Terry (Kirsty MacColl song)

Last updated
"Terry"
Kirsty MacColl Terry.jpg
Single by Kirsty MacColl
A-side "Terry"
B-side "Quietly Alone"
ReleasedOctober 1983
Recorded1983
Genre Pop
Label Stiff Records
Songwriter(s) Kirsty MacColl
Gavin Povey
Producer(s) Kirsty MacColl
Gavin Povey
Kirsty MacColl singles chronology
"Berlin"
(1983)		"Terry"
(1983)		"A New England"
(1984)

"Terry" is a song by Kirsty MacColl, released as a single in October 1983, and charting at No. 82 in the UK the following month. It was her first release after returning to Stiff Records, and was the last in a run of poorly selling singles released between "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" and "A New England". The music video featured an appearance from actor and comedian Ade Edmondson who played MacColl's rejected boyfriend who got her back after fighting off a rival man. The photo on the front sleeve features MacColl and Chris Heester.

Contents

"Terry" was specifically written for Tracey Ullman to record, however MacColl ended up doing her own version at the request of her label as part of an intended album of "teen ballads". [1] Ullman's version of the song later charted one place higher in the UK, peaking at No. 81 in January 1985. Ullman's version uses the same backing track as MacColl's, merely erasing MacColl's lead vocal and substituting Ullman's. [2] (MacColl co-produced both versions of "Terry".)

Speaking of the song's titular character, MacColl told Smash Hits in 1983: "Terry seems to be a really good name for a lovable rogue. He's similar to the Marlon Brando character in On the Waterfront . She thinks he's the greatest thing since Elvis." [3]

Critical reception

Upon release, Robin Smith of Record Mirror wrote: "A superbly atmospheric voice on a pretty torrid tale of out of reach love. Kirsty never seems to get the airplay she deserves, but let's hope the partnership with Ms Ullman pricks up a few ears." [4] Jools Holland, as guest reviewer for Smash Hits , commented: "She is the talented songwriter that wrote Tracey Ullman's last hit and so rightly deserves one in her own right." [5] Mark Cooper of Number One commented: ""Terry" is a predictable rocker with a tongue in its head but no other distinguishing features." [6] Frank Edmonds of the Bury Free Press gave the song a 5 out of 10 rating and wrote, "Appalling teenage drama which would be funny if the tune didn't stick in your throat so much. Gives you that funny feeling in the pit of your stomach." [7]

In a review of Ullman's version, Mike Gardiner of Record Mirror commented that "there's something very used about this" and was critical of the reuse of MacColl's original backing track. [8]

Kirsty MacColl version track listing

  1. "Terry" (K. MacColl / G. Povey) [9]
  2. "Quietly Alone" (K. MacColl)

On the 12" release, an extended version of "Terry" is used. [10]

Tracey Ullman version track listing

  1. "Terry" (K. MacColl / G. Povey)
  2. "I Don't Want Our Loving To Die" (Howard / Blaikley)

Related Research Articles

Lu Edmonds British musician

Robert David "Lu" Edmonds is an English rock and folk musician. He is currently, as of 2018, a vocalist and saz and cümbüş player in the Mekons and the lead guitarist for Public Image Limited. Edmonds reportedly plays electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, bouzouki, saz, cümbüs, oud, and drums, among other instruments.

<i>Titanic Days</i> Album by Kirsty MacColl

Titanic Days is Kirsty MacColl's fourth studio album, released in 1993. Containing eleven tracks, Titanic Days was sometimes hard to get in years after its release, but it was remastered and re-released in 2005 by ZTT with a second CD of non-album tracks and some live recordings, including a version of "Miss Otis Regrets". In 2012, another remastered re-issue of the album was released by Salvo/ZTT, which again featured a second disc of bonus tracks.

They Dont Know (Kirsty MacColl song) 1979 single by Kirsty MacColl

"They Don't Know" is a song composed and first recorded in 1979 by Kirsty MacColl, which became a Top Ten hit via a 1983 recording by Tracey Ullman.

Days (The Kinks song) 1968 single by The Kinks

"Days" is a song by the Kinks, written by lead singer Ray Davies, released as a single in 1968. It also appeared on an early version of the album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. It now appears as a bonus track of the remastered CD. On the original Pye 7N 17573 label, the name of the song is "Day's" due to a grammatical error.

"A New England" is a song written and recorded by Billy Bragg, included on his album Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy, released in 1983. It remains a signature song from the early years of Bragg's recording career.

Theres a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears Hes Elvis 1981 single by Kirsty MacColl

"There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released as the lead single from her debut studio album Desperate Character. The song was written by MacColl and Philip Rambow, and produced by Barry Farmer. It reached No. 14 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the charts for nine weeks. In the US, the song's British chip shop reference was changed to truck stop.

