Pinball (song): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|1974 song by Brian Protheroe}} |
{{short description|1974 song by Brian Protheroe}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} |
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{{Infobox song |
{{Infobox song |
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| name = Pinball |
| name = Pinball |
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| album = Pinball |
| album = Pinball |
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| B-side = Money Love |
| B-side = Money Love |
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| released = 1974 |
| released = August 1974 |
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| format = |
| format = |
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| recorded = |
| recorded = |
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| studio = |
| studio = |
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| venue = |
| venue = |
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| genre = [[Soft rock]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=10 Soft Rock Songs People In The 70s Fell In Love With |url=https://iloveclassicrock.com/10-soft-rock-songs-people-in-the-70s-fell-in-love-with/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=I Love Classic Rock |date=2 September 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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| genre = [[pop music|Pop]] |
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| length = |
| length = 3:13 |
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| label = [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]] |
| label = [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]] |
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| producer = [[Del Newman]] |
| producer = [[Del Newman]] |
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| next_title = Fly Now |
| next_title = Fly Now |
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| next_year = 1975 |
| next_year = 1975 |
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| misc = {{External music video|header=Official Audio|{{YouTube|87berJKi2ek|"Pinball"}}}} |
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}} |
}} |
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"'''Pinball'''" is a 1974 song by [[Brian Protheroe]]. |
"'''Pinball'''" is a 1974 song by the actor and musician [[Brian Protheroe]]. An autobiographical song written whilst Protheroe was living in a friend's flat in [[Covent Garden]], it was released as his first single after he was signed by [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]] on the strength of a song he wrote and performed in a play. Upon release, it gave Protheroe his [[One-hit wonder|only hit]], reaching a peak position of 22 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] in September 1974. It was later included on his debut album of the same title. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Though he had been interested in music from an early age, Brian Protheroe had focused on a burgeoning acting career in the years leading up to his musical releases. His initial stage performances in |
Though he had been interested in music from an early age, Brian Protheroe had focused on a burgeoning acting career in the years leading up to his musical releases. His initial stage performances in 1966–67 were with his local [[repertory theatre]] at [[Salisbury Playhouse]].<ref name="Theatricalia">{{cite web |title=Brian Protheroe - past productions |url=https://theatricalia.com/person/51j/brian-protheroe/past?page=4 |website=Theatricalia |accessdate=5 August 2019}}</ref> After leaving [[Salisbury]], Protheroe settled with the [[New Theatre Royal Lincoln]] in 1968. There he met Martin Duncan, who became a musical collaborator.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last1=Stephen Thomas |first1=Erlewine |title=Brian Protheroe Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-protheroe-mn0001544219/biography |website=AllMusic |accessdate=4 August 2019}}</ref> Stage roles such as in [[Theatre Royal, Bath|Bath Theatre Royal]]'s 1970 production of ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'', for which he was also the composer, followed, as well as television appearances in the historical drama ''Frontier'' and the anthology mystery series ''[[The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (TV series)|The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes]]''.<ref name="AllMusic"/> In 1973, Protheroe appeared in a production of [[William Fairchild]]'s play ''Death on Demand'' in the role of a pop singer. For the play, he set a lyric written by Fairchild to music and, after it had been shopped around by Fairchild, this composition caught the attention of a [[Chrysalis Records]] rep.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} The label signed Protheroe as a solo artist.<ref name="AllMusic"</> Protheroe never released a recording of the song from ''Death on Demand'', instead opting for "Pinball" as his debut single. |
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==Composition== |
