Another bumper double header… Loser and Wish You well were recorded on the same session with the same musicians and particularly given the drama and bombast of the bass trombone, they seem to work together what do you think?

10. Loser
S.Rhatigan J.F Morrison © 1998

I have a theory… I know there may be indignant responses to this from some of my worthy indie pals but, I think a large number of love songs are rooted not in adolescent longing or unrequited romantic disillusion, but are in fact begging letters to record companies and audiences in the face of artistic/commercial rejection. I know, I’ve got a few, but this is not one of them!

There’s no doubt the repeated let downs I’ve had, and Rhatigan as a band have endured over this period, contributed in no small part to the depth of disgust and anger quite evident in this song. No two ways about it, I was pissed off… Sure I’ve had my heart broken a little by loser boyfriends and friends, but none smarted as much as the almost big breaks that nearly broke me. Let me be clear about this, the ‘losers’ referred to in the song do not include any of the wonderful managers, agents & a&r folk that I did have the good fortune to work with, no I have other songs inspired by those relationships! It’s the bull-shitters and plamassers, the ones who habitually make promises that are not theirs to make.

But ho hum, out of adversity comes… well in my case usually songs…

A big influence on me as a singer and songwriter are great show tunes from classic musicals. I’m a sucker for a torch song or a show stopping life affirming finale, but it’s the great ‘fuck you’ rants I particularly love.. I’m thinking of songs like ‘Don’t Rain On my Parade’ from Funny Girl or ‘I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair’ from South Pacific and it’s in that spirit that Loser was written… It’s a hey you know what, I don’t have to take this shit any more tune….

This lazy rock blast was meat and potatoes to Paul he somehow manages to drum like he’s falling off a cliff, yet he’s solid as the proverbial rock…. The track suited bass trombonist Shane Mills well too, you can really feel the weight of it under the guitar riff.. Boy did it feel great playing this one live…

Suzanne Rhatigan Vocal guitar…
John Morrison….
Paul Murphy Drums…
Shane Mills Bass Trombone…

11. Wish You Well….
S.Rhatigan/J.F Morrison © 1998

Perhaps the only lyric I’ve ever written which has no cynical, sarcastic prickles. Wish You Well was my farewell homage to my great friend and partner John Morrison when he embarked on Hefner’s 1st European tour circa 1998 and I realised that our idyllic song writing afternoons would be no more. We continued to write together but sadly the total immersion days were over…

John, as was customary, arrived around 2pm with his bass and when he was plugged in and seated on his spot on the sofa he immediately started playing this dramatic open A-D against the F-E resolve and I was hooked. Wish You Well wrote itself from that point… The bass trombone was a perfect fit reinforcing the drama of the riff. I would have loved the chance to record the song with an orchestra but it hasn’t happened yet! Still the dark tones of the trombone against the ambience of the guitar and Wurlitzer piano provide a hint of what might have been…

Suzanne Rhatigan Vocals, guitar, Wurlitzer…
John Morrison Bass…
Paul Murphy Drums…
Shane Mills Bass Trombone…