Alan WHITE

Ramshackled

(1976)

1. Ooooh Baby (Goin' To Pieces) 5'33
(Peter Kirtley)
2. One Way Rag 4'08
(Kenny Craddock / Colin Gibson)
3. Avakak 6'54
(Colin Gibson / Kenny Craddock / Peter Kirtley)
4. Spring—Song Of Innocence 5'03
(Lyrics: William Blake; Music: Peter Kirtley)
5. Giddy 3'13
(Kenny Craddock / Colin Gibson)
6. Silly Woman 3'16
(Peter Kirtley)
7. Marching Into A Bottle 2'00
(Kenny Craddock)
8. Everybody 3'15
(Colin Gibson / Kenny Craddock / Peter Kirtley)
9. Darkness (Parts I, II & III) 5'33
(Kenny Craddock / Colin Gibson)

Total Time: 38:55

  • Alan White - Drums, Percussion
    with
  • Peter Kirtley - Guitar, Vocals
  • Colin Gibson - Bass, Percussion
  • Kenny Craddock - Keyboards, Vocals
  • Bud Beadle - Sax, Flute
  • Andy Phillips - Steel Drum
  • Steve Gregory - Added Tenor Sax
  • Henry Lowther - Trumpet
  • Alan Marshall - Vocal

    Additional Musicians:

  • Jon Anderson - Vocals (4)
  • Steve Howe - Guitar (4)
  • Madeleine Bell - Backing Vocals
  • Joanne Williams: Backing Vocals
  • Vicky Brown: Backing Vocals

    Produced by Alan White & Bob Porter
    Second Engineer: Paul Hardiman
    Co-ordination: Nu Nu
    Sleeve Concept & Design: Ian Vincentini
    Fine Art: Henry S. Hodgson
    Poem by Tom Pickard

    MOUNTAIN FJORD LIMITED Arranged and Conducted by David Bedford

    Recorded at The MANOR STUDIOS, Shipton-on-Cherwe IL,
    Except Track 2 & 3 Recorded on the 23 & 25 May 1975 at     BASING STREET STUDIOS

    NOTES:
    The two instrumentals come with notes on the album.
    For "Avakak":
    This tune sometimes called "Twelve Ways To Drink Meths" other times called "That's Not The Way God Planned It" but most days goes by the name "Captain Morbid And The Breakfast That Came From Outer London".
    For "Marching Into A Bottle":
    (The former title "Darch Of The Lesbian Mwarfs")
    "Spring—Song Of Innocence" is a setting of a William Blake poem and features guest appearances by Anderson and Howe.
    In 1975/6, all five members of YES put out solo albums. For his, instead of recording a true solo album, White re-assembled former band mates in a number of projects to make the album. Kirtley, Craddock and White had been together in the Alan Price Set and Happy Magazine, while Gibson had joined them as well in Griffin (see under The Story Of Skip Bifferty). Gibson and Beadle also appeared on Steve Howe's Beginnings. Orchestral arranger David Bedford is better known for his work with Mike Oldfield and Kevin Ayers.

    (Henry Potts (YEScography), 12 May 2003)



    1. Ooooh Baby (Goin' To Pieces)

      It's only been a few weeks
      and I tell you baby I'm goin' to pieces
      I need your love and how,
      I fell into her arms and just like a kid
      I was shy and I was awkward
      It's been too long since I saw her
      and touched her and wooed her
      Can't you help me now 'cos nite and day
      I just pine for you.

      I want a little lovin' lovin' lovin' lovin' lovin' yes I do
      Don't you know I'm just waiting out for you
      Singin' just for you.

      I was captured by her charms yet knowing well
      the nature of dreaming. I knew about the fall
      But baby I'm crazy in love with you
      Ooh can't you help me now 'coz nite and day
      I just pine for you.

      I want little lovin' lovin' lovin' lovin' yes I do
      Don't you know I'm just waitin' out for you
      Singin' just for you.
    2. One Way Rag

      Who's that alley cat scratchin' in the trashcan?
      Come on get your feet off the bed
      Everyone's goin' to the One Way Rag.
      Poppa put your shoes on,
      Can't dance with the blues on.
      Come on get yourself in drag
      Everyone's goin' to the One Way Rag.

