Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake

1984 demo album by Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake
Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake
A black background with "Mr & Mrs Smith & Mr Drake" written in gold text
Artwork of the original 1984 cassette release
Demo album by
Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake
Released1984
Recordedc. 1983–1984[1]
Genre
  • Medieval
  • folk[2]
Length36:44
Label
  • Alphabet Business Concern
  • All My Eye and Betty Martin Music
The Sea Nymphs chronology
Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake
(1984) 		The Sea Nymphs
(1992)
Alternative cover
2004 CD reissue
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]

Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake[b] is an album by English psychedelic folk band the Sea Nymphs. Recorded and released in 1984 under the name Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake,[5][2] it was the band's only recording to be distributed prior to their 1991 reformation.[5] The band is a side project of Cardiacs, composed of core members Tim Smith, Sarah Smith and William D. Drake.[6]

The album was initially only available on cassette through the fan club and at concert venues.[7][8] The first version of the cassette cover is dark with the logo printed in gold; the track list is handwritten.[4] The second version has a purple satin design with a smaller gold logo; the track list is printed in gold.[4] In 2004 it was reissued on CD by All My Eye and Betty Martin Music.[2][9]

Background

Tim Smith and William D. Drake met in 1983 when Drake was in the band Honour Our Trumpet with musician Little Sue. Smith had taught himself to sight-read music as a teenager and wanted Drake's involvement as he was classically trained. He joined Smith's band Cardiacs as he loved the music he was first provided with.[10]

Track listing

Adapted from Bandcamp.[11] All songs written by Tim Smith unless otherwise indicated.[1]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Little Creations" 1:54
2."Camouflage" 3:43
3."The Collar"William D. Drake4:17
4."In a Waiting Room" 1:28
5."All the String" 1:21
6."Summer Is-a-Coming In"Drake4:06
7."Too Many Colours" 0:32
8."Your Removal of Me" 2:33
9."A Treat from Mr Smith" 1:43
10."To My Piano from Mr Drake"Drake4:40
11."Dergo" 8:20
12."That's All" 2:07
Total length:36:44
Notes
  • The lyrics of "To My Piano from Mr Drake" are adapted from "The Garden" by English poet Andrew Marvell.[citation needed]
  • "Summer Is-a-Coming In" is based on the 13th century English round.[12]

Personnel

Adapted from the Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake liner notes.[1]

  • Tim Smith – guitars, flute, trumpets, glockensput, Woolworths organ, vocals
  • Sarah Smith – clarinets, saxophones, recorders, forks, melodica, vocals
  • William D. Drake – piano, television organ, forks, ballroom string machine, vocals

Notes

  1. ^ The front cover of the original cassette spells the title with two ampersands, although the spine does not.[4] Various CDs spell the title with only one initial ampersand, with the disc label sometimes using full stops.[1]
  2. ^ Also referred to as Mr & Mrs Smith & Mr Drake, Mr & Mrs Smith and Mr Drake and Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mr. Drake.[a]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake (liner notes). Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake. All My Eye and Betty Martin Music. 2004. AMECD 004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b c Tucker, Alexander (17 July 2014). "Forgotten Classics: Mr & Mrs Smith and Mr Drake". Fact. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  3. ^ Larkin 1992, p. 93.
  4. ^ a b c Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake (liner notes). Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake. Alphabet. 1984. ALPH 003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b Hughes, Rob (28 November 2016). "After seven years away, the Sea Nymphs have come back to life". Prog. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  6. ^ Kitching, Sean (2 November 2016). "Reviews: The Sea Nymphs". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  7. ^ Bell 2011, p. 198.
  8. ^ Jones 2018, p. 189.
  9. ^ "All My Eye And Betty Martin Music". 5 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  10. ^ Kitching, Sean (3 July 2022). "The Strange (Parallel) World of… Tim Smith Of Cardiacs". The Quietus. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Mr And Mrs Smith And Mr Drake". Bandcamp. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  12. ^ Mr Spencer (2 August 2011). "Ex-Cardiacs Tunesmith William D. Drake Writes Songs That Are Timeless, Bold and Beautiful". Louder Than War. Retrieved 7 October 2016.

Sources

  • Bell, Adrian (2011). Aylesbury Bolton Wolverhampton Hove: A Little Man and 101 Cardiacs Gigs. Sullivan County, New York: Iron Bell Publishing. ISBN 978-0-95-687950-9.
  • Jones, Emily (10 May 2018). Folk Horror Revival: Harvest Hymns. Volume II. Durham, England: Folk Horror Revival. ISBN 9780244086831.
  • Larkin, Collin (1992). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (1997 ed.). London, England: Virgin Books. ISBN 9780753501597.

External links

  • Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake at Discogs (list of releases)
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  • Michael Pugh
  • Peter Tagg
  • Colvin Mayers
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  • William D. Drake
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  • Singin' to God
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