"Pinball" is a 1974 song by the actor and musician Brian Protheroe. An autobiographical song written whilst Protheroe was living in a friend's flat in Covent Garden, it was released as his first single after he was signed by Chrysalis on the strength of a song he wrote and performed in a play. Upon release, it gave Protheroe his only hit, reaching a peak position of 22 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1974. It was later included on his debut album of the same title.
Though he had been interested in music from an early age, Brian Protheroe had focused on a burgeoning acting career in the years leading up to his musical releases. His initial stage performances in 1966–67 were with his local repertory theatre at Salisbury Playhouse.[2] After leaving Salisbury, Protheroe settled with the New Theatre Royal Lincoln in 1968. There he met Martin Duncan, who became a musical collaborator.[3] Stage roles such as in Bath Theatre Royal's 1970 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, for which he was also the composer, followed, as well as television appearances in the historical drama Frontier and the anthology mystery series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes.[3] In 1973, Protheroe appeared in a production of William Fairchild's play Death on Demand in the role of a pop singer. For the play, he set a lyric written by Fairchild to music and, after it had been shopped around by Fairchild, this composition caught the attention of a Chrysalis Records rep.[citation needed] The label signed Protheroe as a solo artist.[3] Protheroe never released a recording of the song from Death on Demand, instead opting for "Pinball" as his debut single.
Compositionedit
"Pinball" is an autobiographical song, described by Protheroe as "a diary entry for one particular weekend in 1973", a time when he had just split up with his girlfriend and was living in a friend's flat in Covent Garden.[4] The song describes Protheroe's despondent feelings ("my music bores me once again"), setbacks ("and I've run out of pale ale") and activities ("I've been on the pinball) at this time. It has been described by one reviewer as "example of ennui, Covent Garden Blues".[5] The lyrics also reference Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles' "Hey Jude". There is no chorus, with the track being made up of several melodically identical verses. The song begins with an acoustic guitar riff, and builds to include elements such as a tenor saxophone (played by Tony Coe), bass, drums and sound effects such as a cat's meow after the lyric "And the cat just finished off the bread".[5] The single was produced by Del Newman, who would produce all three of Protheroe's 1970s albums.[6]
Releaseedit
"Pinball" was released as a single in August 1974, backed by "Money Love". It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 40 and eventually reached a peak of number 22 in September. It spent six weeks on the chart.[7] Protheroe performed the song live on Top of the Pops during its chart run. He would later reflect on this time: "When I was on Top of the Pops the record label said 'right, we'll get you a velvet suit' I said, 'NO'. To succeed in the music business to have to embrace everything and I wasn't prepared to do that. I was an actor and much more comfortable in that world. I did no touring, just a couple of concerts around London."[4]
Reception and legacyedit
The song has received critical acclaim. Upon release, Reading Evening Post's Pete Butterfield called "Pinball" "one of the most interesting singles of the year"[8] while Max Bell of New Musical Express praised the song's production and its "instant, stylised commercialism".[5] Among retrospective reviews, AllMusic'sStephen Thomas Erlewine has described the song as "an exquisite piece of post-McCartney pop"[3] and Scott Hammond of The Fix Magazine has declared it "one of the lost gems of the 1970s".[9] "Pinball" was included on Sean Rowley's Guilty Pleasures compilation album, released in 2004. The song provided the inspiration for the track "Riverman" from Noel Gallagher's 2015 album Chasing Yesterday. Gallagher had been introduced to the song by Morrissey in a Los Angeles bar.[10][11]
"Pinball" remains Protheroe's only hit single, and his best known song. Both sides of the single appeared on Protheroe's debut album, also titled Pinball, and the track also lent its name to the first compilation of his music, Pinball and Other Stories, released in 2006. In that release's booklet, Protheroe reflects on the song; "I'm very proud of "Pinball". It perfectly encapsulates how I was feeling at the time".[4]
Track listingedit
7" Singleedit
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Pinball"
3:05
2.
