"O.U. (Gone, Gone)" | ||||
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Single by Pulp | ||||
B-side | "Space" | |||
Released | 26 June 1992 | |||
Recorded | Fon Studios, Sheffield, February 1992 | |||
Genre | Britpop | |||
Length | 2:56 (Radio Edit) 3:34 (12" Mix) | |||
Label | Gift | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jarvis Cocker, Russell Senior, Steve Mackey, Nick Banks and Candida Doyle | |||
Producer(s) | Mike Timm, Pulp, Simon Hinkler | |||
Pulp singles chronology | ||||
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"O.U. (Gone, Gone)" is a song written and released by British pop band Pulp in 1992. Recorded with producer and former Pulp member Simon Hinkler, "O.U." would be the band's first single with Gift Records, with whom the band signed after conflicting with indie label Fire.
"O.U. (Gone, Gone)" did not chart in the UK, though it did attract positive reception from music critics. The song was later included on the compilation album Intro – The Gift Recordings in 1993.
During the sessions that produced "O.U.", an early version of "Babies" was recorded, but it was passed over for single release at the time. Hinkler recalled, "I always thought 'Babies' should have been the A-side. It's so obviously the single from that session, whereas 'O.U.' was probably the worst of the bunch. Jarvis enjoyed being difficult about such things." [1]
"O.U." was the first single released by the band on their new label, Gift Records. The band had conflicted with their old label, Fire Records. Cocker recalled,
We were desperate to get off Fire. We got involved with Warp imprint Gift, we played in France with Blur and Lush, which was very exciting - we'd never been outside the U K. We met [PR] John Best, he was going out with Miki [Berenyi] from Lush. He suggested we go and talk to Geoff [Travis] and Jeanette [Lee, from Rough Trade] who agreed to help us even though we'd signed a five-album deal. We just decided, let's do something and see what Fire do. On the day 'O.U.' came out, they released Separations that had been in limbo for three years, and claimed it was coincidence. [2]
Lyrically, the song was described by Sian Pattenden of the NME as "about train stations." [3]
"O.U." was released as a single in June 1992. The single included the song "Space" on the B-side. Though neither song would be released on a Pulp studio album, both songs appeared on the compilation Intro – The Gift Recordings in 1993.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the song demonstrated "the band's knack for creating terrific pop singles [that] prevents them from being too pretentious." [4] Stuart Maconie of Select Magazine named the song, alongside the band's other Gift Records singles, as "funny, endearing and sometimes slightly nightmarish." [5]
All songs written and composed by Jarvis Cocker, Russell Senior, Steve Mackey, Nick Banks and Candida Doyle.
Pulp were an English rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their best-known line-up from their heyday (1992–1997) consisted of Jarvis Cocker, Russell Senior, Candida Doyle (keyboards), Nick Banks, Steve Mackey (bass) and Mark Webber.
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and presenter. As the founder, frontman, lyricist, and sole consistent member of the band Pulp, he became a figurehead of the Britpop genre of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus, Cocker has pursued a solo career, and for seven years he presented the BBC Radio 6 Music show Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service.
It is the debut studio album by English rock band Pulp, released on 18 April 1983 by Red Rhino Records.
Freaks is the second studio album by English rock band Pulp, released on 11 May 1987 by Fire Records.
"Sorted for E's & Wizz" is a song written and performed by the English band Pulp for their 1995 album Different Class. Based lyrically on a phrase that Cocker overheard at a rave, the song features lyrics examining the hollow and artificial nature of drug culture. Because of its subject matter, the song sparked controversy in the UK, where several tabloids attacked the song.
Intro – The Gift Recordings is a compilation album by Pulp. It contains the band's three singles recorded for Gift and was released in October 1993. The version of "Babies" included here is the original single mix released in 1992, slightly different from the 1994 version available on the album His 'n' Hers. "Sheffield: Sex City" features a spoken vocal contribution from keyboardist Candida Doyle - reciting a selection from the book My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday - which is one of the few times her voice is audible on a Pulp song.
Stephen Patrick Mackey is an English musician and record producer best known as the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Pulp, which he joined in 1989. As a record producer, he has produced songs and albums by M.I.A., Florence + the Machine, The Long Blondes and Arcade Fire.
"Help the Aged" is a song by British alternative rock band Pulp from their 1998 album, This Is Hardcore. Written as a sarcastic reflection of Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker's ageing, the song was disliked by Pulp guitarist Russell Senior who left the band before the song's release and sought to prevent it from being released as a single.
"This Is Hardcore" is a song by British indie band Pulp, and was released as the second single from their 1998 album This Is Hardcore. Written as a commentary on fame using pornography as an analogy, the song includes a sample of the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra's "Bolero on the Moon Rocks."
"Mis-Shapes" is a song written and released by Sheffield band Pulp from their 1995 album Different Class. Lyrically inspired by Cocker's experiences socializing in Sheffield as an outcast, the song features lyrics that call for misfits to unite and take over. This lyrical theme would make Cocker uncomfortable with Pulp's growing popularity with "townies" after the song's release.
"Something Changed" is a song by British pop band Pulp, released on their 1995 album Different Class. Written much earlier in the band's existence but revived for the Different Class sessions, "Something Changed" features lyrics that focused on the random nature as to how important events happen in life. The song also features a guitar solo performed by guitarist Mark Webber.
"Babies" is a song written and released by British rock group Pulp. Featuring lyrics about a boy spying on his friend's sister from a wardrobe, the song features a guitar riff that drummer Nick Banks had played for Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker. Though poppier and lighter than much of the band's earlier material, the band was pleased with the song and was released as a single.
"Do You Remember the First Time?" is a song by British rock band Pulp, taken from their 1994 album His 'n' Hers. With lyrics loosely based on Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker's loss of virginity, the song saw some controversy for its sexual topic.
"Lipgloss" is a song by British rock band Pulp, from their 1994 album His 'n' Hers. With lyrics written by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker about the deterioration of social skills that comes with a relationship in the context of a breakup, the song was the first that the band worked on for their new record company, Island Records.
"Razzmatazz" is a song written and released by the British rock group Pulp. Featuring lyrics written by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker about an ex-girlfriend, the song sees the narrator mock his ex-girlfriend for leading a dull life after dumping him.
"Party Hard" is a song by British alternative rock band Pulp. Featuring David Bowie-inspired vocals, the song lyrically was inspired by the band's dissatisfaction and exhaustion with clubbing.
Countdown 1992–1983 is a double compilation album by the band Pulp released by compilation specialist Nectar Masters on 11 March 1996.
"Disco 2000" is a hit single by British band Pulp, released on the band's 1995 album, Different Class. Featuring a disco-inspired musical performance, the song was based on Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker's childhood memories of his friend Deborah Bone, who he had "fancied" in his youth but could never impress.
"The Trees" is a song by British rock band Pulp, from their 2001 album We Love Life. Featuring a string sample from the Otley soundtrack song "Tell Her You Love Her," "The Trees" explores what Cocker describes as the "impassivity" of trees to witnessing the "drama" that can occur in the woods.
"Ciao!" is a song by English alternative rock band Lush from their 1996 album, Lovelife. Written as a duet sung from the perspective of a breakup, the song was written by Miki Berenyi after drummer Chris Acland jokingly asked to sing on the album. Ultimately, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp made a guest appearance on the album to sing the male part on the song.