Bulbs (song)
Encyclopedia
"Bulbs" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter
Van Morrison
and included on his 1974 album, Veedon Fleece
.
It was chosen as the 'A' side single from the album.
at the recording session for the 1973 album, Hard Nose the Highway
released in 1973.'. After the first recording session for Veedon Fleece, "Bulbs" was recut in New York City
at Mercury Studios in March 1974, along with "Cul de Sac
" to give it a more rock feeling. According to Jef Labes this was "cause he (Morrison) didn't feel they had the right feeling...It was me, Van and a bunch of other guys that he'd never played with."
"Bulbs" has been described as "a pleasant, catchy country ditty, a Dire Straits
song before its time" by biographer, John Collis. As with many of Morrison's songs, "Bulbs" does not have a clear story line but in part focuses on immigration
to America
as in the lines:
, Donahue told Morrison after he listened to "Bulbs": "You always make great noises. The other things you do in songs beside the words."
In a Stylus Magazine
review for the album, Veedon Fleece, Derek Miller says of this song:
.
Morrison used a stripped down band on this Montreaux Jazz Festival appearance that consisted of:
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
and included on his 1974 album, Veedon Fleece
Veedon Fleece
Veedon Fleece is the eighth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in October, 1974 . Morrison recorded the album shortly after his divorce from wife Janet Rigsbee...
.
It was chosen as the 'A' side single from the album.
Recording and composition
"Bulbs" was first recorded with different lyricsLyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
at the recording session for the 1973 album, Hard Nose the Highway
Hard Nose the Highway
According to Ritchie Yorke, who published his biography, Into the Music in 1975, the album enjoyed rave reviews at the time of release. He cited one dissenting critic Charlie Gillett, who wrote in Let It Rock: "The trouble with Hard Nose the Highway is that although the music is quite often...
released in 1973.'. After the first recording session for Veedon Fleece, "Bulbs" was recut in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at Mercury Studios in March 1974, along with "Cul de Sac
Cul de Sac (Van Morrison song)
"Cul de Sac" is the name of a song written by Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It first appeared as the seventh track on Morrison's 1974 album Veedon Fleece, and was released as the B-side to the single "Bulbs".- Lyrics and instrumentation :...
" to give it a more rock feeling. According to Jef Labes this was "cause he (Morrison) didn't feel they had the right feeling...It was me, Van and a bunch of other guys that he'd never played with."
"Bulbs" has been described as "a pleasant, catchy country ditty, a Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
song before its time" by biographer, John Collis. As with many of Morrison's songs, "Bulbs" does not have a clear story line but in part focuses on immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as in the lines:
- She's leaving for an American
- Suitcase in her hand
- I said her brothers and her sisters
- Are all on Atlantic sand
Critical reception
In an interview with Tom DonahueTom Donahue
Tom "Big Daddy" Donahue , was a pioneering rock and roll radio disc jockey, record producer and concert promoter....
, Donahue told Morrison after he listened to "Bulbs": "You always make great noises. The other things you do in songs beside the words."
In a Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
review for the album, Veedon Fleece, Derek Miller says of this song:
Of course, the best and most immediately memorable song on Veedon Fleece is "Bulbs". Coming about as close to laying down a groove as he does on the album, the song quickly makes dust of its acoustic start, leaping headstrong into a Waylon JenningsWaylon JenningsWaylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
' style bass-roll, rump heavy and plush, pianos shimmering and fingerdense."
Title
The title seems to be derived from the lines:- And her batteries are corroded
- And her hundred watt bulb just blew
Personnel
- Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - John TropeaJohn TropeaJohn Tropea is a guitarist with extensive experience in the rock, pop, and jazz genres. Tropea has written for and played with major recording artists from around the world...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Jef Labes - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Joe Macho - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Allen Schwarzberg - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Other releases
A live performance of this song is featured on the 1974 disc of Morrison's 2006 issued DVD, Live At Montreux 1980/1974Live at Montreux 1980/1974
Live at Montreux 1980/1974 is the first official DVD by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on October 16, 2006. The films consist of two separate performances by Van Morrison at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland...
.
Morrison used a stripped down band on this Montreaux Jazz Festival appearance that consisted of:
- Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Pete WingfieldPete WingfieldPete Wingfield is an English record producer, keyboard player, songwriter, singer and music journalist.-Career:...
- pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Jerome Rimson - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, background vocals - Dallas TaylorDallas Taylor (drummer)Dallas Woodrow Taylor Jr. was born in Denver, Colorado, 7 April 1948. He is a session drummer who has played on several rock records of the 1960s and 1970s...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Covers
Ellis Hooks performed a cover version of "Bulbs" on the 2003 released tribute album, Vanthology: a Tribute to Van MorrisonVanthology: A Tribute to Van Morrison
Vanthology: A Tribute to Van Morrison released in August 2003 is the third tribute album for the songs of Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison.-Track listing:All songs by Van Morrison#"Tupelo Honey" performed by Little Milton - 4:39...
.