      No two ways about it
      You don't have to shout and scream about it
      Ain't gonna listen to my neighbours
      Gonna get in my car
      Step on the gas
      Ain't no fastback's
      Gonna get past me no--
      To the One Way Rag.

      Feel the one way clown--
      Turn your face upside down
      Get out of taht lonesome bag
      Everyone's gone to the One Way Rag.
    3. Avakak

      ( instrumental )

    4. Spring—Song Of Innocence

      Sound the flute!
      Now it's mute.
      Birds delight
      Day and night;
      Nightingale
      In the dale,
      Lark in sky,
      Merrily, merrily to welcome in the year.

      Little boy,
      Full of joy;
      Little girl,
      Sweet and small;
      The cock crows,
      So do you;
      Merry voice,
      Infant noise,
      So merrily to welcome in the year.

      Little lamb,
      Here I am;
      Come and lick
      My white neck;
      Let me pull
      Your soft wool;
      Let me kiss your soft face:
      And merrily we'll welcome in the year
      (So merrily to welcome in the year).
    5. Giddy

      Come on around to a bar downtown
      Where the boys are boys and the women get down
      To business where the barman's hip
      He don't take no lip
      And all the girls get giddy when the ship comes into town.
      Sellin' ice in the cellar 'cos the cellar's pretty hot
      Makin' eyes at the ladies givin' everything they've got
      For you.

      Gropin' in the dark 'cos the lights are dim
      When a blind man says your beer belongs to him.
      Run down wind upon the street
      Nobody wants a bum like that for company.
      Hold on, slow down, keep your head
      What do you want to talk like that for?

      Come on to my place we can have a good time
      Pass around the bottle and meet some friends of mine.
      Take off your shoes and let the time slip by
      Till the sun comes up and it's time to say goodbye.
    6. Silly Woman

      Aaaaah ye silly woman why have you strayed away from me.
      Aah ye silly woman I'm beginnin' to think you can't even see
      Aah ye silly woman why aren't you here right next to me?

      First you say that you want out--
      Then you feel that you don't
      You're up and down like a yo-yo
      You're really messin' me around.
      Aah ye silly woman what is it I'm talkin' about?

      Silly woman (chorus)

      I don't want to mock you
      I know that you're servin' to be free
      It's just the way you've been carryin' on
      I ought to spank you on my knee.
      Aah ye silly woman why aren't you here right next to me?

      You say you come and see me--
      Then you don't come around
      I'm waitin' for you in the country
      And you're flittin' about in the town.
      You tell me there's no tomorrow but don't you know--
      I need you now.
    7. Marching Into A Bottle

      ( instrumental )

    8. Everybody

      Everybody fakes, everybody cheats,
      Everybody crawls, everybody creeps,
      Everybody hopes, everybody sleeps,
      Everybody dreams
      It's a mystery well all right oh yes...

      Everybody's a snitch, everybody's a snake,
      Everybody's a fool, anybody will take,
      Everybody's repressed, everybody's vain,
      Everybody's sick, everybody's the same,
      Well alright oh yes...

      Don't you know you're a radio
      When you get a good reception
      You begin to glow.
      I hope you're gonna learn 'cos pretty soon you're gonna burn.

      Everybody's a Turk. Everybody's a Jew.
      Everybody's a religion. Everybody's you.
      Everybody's scared. Everybody's zipped.
      Everybody's hogtied assholed
      Well alright oh yes...

      Everybody's nice. Everybody creates.
      Everybody's beautiful. Everybody's divine.
      Everybody's a ship, everybody got sails,
      Everybody has genius, everybody wails...

      Don't you know you're a radio
      When you get a good reception
      You begin to glow
      Don't you know you're a radio
      When you get a good reception
      You begin to glow
      I hope you're gonna learn 'cos pretty soon you're gonna
      Burn ...
    9. Darkness (Parts I, II & III)

      Bright city streets lights burn in the black night.
      Unlike the moonlight on a lake
      Darkened apartments blinds hide their windows
      Turn on the room light
      Anyway dark chilly night
      Folk paying their ladies unlike the ladies of the day
      As the day turns grey
      Darkness why did you kill my morning
      Why did you fill my apartment with night?
      Evening, what did I do to deserve you,
      Who do you share your department with?