Casanova (album)
Encyclopedia
Casanova is The Divine Comedy
's fourth album. It was the band's commercial breakthrough. It was released on Setanta
and certified gold in the UK in July 1997. This was helped by the release of The Divine Comedy
's first single "Something for the Weekend" which reached number 13 on the charts. The two other singles released from the album, "Becoming More Like Alfie" and "The Frog Princess", charted at 27 and 15 respectively.
and adopts more of a Britpop
feel. Its central theme is sex, around which all songs on the album centre, except "The Dogs and the Horses", which is the last song on the album and whose theme is death.
The first song begins with the word "Hello" and the last ends with "Goodbye."
album up to that point and consequently cost more. Setanta
was able to indulge Neil's desires because of the success of Edwyn Collins
' hit single "A Girl Like You." The album's last track "The Dogs and the Horses", which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios
, features a large orchestral ensemble.
The album was the first to feature the full band lineup, featuring Neil Hannon
, Joby Talbot
, Stuart 'Pinkie' Bates
, Rob Farrer, and Bryan Mills. Talbot was beginning to play an increasingly important role in the band; he arranged and orchestrated "The Dogs and the Horses," and he co-arranged "Theme from Casanova" with Hannon.
's first four solo albums. "Through a Long and Sleepless Night," a track off Casanova, shares the same title as a track off Scott's first solo album.
An instrumental version of "Songs of Love" played on guitar (instead of the harpsichord
featured on the album version) was used as the theme tune to Father Ted
.
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
's fourth album. It was the band's commercial breakthrough. It was released on Setanta
Setanta Records
Setanta Records is a UK Independent record label. The label was at the forefront of the indie Irish music scene in the late eighties and nineties as itchampioned young Irish groups.-History:...
and certified gold in the UK in July 1997. This was helped by the release of The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
's first single "Something for the Weekend" which reached number 13 on the charts. The two other singles released from the album, "Becoming More Like Alfie" and "The Frog Princess", charted at 27 and 15 respectively.
Themes
The album is less classical sounding than the previous album, PromenadePromenade (album)
Promenade is The Divine Comedy's third album. It was released in 1994 on Setanta to much critical acclaim but little commercial success. It is a concept album about two lovers who spend a day at the seaside....
and adopts more of a Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
feel. Its central theme is sex, around which all songs on the album centre, except "The Dogs and the Horses", which is the last song on the album and whose theme is death.
The first song begins with the word "Hello" and the last ends with "Goodbye."
Recording
Casanova had the longest recording period of any Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
album up to that point and consequently cost more. Setanta
Setanta Records
Setanta Records is a UK Independent record label. The label was at the forefront of the indie Irish music scene in the late eighties and nineties as itchampioned young Irish groups.-History:...
was able to indulge Neil's desires because of the success of Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins is an Ivor Novello Award winning Scottish musician, playing mostly electric guitar-driven pop. Collins formed the musical group Nu-Sonics in 1976, which later became Orange Juice...
' hit single "A Girl Like You." The album's last track "The Dogs and the Horses", which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, features a large orchestral ensemble.
The album was the first to feature the full band lineup, featuring Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
, Joby Talbot
Joby Talbot
Joby Talbot is a British composer.Born in Wimbledon, London, Talbot studied composition at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Brian Elias and Simon Bainbridge....
, Stuart 'Pinkie' Bates
Stuart 'Pinkie' Bates
Stuart 'Pinkie' Bates is a musician notable for playing the Hammond organ with Neil Hannon's band, The Divine Comedy. Bates was the band's organ player on all of The Divine Comedy's records from Casanova to Regeneration...
, Rob Farrer, and Bryan Mills. Talbot was beginning to play an increasingly important role in the band; he arranged and orchestrated "The Dogs and the Horses," and he co-arranged "Theme from Casanova" with Hannon.
Connections with other music
"The Dogs and the Horses" is very close to the musical style of Scott WalkerScott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
's first four solo albums. "Through a Long and Sleepless Night," a track off Casanova, shares the same title as a track off Scott's first solo album.
An instrumental version of "Songs of Love" played on guitar (instead of the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
featured on the album version) was used as the theme tune to Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
.
