Behind the Songs: Dash

A quote from Richard Butler on the song "Dash".

Interviewer: "Talk Talk Talk has a few noteworthy keyboard parts... 'Dash' on the B-side of 'Dumb Waiters' has a piano melody. Is this a direction for the future keyboards?"

Richard Butler: "We'd like to feature more of a lot of things. I'd like to use cello and twelve string guitar as well, but keyboards will definitely be on the next album, I'd say. We just want to expand the sound. It would be great to have a big band sound on the next one. We'll have to hire session musicians to tour with us next time. Do a Talking Heads!" (Overview 1981)

Behind the Songs: Girl's Song [Unreleased]

A quote from Richard Butler on the unreleased song "Girl's Song".

Richard Butler: "On the first album all the lyrics were written around the fact that I didn't think that you could be a good writer and sing from a personal point of view. There was a song called 'Girl's Song' that was eventually dropped which was sung from a girl's point of view, there's a song like 'Blacks' which is sung from a middle class prat's point of view, now I want to write from a narrative point of view." (Sounds 1980)

Pretty In Pink: My Favorite Version

A month ago I had been listening to the 1986 version of "Pretty In Pink" a lot and I have to make a confession, which the fans would completely disagree with me.

The 1986 rerecording is my favorite version of the song.

Photo: Henry Diltz

I thought the original 1981 song would be my favorite since it's the first version I heard but after listening to the remake a lot it made me start to like it more. I know The Psychedelic Furs and the fans prefer the original but to me I think the thing that improves the rerecording is the inclusion of the saxophone, because in the original "Pretty In Pink" there was no saxophone.

I feel fortunate to hear the song live and after listening to the live rendition five times when Mars Williams was around, it started becoming my favorite and it's one of the reasons why I like the rerecording more. The saxophone just works. And even though you like the original better, I think you all probably agree that Mars was amazing in the rerecording.

I still love the original "Pretty In Pink" but if I have to choose between the 1981 and 1986 versions I would definitely have to pick '86.

Oh, one more thing I want to add, I absolutely love the ending in the 1986 version.

New Tour Dates

This June on the 22nd The Psychedelic Furs will perform at the Forever Now music festival in England and it will be their first UK show in three years. But recently I heard they announced a North American tour in the Summer. So far I don't know who the support act will be but on the July 20th concert, The Mission and The Church will be at the event. I'm looking forward to see what The Psychedelic Furs will do this year and I'm excited to check out the setlist. I wonder if Richard Fortus will join them again or if they will hire a saxophonist this time.

Unfortunately Portland is not included in the Summer tour but I'm hoping The Furs will return there in the Fall. Fingers crossed!

Via Facebook.

2/7/25 Update: Yesterday The Furs announced two more shows. Belfast, Northern Ireland on June 19, and Dublin, Ireland on June 20. If I'm correct, I think the last time The Psychedelic Furs performed at those locations was back in August of 2017.

2/11/25 Update: From what I've seen so far, it looks like The Mission will be the main supporting act. They had toured with The Psychedelic Furs before, in 1987 during the Midnight To Midnight tour.

Other Desert Cities

I'm happy to say that I finally have my own Other Desert Cities T-shirt, which arrived this week.

Other Desert Cities is a line of clothing that's from Very Very, a small business store in Twentynine Palms, California. The owners of the store are Rich Good himself and his girlfriend Dana.

I actually got two shirts for me: One to wear for work and the other for going out on my days off. I also got a postcard too (free!) which was really nice. I would love to buy more from Very Very again in the future.

If you would like to buy your own Other Desert Cities shirt (and/or other stuff too) here is the link to Very Very's online shop: https://www.thisisveryvery.com/

2/16/25 Update: I ordered from Very Very again and I got myself these cool badges. I really love the cat one.

Behind the Songs: Should God Forget

A quote from Richard Butler on the song "Should God Forget".

Richard Butler (on being asked which songs are the most up-sounding on Book Of Days): "Rather difficult to spot on this record, aren't they? I dunno, I'd say 'Should God Forget' is. And 'Entertain Me'." (Puncture Magazine 1989)

Behind the Songs: Shine

A couple quotes from Richard Butler on the song "Shine".

Richard Butler: "I wanted to write something in waltz time. Tim [Butler] and I set up a waltz time on the drum machine and added some random bells and it seemed to have a great kind of feeling. I just started singing."

Interviewer: "You improvised that song?"

Richard Butler: "That's how the best ones happen." (Puncture Magazine 1989)

Interviewer: "You said that there would be no singles on Book Of Days."

Richard Butler: "Well, we made the record and I didn't think that there was anything that I could really hear in the top ten. It's not that I don't think there are great songs on there. What I think are my favorites off this record are 'Shine' or 'Torch' ...but good songs and singles are two entirely different things, I think." (The Bob 1990)