This song makes me want to go full Heath-Ledger-with-a-marching-band.
It’s the fourth track on John’s fifth album, Slow Dazzle— a record of art rock and noir pop; gloom, glam and gore. Featuring, among others, Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera (then of Roxy Music), and Chris Spedding.
The album opens with an (apparently unappreciated) love letter to Brian Wilson, and ends with a revenge fantasy written after Kevin Ayer’s slept with John’s wife (also presumably unappreciated).
Beyond this point you will find: a psychotic interpretation of an Elvis standard, orchestral torch songs, “dirty-ass rock ‘n’ roll”, murder and misery, snow sports and California wine. Enter with abandon. Welcome to the slow dazzle.