==Composition== |
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"Pinball" is an autobiographical song, described by Protheroe as "a diary entry for one particular weekend in 1973", a time when he had just split up with his girlfriend and was living in a friend's flat in [[Covent Garden]].<ref name="booklet">{{cite book |title=Pinball And Other Stories (liner) |url=http://www.45worlds.com/cdalbum/cd/094636071824}}</ref> The song describes Protheroe's despondent feelings ("my music bores me once again"), setbacks ("and I've run out of [[pale ale]]") and activities ("I've been on the [[pinball]]) at this time. It has been described by one reviewer as "example of ennui, Covent Garden [[Blues]]".<ref name="NME">{{cite journal |last1=Bell |first1=Max |title=Brian Protheroe: Pinball |
"Pinball" is an autobiographical song, described by Protheroe as "a diary entry for one particular weekend in 1973", a time when he had just split up with his girlfriend and was living in a friend's flat in [[Covent Garden]].<ref name="booklet">{{cite book |title=Pinball And Other Stories (liner) |url=http://www.45worlds.com/cdalbum/cd/094636071824}}</ref> The song describes Protheroe's despondent feelings ("my music bores me once again"), setbacks ("and I've run out of [[pale ale]]") and activities ("I've been on the [[pinball]]) at this time. It has been described by one reviewer as "example of ennui, Covent Garden [[Blues]]".<ref name="NME">{{cite journal |last1=Bell |first1=Max |title=Brian Protheroe: Pinball |
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|journal=New Musical Express |date=4 January 1975 |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/brian-protheroe-ipinballi |accessdate=4 August 2019}}</ref> The lyrics also reference [[Marilyn Monroe]] and |
|journal=New Musical Express |date=4 January 1975 |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/brian-protheroe-ipinballi |accessdate=4 August 2019}}</ref> The lyrics also reference [[Marilyn Monroe]] and the Beatles' "[[Hey Jude]]". There is no chorus, with the track being made up of several melodically identical verses. The song begins with an acoustic guitar riff, and builds to include elements such as a [[tenor saxophone]] (played by [[Tony Coe]]), bass, drums and sound effects such as a cat's meow after the lyric "And the cat just finished off the bread".<ref name="NME"</> The single was produced by [[Del Newman]], who would produce all three of Protheroe's 1970s albums.<ref name="liner">{{cite book |title=Pinball (liner) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Brian-Protheroe-Pinball/master/292708}}</ref> |
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==Release== |
==Release== |
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| location= London |
| location= London |
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| isbn= 1-904994-10-5 |
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5 |
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| page= 441}}</ref> Protheroe performed the song |
| page= 441}}</ref> Protheroe performed the song over a backing track, on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', during its chart run, on 20 September 1974.<ref>https://totparchive.co.uk/episode.php?id=552</ref> He would later reflect on this time: "When I was on ''Top of the Pops'' the record label said 'right, we'll get you a velvet suit' I said, 'NO'. To succeed in the music business to have to embrace everything and I wasn't prepared to do that. I was an actor and much more comfortable in that world. I did no touring, just a couple of concerts around London."<ref name="booklet"</> |
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==Reception and |
==Reception and legacy== |
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The song has received critical acclaim. Upon release, ''[[Reading Post|Reading Evening Post |
The song has received critical acclaim. Upon release, ''[[Reading Post|Reading Evening Post]]''{{'}}s Pete Butterfield called "Pinball" "one of the most interesting singles of the year"<ref name="Reading Evening Post">{{cite journal |last1=Butterfield |first1=Pete |title=Pinball. Brian Protheroe (Chrysalis CHR 1065) |journal=Reading Evening Post |date=28 December 1974 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19741228/101/0006 |accessdate=4 August 2019}}</ref> while Max Bell of ''[[NME|New Musical Express]]'' praised the song's production and its "instant, stylised commercialism".<ref name="NME"</> Among retrospective reviews, ''[[AllMusic|AllMusic's]]'' [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] has described the song as "an exquisite piece of post-[[Paul McCartney|McCartney]] pop"<ref name="AllMusic"</> and Scott Hammond of ''The Fix Magazine'' has declared it "one of the lost gems of the 1970s".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hammond |first1=Scott |title=Throwback Thursday: Retro Track of the Week |url=http://www.thefixmagazine.com/index/pinball/ |website=The Fix Magazine |date=12 March 2015 |accessdate=31 August 2019}}</ref> "Pinball" was included on [[Sean Rowley]]'s ''Guilty Pleasures'' compilation album, released in 2004. The song provided the inspiration for the track "[[Riverman (song)|Riverman]]" from [[Noel Gallagher|Noel Gallagher's]] 2015 album ''[[Chasing Yesterday (album)|Chasing Yesterday]].'' Gallagher had been introduced to the song by [[Morrissey]] in a [[Los Angeles]] bar.<ref name="The Quietus">{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Jude|title=The Apolitical Party: Noel Gallagher Interviewed|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/17242-noel-gallagher-high-flying-birds-interview |
