THE CELIBATE RIFLES mp3
2 comments:
that's one hell of a compilation cd there. i first heard "spaceman in a satin suit", but this one was a real eye opener. "let's get married", "e=mc²", "jesus on tv", all great stuff. bought several more after that (including blind ear, roman beach party, etc), but this is the one i played most. a shame so few people have heard of them
The Celibate Rifles own a special place in my heart: I saw the band perform at some squat in Antwerp called 1,000 Appeltjes way back in 1988 on my trip to the Sfinks festival in Boechout. I still remember how half of the band members were dressed in boxer shorts and slippers. The Celibate Rifles had just released Roman Beach Party (which I still think is their magnum opus) and tore the house down! That sudden night, I slept on a wooden bench somewhere in the city and it felt like I owned the world. Together with The Leaving Trains' Favorite Mood Swings, Platters du Jour is one of my favourite band anthologies of the 1980/90s.
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