I've Got Your Number

I came here with The Seldom Seen Kid under my arm and it wasn't long before the great and the good here were recommending I try out eariler works by the band. My wife recently bought me Leaders Of The Free World and Cast Of Thousands and I've been slowly getting to know them both. Whilst I found LOTFW to be like an embullient and outgoing new friend, COT has been more like an introverted, mysterious loner and consequently, I haven't spent a great deal of time with that album. However, I'm getting there - we'll soon have a friendship as strong as the one I enjoy with TSSK I'm sure.

One track that I've found to be very affecting is I've Got Your Number. It has the feel of Peter Gabriel about it and is very sinister. Like much of their stuff, I love this song so much because it resonates with me; Garvey is describing a moment in my life, a person I once knew, with a poetry and an incisiveness that is beyond my own humble attempts at profundity. And it's not just the words; the angular guitar that cuts as harshly as Guy's barbed comments, the lazy rhythm section and the sound of the answermachine at the end, all contribute to a tune that leaves a lasting impression long after the song has finished.

I also love the song. I think it's got a very sexy vibe to it.

KingSwinger wrote:

the angular guitar that cuts as harshly as Guy's barbed comments

It's the organ isn't it?

I love this track - in fact iTunes tells me it's my most-played Elbow song. I love the cool, cool bassline, Garv's typical lyrics (no-nonsense but pure poetry) and the wondrous noise-squall that is the bursting organ at the end. It seems so laid-back yet there's so much venom under the surface.

My problem is... my girlfriend, fellow Elbow obsessive, has this down as one of the few Elbow songs she doesn't like. How can I change her mind?

MagicalTrevor wrote:

KingSwinger wrote:

the angular guitar that cuts as harshly as Guy's barbed comments

It's the organ isn't it?

i thought it was organ - heavily distorted and blasted out a a volume that would hurt the ears of any organism on the planet.

and when they (surprisingly) did it on colin murray's show, craig announced that he would use a wind organ so...


anyway, one of my favourite elbow songs follows their principle. simple + layers = effectiveness

...also Craig is playing the organ in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSEhgxihjm4

Wel, they had me fooled; I was convinced it was a scream of guitar that is heard around the point where he sings "I've got your number".

I wouldn't say it was sexy - not to me anyway. It actually unnerves the hell out of me.

Some Elbow songs touch me in places that either I didn't know existed, or would prefer not to be touched. This is one of them.

Quote :

Throwing advice like grenades at the table
You're spinning your wisdom in stories that change
Your lies are fluorescent my babyfaced angel
Grow a fucking heart love

Definitely one of my favourite lyrics.

It's an incredible song - the way the sense and meaning of the song changes on the last line - 'You've got my number.....'
Brilliant

Eag wrote:

My problem is... my girlfriend, fellow Elbow obsessive, has this down as one of the few Elbow songs she doesn't like. How can I change her mind?

I just hope she does not feel nabbed...maybe it's a bit to angry??
I really like that song. Guy really must have been felt hurt. Still he says on the ending "I got your number" though that girl needs to grow a heart to get into his one.

ticky wrote:

It's an incredible song - the way the sense and meaning of the song changes on the last line - 'You've got my number.....'
Brilliant

Well, we've all been there, haven't we? I know I have. You're filled with spite at the end of it all but, nevertheless, you hold out for reconciliation (or at least another leg-over! Which seems to be more likely with this girl.)

I think this one's a great track...not exactly happy-super-fun-time music but it serves a specific purpose, for both the writer/singer and the listener. When you're in this nasty relationship backwash zone, it is the perfect soundtrack.

Like 99.99% of the songs, i like this one too.

Sinister, Dark, Nasty, Lying, Hateful, with a touch of denial !

First glance i thought trevor's last post went like this...

MagicalTrevor wrote:

Topaz wrote:

I also love the song. I think it's got a very sexy vibe to it.

It's the organ isn't it?

Amused me no end!

It's all about Craig's HUGE organ. (Sorry man)

The emotion reminds me a bit of some of those angry I'm left, you're right, she's gone lyrics that (ulp) Phil Collins used to write in the eighties. Specifically a marvellous track on Hello I Must Be Going called Do You Know Do You Care. The similarity is only in the subject matter, and even then Collins doesn't go into the dangerous sexual territory that Garvey does. The feeling is still the same, though, of not wanting, but at the same time wanting, to be with this person who's f*cked you up.

Misspelt Yoof wrote:

Quote :

Throwing advice like grenades at the table
You're spinning your wisdom in stories that change
Your lies are fluorescent my babyfaced angel
Grow a fucking heart love

Definitely one of my favourite lyrics.

SNAP!

Do you think they would ever play this live again now?
Its not nice, happy and fluffy.

I also love this song; it's always been one of my favourites on COT. It's a pity they "censored" "grow a fucking heart love" in the live session - if they ever did play it live (I can dream I agree LWD, I hope some of the darker ones get back on stage someday) let's hope that wouldn't happen...

Glendarian wrote:

if they ever did play it live (I can dream I agree LWD, I hope some of the darker ones get back on stage someday) let's hope that wouldn't happen...

Have you got a copy of the Brixton CD? 'coz it's on there, first live performance ...and uncensored

Yeah, King Swinger, certainly know where you're coming from.....COT has some tracks that still have a fantastic longevity to them, Fugitive, Grace, Fallen, Not a J, Switching, the rest of them I wrestle with greatly. I DO like the edgy, angular tracks of Elbow.....Bitten, Any Day Now, Little Beast and I find COT a GREAT album in parts, as good as anything they've done, yet, the flow of it can be a bit stop start for me. They were my exact thoughts when I first heard AITB, but one day that all clicked into place.

Once COT and I are on first name terms, My Bury Vest, I'll be getting Asleep In The Back. Hey, it's my birthday at the end of the month, Maybe the missus will complete my Elbow journey and buy it me.

Getting me into Elbow is one of the most rewarding things she's ever done for me - bless her! Thank god I no longer hang round with women the likes of which I've Got Your Number could so easily have been written!

Haha ! yeah, I think we all have exes that that song could relate to, without a doubt !! Am sure you've read loads on AITB so I won't go over old ground, but yep, it's majestic. Can't remember the last CD/LP that I got for my birthday/Christmas that really made me happy ! Think it was some Neil Young...........anyway, happy listenin' KS !

BrightGrey wrote:

Have you got a copy of the Brixton CD? 'coz it's on there, first live performance ...and uncensored

Hey thanks, it's so long since I've listened to that I'd forgotten it was one there. Just having a nostaligc listen now.

MyBuryVest wrote:

a GREAT album in parts, as good as anything they've done, yet, the flow of it can be a bit stop start for me. They were my exact thoughts when I first heard AITB

It was the opposite with me - one of the things I loved about AITB when I first heard it was what a brilliant album as a whole it was, before I really got to know the songs individually. Anyway KS enjoy getting to know both.

The Final Track wrote:

"Grow a fucking heart, Love"

I don't think I've ever heard Guy as bitter/agitated, as when he utters those words..........