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|website=The Quietus|accessdate=5 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="Q">{{cite web |last1=Perry|first1=Andrew|title=Noel Gallagher: |
|website=The Quietus|date=16 February 2015 |accessdate=5 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="Q">{{cite web |last1=Perry|first1=Andrew|title=Noel Gallagher: 'A Night Out With Morrissey Inspired Track On My New Album'|url=https://www.qthemusic.com/articles/the-latest-q/noel-gallagher-a-night-out-with-morrissey-inspired-track-on-my-new-album-q343-preview |
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|website=Q|accessdate=5 August 2019}}</ref> |
|website=Q|accessdate=5 August 2019}}</ref> |
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"Pinball" remains Protheroe's only hit single, and his best known song. Both sides of the single appeared on Protheroe's debut album, also titled ''Pinball'', and the track also lent its name to the first compilation of his music, ''Pinball and Other Stories'', released in 2006. In that release's booklet, |
"Pinball" remains Protheroe's only hit single, and his best known song. Both sides of the single appeared on Protheroe's debut album, also titled ''Pinball'', and the track also lent its name to the first compilation of his music, ''Pinball and Other Stories'', released in 2006. In that release's booklet, Protheroe reflects on the song; "I'm very proud of "Pinball". It perfectly encapsulates how I was feeling at the time".<ref name="booklet"</> |
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== Track listing == |
== Track listing == |
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| total_length = |
| total_length = |
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}} |
}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:1974 singles]] |
[[Category:1974 singles]] |
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[[Category:1974 songs]] |
[[Category:1974 songs]] |
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[[Category:Chrysalis Records singles]] |
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[[Category:British pop songs]] |
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[[Category:Songs about depression]] |
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[[Category:Works about pinball]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:41, 18 December 2024
| "Pinball" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Brian Protheroe | ||||
| from the album Pinball | ||||
| B-side | "Money Love" | |||
| Released | August 1974 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock[1] | |||
| Length | 3:13 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Producer(s) | Del Newman | |||
| Brian Protheroe singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official Audio | ||||
| "Pinball" on YouTube | ||||
"Pinball" is a 1974 song by the actor and musician Brian Protheroe. An autobiographical song written whilst Protheroe was living in a friend's flat in Covent Garden, it was released as his first single after he was signed by Chrysalis on the strength of a song he wrote and performed in a play. Upon release, it gave Protheroe his only hit, reaching a peak position of 22 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1974. It was later included on his debut album of the same title.
Background
[edit]Though he had been interested in music from an early age, Brian Protheroe had focused on a burgeoning acting career in the years leading up to his musical releases. His initial stage performances in 1966–67 were with his local repertory theatre at Salisbury Playhouse.[2] After leaving Salisbury, Protheroe settled with the New Theatre Royal Lincoln in 1968. There he met Martin Duncan, who became a musical collaborator.[3] Stage roles such as in Bath Theatre Royal's 1970 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, for which he was also the composer, followed, as well as television appearances in the historical drama Frontier and the anthology mystery series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes.[3] In 1973, Protheroe appeared in a production of William Fairchild's play Death on Demand in the role of a pop singer. For the play, he set a lyric written by Fairchild to music and, after it had been shopped around by Fairchild, this composition caught the attention of a Chrysalis Records rep.[citation needed] The label signed Protheroe as a solo artist.[3] Protheroe never released a recording of the song from Death on Demand, instead opting for "Pinball" as his debut single.
