hatfield and the North, “Licks for the ladies”
from:hatfield and the North, 1974
“Now it’s time to finish your wine -
Try to sing a sober song after all that din
And even though we may be having quite a laugh,
Bashing bass and drums is really rather daft
Compared to harmonies - although they may sound twee,
They’re really what my lady friend can relate to -
And her mate too...
Just in case you think it’s a waste
In the end, choosing notes to see if they make friends
A D-sharp minor flattened 5th will go to see,
Dotted crotchets usually divide by three
We don’t really know now exactly what we mean,
Still we had the gist of it till the chords changed...
Unexpectedly... an interesting thought came over me
I’d feel better somewhat wetter, drinking tea in the sea,
And dream of you - and your nice black knickers...”
Almost criminal to extract a single piece from such an organically perfect song cycle, but this one captures a ballad from one of the greatly underrecognized vocalists of the British “progressive scene,” Richard Sinclair. He was the founding impulse behind the band Caravan but left a few delicasies behind on the sotted plains. Here his voice is pacific, effortless, each word quietly coordinated with the electric piano uncovering some personal resolution. There are two great Hatfield and the North records with this piece emanating from the first recorded for Virgin in 1974.
Mr. Sinclair