"Money Love"
3:19
Referencesedit
^"10 Soft Rock Songs People In The 70s Fell In Love With". I Love Classic Rock. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
^"Brian Protheroe - past productions". Theatricalia. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 441. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^Butterfield, Pete (28 December 1974). "Pinball. Brian Protheroe (Chrysalis CHR 1065)". Reading Evening Post. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
^Hammond, Scott. "Throwback Thursday: Retro Track of the Week". The Fix Magazine. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
^Rogers, Jude. "The Apolitical Party: Noel Gallagher Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
^Perry, Andrew. "Noel Gallagher: 'A Night Out With Morrissey Inspired Track On My New Album'". Q. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
January 01, 1970
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Pinball is a 1974 song by the actor and musician Brian Protheroe An autobiographical song written whilst Protheroe was living in a friend s flat in Covent Garden it was released as his first single after he was signed by Chrysalis on the strength of a song he wrote and performed in a play Upon release it gave Protheroe his only hit reaching a peak position of 22 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1974 It was later included on his debut album of the same title Pinball Single by Brian Protheroefrom the album PinballB side Money Love ReleasedAugust 1974GenreSoft rock 1 Length3 13LabelChrysalisProducer s Del NewmanBrian Protheroe singles chronology Pinball 1974 Fly Now 1975 Official Audio Pinball on YouTube Contents 1 Background 2 Composition 3 Release 4 Reception and legacy 5 Track listing 5 1 7 Single 6 ReferencesBackground editThough he had been interested in music from an early age Brian Protheroe had focused on a burgeoning acting career in the years leading up to his musical releases His initial stage performances in 1966 67 were with his local repertory theatre at Salisbury Playhouse 2 After leaving Salisbury Protheroe settled with the New Theatre Royal Lincoln in 1968 There he met Martin Duncan who became a musical collaborator 3 Stage roles such as in Bath Theatre Royal s 1970 production of A Midsummer Night s Dream for which he was also the composer followed as well as television appearances in the historical drama Frontier and the anthology mystery series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes 3 In 1973 Protheroe appeared in a production of William Fairchild s play Death on Demand in the role of a pop singer For the play he set a lyric written by Fairchild to music and after it had been shopped around by Fairchild this composition caught the attention of a Chrysalis Records rep citation needed The label signed Protheroe as a solo artist 3 Protheroe never released a recording of the song from Death on Demand instead opting for Pinball as his debut single Composition edit Pinball is an autobiographical song described by Protheroe as a diary entry for one particular weekend in 1973 a time when he had just split up with his girlfriend and was living in a friend s flat in Covent Garden 4 The song describes Protheroe s despondent feelings my music bores me once again setbacks and I ve run out of pale ale and activities I ve been on the pinball at this time It has been described by one reviewer as example of ennui Covent Garden Blues 5 The lyrics also reference Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles Hey Jude There is no chorus with the track being made up of several melodically identical verses The song begins with an acoustic guitar riff and builds to include elements such as a tenor saxophone played by Tony Coe bass drums and sound effects such as a cat s meow after the lyric And the cat just finished off the bread 5 The single was produced by Del Newman who would produce all three of Protheroe s 1970s albums 6 Release edit Pinball was released as a single in August 1974 backed by Money Love It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 40 and eventually reached a peak of number 22 in September It spent six weeks on the chart 7 Protheroe performed the song live on Top of the Pops during its chart run He would later reflect on this time When I was on Top of the Pops the record label said right we ll get you a velvet suit I said NO To succeed in the music business to have to embrace everything and I wasn t prepared to do that I was an actor and much more comfortable in that world I did no touring just a couple of concerts around London 4 Reception and legacy editThe song has received critical acclaim Upon release Reading Evening Post s Pete Butterfield called Pinball one of the most interesting singles of the year 8 while Max Bell of New Musical Express praised the song s production and its instant stylised commercialism 5 Among retrospective reviews AllMusic s Stephen Thomas Erlewine has described the song as an exquisite piece of post McCartney pop 3 and Scott Hammond of The Fix Magazine has declared it one of the lost gems of the 1970s 9 Pinball was included on Sean Rowley s Guilty Pleasures compilation album released in 2004 The song provided the inspiration for the track Riverman from Noel Gallagher s 2015 album Chasing Yesterday Gallagher had been introduced to the song by Morrissey in a Los Angeles bar 10 11 Pinball remains Protheroe s only hit single and his best known song Both sides of the single appeared on Protheroe s debut album also titled Pinball and the track also lent its name to the first compilation of his music Pinball and Other Stories released in 2006 In that release s booklet Protheroe reflects on the song I m very proud of Pinball It perfectly encapsulates how I was feeling at the time 4 Track listing edit7 Single edit No TitleLength1 Pinball 3 052 Money Love 3 19References edit 10 Soft Rock Songs People In The 70s Fell In Love With I Love Classic Rock Retrieved 12 November 2022 Brian Protheroe past productions Theatricalia Retrieved 5 August 2019 a b c d Stephen Thomas Erlewine Brian Protheroe Biography AllMusic Retrieved 4 August 2019 a b c Pinball And Other Stories liner a b c Bell Max 4 January 1975 Brian Protheroe Pinball New Musical Express Retrieved 4 August 2019 Pinball liner Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 441 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Butterfield Pete 28 December 1974 Pinball Brian Protheroe Chrysalis CHR 1065 Reading Evening Post Retrieved 4 August 2019 Hammond Scott Throwback Thursday Retro Track of the Week The Fix Magazine Retrieved 31 August 2019 Rogers Jude The Apolitical Party Noel Gallagher Interviewed The Quietus Retrieved 5 August 2019 Perry Andrew Noel Gallagher A Night Out With Morrissey Inspired Track On My New Album Q Retrieved 5 August 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pinball song amp oldid 1197730579, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