Composition
[edit]"Pinball" is an autobiographical song, described by Protheroe as "a diary entry for one particular weekend in 1973", a time when he had just split up with his girlfriend and was living in a friend's flat in Covent Garden.[4] The song describes Protheroe's despondent feelings ("my music bores me once again"), setbacks ("and I've run out of pale ale") and activities ("I've been on the pinball) at this time. It has been described by one reviewer as "example of ennui, Covent Garden Blues".[5] The lyrics also reference Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles' "Hey Jude". There is no chorus, with the track being made up of several melodically identical verses. The song begins with an acoustic guitar riff, and builds to include elements such as a tenor saxophone (played by Tony Coe), bass, drums and sound effects such as a cat's meow after the lyric "And the cat just finished off the bread".[5] The single was produced by Del Newman, who would produce all three of Protheroe's 1970s albums.[6]
Release
[edit]"Pinball" was released as a single in August 1974, backed by "Money Love". It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 40 and eventually reached a peak of number 22 in September. It spent six weeks on the chart.[7] Protheroe performed the song over a backing track, on Top of the Pops, during its chart run, on 20 September 1974.[8] He would later reflect on this time: "When I was on Top of the Pops the record label said 'right, we'll get you a velvet suit' I said, 'NO'. To succeed in the music business to have to embrace everything and I wasn't prepared to do that. I was an actor and much more comfortable in that world. I did no touring, just a couple of concerts around London."[4]
Reception and legacy
[edit]The song has received critical acclaim. Upon release, Reading Evening Post's Pete Butterfield called "Pinball" "one of the most interesting singles of the year"[9] while Max Bell of New Musical Express praised the song's production and its "instant, stylised commercialism".[5] Among retrospective reviews, AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine has described the song as "an exquisite piece of post-McCartney pop"[3] and Scott Hammond of The Fix Magazine has declared it "one of the lost gems of the 1970s".[10] "Pinball" was included on Sean Rowley's Guilty Pleasures compilation album, released in 2004. The song provided the inspiration for the track "Riverman" from Noel Gallagher's 2015 album Chasing Yesterday. Gallagher had been introduced to the song by Morrissey in a Los Angeles bar.[11][12]
"Pinball" remains Protheroe's only hit single, and his best known song. Both sides of the single appeared on Protheroe's debut album, also titled Pinball, and the track also lent its name to the first compilation of his music, Pinball and Other Stories, released in 2006. In that release's booklet, Protheroe reflects on the song; "I'm very proud of "Pinball". It perfectly encapsulates how I was feeling at the time".[4]
Track listing
[edit]7" Single
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pinball" | 3:05 |
| 2. | "Money Love" | 3:19 |
References
[edit]- ^ "10 Soft Rock Songs People In The 70s Fell In Love With". I Love Classic Rock. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ "Brian Protheroe - past productions". Theatricalia. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d Stephen Thomas, Erlewine. "Brian Protheroe Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ a b c Pinball And Other Stories (liner).
- ^ a b c Bell, Max (4 January 1975). "Brian Protheroe: Pinball". New Musical Express. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Pinball (liner).
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 441. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ https://totparchive.co.uk/episode.php?id=552
- ^ Butterfield, Pete (28 December 1974). "Pinball. Brian Protheroe (Chrysalis CHR 1065)". Reading Evening Post. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Hammond, Scott (12 March 2015). "Throwback Thursday: Retro Track of the Week". The Fix Magazine. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ Rogers, Jude (16 February 2015). "The Apolitical Party: Noel Gallagher Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- ^ Perry, Andrew. "Noel Gallagher: 'A Night Out With Morrissey Inspired Track On My New Album'". Q. Retrieved 5 August 2019.