Dont Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim! 1990 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1990 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. The song reached No. 82 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Sarah Tuft.

<i>You Broke My Heart in 17 Places</i> 1983 studio album by Tracey Ullman

You Broke My Heart in 17 Places is the debut studio album by Tracey Ullman, released in 1983. It peaked at No. 14 on the UK Albums chart and No. 34 in the spring of 1984 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

<i>You Caught Me Out</i> 1984 studio album by Tracey Ullman

You Caught Me Out is the second and final studio album by Tracey Ullman. It was released on Stiff Records in 1984 throughout Europe. Unlike her 1983 debut studio album, this album was never released commercially in the United States.

<i>Desperate Character</i> 1981 studio album by Kirsty MacColl

Desperate Character is the first solo album of British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released in 1981. The album was re-released in March 1985 as Kirsty MacColl, with three tracks replaced with other songs. The album has been remastered and received a CD release for the first time on 8 October 2012 on the Union Square Music label and features the original twelve track listing.

Kirsty MacColl English singer and songwriter (1959–2000)

Kirsty Anna MacColl was a British singer and songwriter, daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl. She recorded several pop hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" and cover versions of Billy Bragg's "A New England" and The Kinks' "Days." Her song "They Don't Know" was covered with great success by Tracey Ullman. MacColl also sang on recordings produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite, most notably "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues. Her death in 2000 has led to the Justice for Kirsty campaign.

"Move Over Darling" is a song originally recorded by Doris Day, which was the theme from the 1963 movie Move Over, Darling, starring Doris Day, James Garner and Polly Bergen, and was released as a single the same year. The song was written by Doris Day's son, Terry Melcher, along with Hal Kanter and Joe Lubin.

Free World (song) 1989 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Free World" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1989 as the lead single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Free World" reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.

Innocence (Kirsty MacColl song) 1989 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Innocence" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1989 as the third single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and Pete Glenister, and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Innocence" reached No. 80 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. The song's music video was filmed in the back garden of MacColl's home in Ealing. It was directed by Sarah Tuft and features a cameo appearance from Edward Tudor-Pole.

In These Shoes? 2000 single by Kirsty MacColl

"In These Shoes?" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 2000 as the second single from her fifth studio album Tropical Brainstorm. It was written by MacColl and Pete Glenister, and produced by MacColl, Glenister and Dave Ruffy.

Hes on the Beach 1985 single by Kirsty MacColl

"He's on the Beach" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1985 as a non-album single by Stiff Records. It was written by MacColl and Gavin Povey, and produced by Steve Lillywhite.

All I Ever Wanted (Kirsty MacColl song) 1991 single by Kirsty MacColl

"All I Ever Wanted" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1991 as the third and final single from her third studio album Electric Landlady. It was written by MacColl and Marshall Crenshaw, and produced by Steve Lillywhite.

This Is Me (Climie Fisher song) 1986 single by Climie Fisher

"This Is Me" is a song by British pop duo Climie Fisher, originally released in August 1986 as their debut single, but did not chart. After the success of "Rise to the Occasion" and "Love Changes (Everything)", it was re-released in May 1988 and charted at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. The song features backing vocals by Kirsty MacColl.

You Caught Me Out (song) 1979 single by Kirsty MacColl

"You Caught Me Out" is a song written by Kirsty MacColl, Pete Briquette and Simon Crowe. It was originally recorded by MacColl in 1979 but the intended single release was shelved. Versions have also been recorded by Australian singer Christie Allen and British-American singer/actress Tracey Ullman.

I Want Out (Matchbox song) 1983 single by Matchbox featuring Kirsty MacColl

"I Want Out" is a song by English rockabilly band Matchbox featuring Kirsty MacColl. It was released in 1983 as the third and final single from the band's sixth studio album Crossed Line (1982). It was written by Brian Hodgson, Ray Peters and Tony Colton, and produced by Hodgson.

References

  1. ↑ "Bitz: The Real MacColl". Smash Hits. 24 November 1983.
  2. ↑ Jim Green: Liner notes to The Best of Tracey Ullman: You Broke My Heart In 17 Places. Rhino Records, 1992
  3. ↑ "Bitz: The Real MacColl". Smash Hits. 24 November 1983.
  4. ↑ Smith, Robin (26 November 1983). "Singles". Record Mirror.
  5. ↑ Holland, Jools (24 November 1983). "Singles". Smash Hits.
  6. ↑ Cooper, Mark (5 November 1983). "Singles". Number One.
  7. ↑ Edmonds, Frank (18 November 1983). "Soundscene". Bury Free Press . p. 12.
  8. ↑ Gardiner, Mike (12 January 1985). "Singles". Record Mirror . p. 6. ISSN   0144-5804.
  9. ↑ "Terry 7" single - Kirsty MacColl" . Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  10. ↑ "Terry 12" single - Kirsty MacColl" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.