Track listing
- All songs written by Neil HannonNeil HannonNeil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
- Tracks 1-9 arranged by Neil HannonNeil HannonNeil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
- Track 10 arranged by Neil HannonNeil HannonNeil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
and Joby TalbotJoby TalbotJoby Talbot is a British composer.Born in Wimbledon, London, Talbot studied composition at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Brian Elias and Simon Bainbridge.... - Track 11 arranged and orchestrated by Joby TalbotJoby TalbotJoby Talbot is a British composer.Born in Wimbledon, London, Talbot studied composition at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Brian Elias and Simon Bainbridge....
- Tracks 1-9 arranged by Neil Hannon
- "Something for the Weekend" – 4:19
- "Becoming More Like Alfie" – 2:59
- "Middle-Class Heroes" – 5:26
- "In and Out of Paris and London" – 3:27
- "Charge" – 5:27
- "Songs of Love" – 3:26
- "The Frog Princess" – 5:13
- "A Woman of the World" – 4:12
- "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" – 6:12
- "Theme from Casanova" – 5:51
- "The Dogs and the Horses" – 5:14
Singles
- A Casanova Companion No.1
- "Something for the Weekend" – 4:20
- "Birds of Paradise Farm" – 3:52
- "Love is Lighter than Air" – 3:54 (written by Stephin MerrittStephin MerrittStephin Merritt is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles , best known as the principal singer and songwriter in the band The Magnetic Fields...
) - "Songs of Love" – 3:22 (Theme from Father TedFather TedFather Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
)
- A Casanova Companion No. 2
- "Becoming More Like Alfie" – 3:02
- "Untitled Melody" – 2:09 (written by Edwyn CollinsEdwyn CollinsEdwyn Stephen Collins is an Ivor Novello Award winning Scottish musician, playing mostly electric guitar-driven pop. Collins formed the musical group Nu-Sonics in 1976, which later became Orange Juice...
) - "Your Daddy's Car" – 4:14
- "The Dogs and the Horses" – 4:27 (NYC acoustic)
- A Casanova Companion No.3
- "The Frog Princess" – 5:13
- "Motorway to Damascus" – 4:22
- "A Woman of the World" – 4:16 (band version)
- "Lucy" – 4:03 (Demo)
- A Casanova Companion No.4
- "The Frog Princess" – 5:13
- "Something Before the Weekend" – 2:02 (Demo)
- "Neptune's Daughter" – 5:08
- "Tonight We Fly" – 2:40
Personnel
- John Allen – Celeste, Whistle (Human)
- Darren Allison – Percussion, Drums, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Kathy Brown – Cello
- Jane Butterfield – Trombone
- Andy Chase – Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Emile Chitikov – Violin
- Ian Cooper – Mastering
- Eos Counsell – Violin
- Rob Crane – Design
- Alison Fletcher – Violin, Viola
- Anna Giddey – Violin
- Charlotte Glasson – Viola
- Ruth Goldstein – Cello
- Tom Gurling – Assistant Engineer
- Neil Hannon – Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Arranger, Organ (Hammond), Vocals, Producer, Tympani [Timpani], Art Direction, Wurlitzer
- Rebecca Hayes – Violin
- Robin Hayward – Tuba
- Yuri Kalnitz – Violin
- Robbie Kazandjian – Assistant Engineer
- Mark Knight – Violin
- Alex McRonald – Flute
- Bryan Mills – Bass
- Paul Mysiak – Assistant Engineer
- Darren Nash – Assistant Engineer
- Gerard Navarro – Assistant Engineer
- Gareth Parton – Assistant Engineer
- Alex Postlethwaite – Violin
- Alice Pratley – Violin
- Alice Reynolds – Laughs
- Joe Richards – Cello
- Adrian Roach – Oboe
- Laura Samuel – Violin
- Padraic SavagePatrick Savage (composer/musician)Patrick Savage is an Australian-born film composer and violinist best known for his collaboration with Holeg Spies on the score for The Human Centipede.He was also formerly principal first violin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, UK...
– Violin - Chris Scard – Assistant Engineer
- Joby Talbot – Piano, Arranger, Conductor, Sax (Alto), Orchestration
- Titch Walker – Trumpet
- Jane Watkins – Cello
- Kevin Westenberg – Art Direction, Photography
- Chris Worsey – Cello