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changeling


composers
Composers: Kerr / Burchill / MacNeil / Forbes / McGee
Authors: Kerr
(Earlier sleeves simply state:- Lyrics: Kerr: Music: Simple Minds)


publisher
© EMI Music Publishing Limited: (1979 - 2007)
© JKMC-Bucks Music Group Ltd / Hornall Music / EMI Music Publishing Ltd: (2008 - 2014)
© BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd / EMI Music Publishing Ltd: (2015 -)


background
The genesis of Changeling remains unclear. John Leckie recalled it was a Derek Forbes riff, one of the few ideas they had when entering the studio. However Jim remembered that it was the first time that Charlie and Mick worked together on a song, cutting a 4-track demo.

Derek's recollections, when talking to Retropopic in 2018, suggested that the idea of the song started with Charlie. "So I remember Charlie coming up - 'Got this one - Got this one Changeling.' And Jim had got a title for it. And we'd gone to the old mill which was just a rehearsal space that we had. ... [So] Charlie came up to me with three chords - E-minor, A, D - so I just did the root notes. And then John Leckie the producer said 'Derek. Go in the other room. Here's a tape. Go in the other room and write me a hit bassline.' And that's how I got it. [Sings the last bars of the song]. You know the line."

So, it's most likely that Charlie and Mick came up with part of the song and Derek completed the rest.

The final lines were a sly dig at the 'club movement' which was being celebrated by Iggy Pop and others. (Iggy Pop was recording at Rockfield at the same time).



From an unconventional album, Changeling shone out as a potential single, and Arista released it as a lone 7" in January 1980. Unfortunately it failed to chart.

It hung around in the touring schedule for several years, a live favourite, until it was pushed out of the set-lists by the recording of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84), and the older songs being pushed out of the set-list for the new.

It enjoyed a brief resurgence in popularity for the career spanning tours of the first part of the 2000s, and was a major highlight of the triumphant 5X5 Tour.




lyrics
Overground,
Underground,
Pulsating through.
Street parade,
Day arcade,
No cloning you.
Uniform,
Won't conform,
Hero who dies.
Find a boy,
Kill a toy,
Get no reply.

Changeling.
Well changeling for you.
They're coming out of you.

Vision.
Lost.
Out of control.
Lost.

Down in the club,
Beau bells can ring.
Look good in blue.
Help me to sing.
Expose,
Fade away,
Contact erased.
Call a friend,
Tailor made,
Do as I say.

Changeling.
Well changeling for you.
They're coming out of you.

Vision.
Lost.
Out of control.
Lost.

Overground.
Underground.
Overground.
Underground.

Down in the club.
Down in the club.
Down in the club.
Club.



discography
Edit (3:26)
Recorded and mixed: John Leckie
Arrangement: John Leckie and Simple Minds

Changeling 7" single Changeling German 7" single Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Promo CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Promo CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + 2CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + 3CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Australian Promo 2CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Promo 3CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Promo CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Deluxe CD

Album Version (4:11)
Recorded and mixed: John Leckie
Arrangement: John Leckie and Simple Minds
Real To Real Cacophony LP Real To Real Cacophony MC Celebrate 7" single Celebrate 12" single Celebration Promo LP Celebration LP Celebration MC Real To Real Cacophony LP (Virgin Reissue) Real To Real Cacophony MC (Virgin Reissue) Celebration LP (Virgin Reissue) Celebration MC (Virgin Reissue) Real To Real Cacophony LP (Virgin Budget Reissue) Real To Real Cacophony MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Celebration CD Real To Real Cacophony CD Real To Real Cacophony Reissue CD Celebration LP (Virgin Budget Reissue) Celebration MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Celebration CD (Virgin Budget Reissue) Street Fighting Years Limited Edition MC Box Set Street Fighting Years Limited Edition CD Box Set Compact Collection Real To Real Cacophony Reissue CD Real To Real Cacophony Disky CD Original Gold compilation CD Celebration Disky CD Real To Real Cacophony Remaster Promo CD Real To Real Cacophony Remaster Limited Edition CD Real To Real Cacophony Remaster CD Early Gold Promo CD Early Gold CD The Platinum Collection CD Early Gold US Promo CD Early Gold US Promo CD X5 Box Set Sampler X5 Real To Real Cacophony Promo CD X5 The Vinyl Collection (79,84) The Music Of Simple Minds



Live Version (24th October 1979) (3:23)
Recorded: Hurrah's Club, New York, USA


Seen The Lights - DVD 1 Bonus Tracks In-House CD

Session (3:59)
Producer: Trevor Dann
Engineer: Nick Gomm
Mastered by: Simon Heyworth
Recorded: 19th Dec 79
Broadcast: 7th Jan 80

Silver Box Promo CDR #1 Silver Box Promo CDR Sampler Silver Box Mexican Promo CDR Sampler Silver Box

Live Version (24th February 2012) (4:05)
Recorded: Academy, Birmingham, UK
Recorded by: Olivier Gerard
Mixed by: Olivier Gerard
Engineered by: Rudy Coclet
ISRC: GB01A1201422

5X5 Live Promo CD #1-2 5X5 Live Promo CD #2-2 5X5 Live 5X5 Live Irish Promo CD 5X5 Live LP 5X5 Live Export LP




videography
Live Version (24th Oct 1979) (3:23)
Recorded: Hurrah's Club, New York, USA


Seen The Lights - A Visual History Promo DVD Seen The Lights - A Visual History DVD



sessions
John Peel, Radio One: 7th January 1980



live history
Real To Real Cacophony Tour: 1979-1980
Empires And Dance Tour: 1980
Empires And Dance Tour: 1981
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1981
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1982
The Floating World Tour: 2002
Alive And Kicking Tour: 2003
Intimate Tour: 2005
30 Years Live European Tour: 2009
5X5 Tour: 2012
Festival Tour: 2012