Wolf at the Door
Encyclopedia
"Wolf at the Door" is a song
performed and composed by English
alternative rock
band Keane and happened to be their second single
release ever, originally intended only as a promo item with only fifty copies made, becoming the rarest Keane item in existence.
Recording started on 28 October 2000 and finished in May 2001 even though the record was originally planned to be released before 2001.. The CD single was released by the band's own record label, Zoomorphic, in June 2001 and was sold at the pubs
where Keane used to play. All fifty copies were hand-made and recorded on CD-R
s.
Because of its limited production it is one of the most desired collectors' items amongst Keane fans, and has been known to sell for around £
1000 on ebay. Its status as a rarity is such that, allegedly, no member of the band is in possession of a copy.
The single features a re-recording of their previous single "Call Me What You Like
", as well as an early version of "She Has No Time", which later would appear on Hopes and Fears
, the band's debut album.
Shortly after this record was released, guitarist
Dominic Scott
left the band, and was Keane's last release with a guitar
as part of their instrumentation until the 2007 cover
b-side "She Sells Sanctuary"
, London
.. It was recorded at Roundhouse Studios and Balfour Studios.
's "Brothers & Sisters
" due to the electric guitar
entry in the F#sus4 key, similar to the Asus4 found in the latter.
However, the "epic and dreamlike" Keane sound is still found in the track, with Chaplin and Scott vocals, the guitarist backing.
"Wolf at the Door" is the only 6/8 time signature song by Keane to date.
.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
performed and composed by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Keane and happened to be their second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
release ever, originally intended only as a promo item with only fifty copies made, becoming the rarest Keane item in existence.
Recording started on 28 October 2000 and finished in May 2001 even though the record was originally planned to be released before 2001.. The CD single was released by the band's own record label, Zoomorphic, in June 2001 and was sold at the pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
where Keane used to play. All fifty copies were hand-made and recorded on CD-R
CD-R
A CD-R is a variation of the Compact Disc invented by Philips and Sony. CD-R is a Write Once Read Many optical medium, though the whole disk does not have to be entirely written in the same session....
s.
Because of its limited production it is one of the most desired collectors' items amongst Keane fans, and has been known to sell for around £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1000 on ebay. Its status as a rarity is such that, allegedly, no member of the band is in possession of a copy.
The single features a re-recording of their previous single "Call Me What You Like
Call Me What You Like
"Call Me What You Like" is a song by Keane, released as their first single.Limited to 500 copies, the single was released through Zoomorphic, the band's own label set up to release their music when a record deal was not forthcoming...
", as well as an early version of "She Has No Time", which later would appear on Hopes and Fears
Hopes and Fears
Hopes and Fears is the debut album by English alternative rock band Keane and was released on 10 May 2004 in the United Kingdom. It topped the UK album charts upon release, was the second best-selling British album of 2004, behind Scissor Sisters' self-titled album, and has since gone 9× platinum...
, the band's debut album.
Shortly after this record was released, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Dominic Scott
Dominic Scott
Dominic Scott is an Irish guitarist, and the founder of the English rock band Roundstone and rock band Keane.-Keane:Scott attended Tonbridge School in Kent, where he met the other members of the band which would become Keane. In 1995, he asked his friend Tim Rice-Oxley to form a band to play...
left the band, and was Keane's last release with a guitar
Guitar
The 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...
as part of their instrumentation until the 2007 cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
b-side "She Sells Sanctuary"
CD Single
Catalogue number: ZOO/2/01- "Wolf at the Door"
- "Call Me What You LikeCall Me What You Like"Call Me What You Like" is a song by Keane, released as their first single.Limited to 500 copies, the single was released through Zoomorphic, the band's own label set up to release their music when a record deal was not forthcoming...
" - "She Has No Time"
Information about song
The song was composed circa July 2000 and first played at the Monarch pub in CamdenCamden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.. It was recorded at Roundhouse Studios and Balfour Studios.
Musical structure
Most people would say the song is reminiscent to ColdplayColdplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's "Brothers & Sisters
Brothers & Sisters (song)
"Brothers & Sisters" is a song by Coldplay, released as their first single in 1999 following the Safety EP, released a year earlier. It was later re-released as an EP....
" due to the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
entry in the F#sus4 key, similar to the Asus4 found in the latter.
However, the "epic and dreamlike" Keane sound is still found in the track, with Chaplin and Scott vocals, the guitarist backing.
"Wolf at the Door" is the only 6/8 time signature song by Keane to date.
- Length: 4:17
- TempoTempoIn musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
: approx. 170bpm - KeyKey (music)In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
: F# major - Time signatureTime signatureThe time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
: 6/8, 8 beat
Call Me What You Like
This is a re-recording of the original single, which was slower and longer. The final version was recorded on 19 February 2001. The song was composed circa 1999 by Tom ChaplinTom Chaplin
Thomas Oliver "Tom" Chaplin is a singer, musician and composer, best known as the lead vocalist of the piano rock band, Keane.-Life and career:...
.
- Length: 3:32
- Tempo: 92bpm
- Key: Cm
- Time signature: 4/4
- Style: Alternative
She Has No Time
An acoustic guitar version of the song, unlike the version which appears on Hopes and Fears. It was composed circa January 2001. This version is shorter than the version appearing on the album and features few synthesizer effects.- Length: 5:00
- Tempo: 72bpm
- Key: Dm
- Time signature: 4/4
- Style: Alternative, balladBalladA ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...