Monday 30 July 2018

I Suppose the Tedium Must Drive You Mad

The Distractions came together in 1975, though it would be a further 4 years before the band committed any music to vinyl with the 'You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That' EP on Manchester indie label TJM Records. Side 1 track 1 of that release was the original version of 'It Doesn't Bother Me', a good song in search of a little extra oomph. Things get a bit hazy at this point as The Distractions simultaneously signed to Factory for a one-off single and also to Island Records for a more conventional and comprehensive deal. In the event Island was first out of the traps with a re-recorded, re-arranged stab at 'It Doesn't Bother Me' produced by Jon Astley. This time around the song ticked all the boxes - it's powerpop perfection. 

The Distractions - It Doesn't Bother Me (1978) 

The Distractions - It Doesn't Bother Me (1979)

6 comments:

Walter said...

As said - power pop in perfection. I ask myself why didn't got the honour they should have earned.

Brian said...

Amen, brother. You are on quite a roll with these seven inchers.

Brian said...

I have spent quite a bit of time with these two versions today. I think I actually like the '78 version better, but they are both wonderful.

The Swede said...

Having listened to both versions several times in the run-up to publishing this post, my fondness for the '78 original certainly grew Brian.

Mike Finney said...

I personally like both versions, for different reasons...the 78 version was recorded sort of live, with a couple of vocal tracks (we only had 10 hours to record 4 songs), but the 79 version was our first 'paid for' recording with more time and only 2 songs.
Thank you for your comments, it gives a chap a good feeling, valid after 40 years!

The Swede said...

Hey Mike, thanks for stopping by. We're all fans in this little corner of the internet.

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