Manics non-standard songwriting credits

[bruised_fruit]

Don't forget that Picturesque from the God Save the Manics EP uses lyrics by Richey.

Verse 1 - lyrics later feature in All Is Vanity
"I would like, I would prefer no choice. Just one bread, just one milk, one food for all.
I'm confused, I only want one truth. I really don't mind being lied to."

Verse 2 - from Doors Closing Slowly
"The shadow is, the shadow is the cross okay.
Judgement must, judgement must be willing today.
Silence is not sacrifice, crucifixion the easy life."

Verse 3 - from All Is Vanity again

"The luxury of one more dye,
Pretend humility, the ugly lie."

I don't know if they've ever talked about this. It wasn't mentioned at the time of release by my recollection, as it would have been big news.

[LA ex]

With references to him writing riffs, does Sean play guitar, and has he ever been witnessed playing it?

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by LA ex

With references to him writing riffs, does Sean play guitar, and has he ever been witnessed playing it?

No Manifesto, pretty sure during a montage for "I'm Just A Patsy" there's a brief clip of him strumming an acoustic. Presumably to work out an arrangement for it.

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by LA ex

With references to him writing riffs, does Sean play guitar, and has he ever been witnessed playing it?

James and/or Nicky has given him guitars for birthday/Christmas so yip

[Librarian On Fire]

I have no proof but "Manorbier" has always seemed like a Sean original. No lyrics, but it feels like something Sean would have tinkered away on in the studio on his own.

[UEF]

Originally Posted by LA ex

With references to him writing riffs, does Sean play guitar, and has he ever been witnessed playing it?

[Donkey]

Sean has written the verse of The Intense Humming of Evil too.

[mrvitaminpill]

Originally Posted by LA ex

With references to him writing riffs, does Sean play guitar, and has he ever been witnessed playing it?

Sean Moore is credited with playing the guitar on Futurology. If memory serves correctly from interviews at the time, he plays the riff on Lets Go To War.

[Jayseph]

The story behind Let’s Go To War, as I can make out from interviews is that when they demoed the track, they didn’t have a riff in place. One day during the RtF/Futurology sessions, Sean, in a fit of inspiration, recorded an idea for the riff with the intention of playing it to JDB and Wire later.

JDB subsequently loved it, and insisted they keep Sean’s performance, while the latter assumed JDB would re-record it himself. I think Sean was somewhat reluctant to confess that the playing was his for a little while after.

A recent interview made reference to JDB and Wire wanting Sean to record his ‘Rock the Casbah’. I think his bandmates get a bit exasperated by him hiding his guitar/keyboards/trumpet/saxophone talents under a bushel as well.

[sculptureofabloke]

I’d love to see itemised contributions but totally understand credits being down as a group purely as a business decision cos they’re mates first band mates second.

Off the top of my head I think the only track that Nicky’s credited specifically for music before they stopped the music/lyrics split was Horses Under Starlight, course being an instrumental. I’ve never heard anything about him contributing the track, not sure if they’ve ever spoken about it but there’s never been any question credits not being split evenly.

[*Found That Soul*]

Originally Posted by bruised_fruit

Don't forget that Picturesque from the God Save the Manics EP uses lyrics by Richey.

Verse 1 - lyrics later feature in All Is Vanity
"I would like, I would prefer no choice. Just one bread, just one milk, one food for all.
I'm confused, I only want one truth. I really don't mind being lied to."

Verse 2 - from Doors Closing Slowly
"The shadow is, the shadow is the cross okay.
Judgement must, judgement must be willing today.
Silence is not sacrifice, crucifixion the easy life."

Verse 3 - from All Is Vanity again

"The luxury of one more dye,
Pretend humility, the ugly lie."

I don't know if they've ever talked about this. It wasn't mentioned at the time of release by my recollection, as it would have been big news.

I remember at the time there was a message on the manics website which read 'Classic Richey Line' (or words to that effect). It was not clear if Nicky had written it or if it was taken from lyrics left behind. Of course, we know now it was the latter.

[gabo86]

Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke

I’d love to see itemised contributions but totally understand credits being down as a group purely as a business decision cos they’re mates first band mates second.

Off the top of my head I think the only track that Nicky’s credited specifically for music before they stopped the music/lyrics split was Horses Under Starlight, course being an instrumental. I’ve never heard anything about him contributing the track, not sure if they’ve ever spoken about it but there’s never been any question credits not being split evenly.

If I recall correctly, Manics post-Lifeblood share credits because every song is "written by Manic Street Preachers", while for Manics till Lifeblood credits are for each band member. For the first three albums credits are "music by James and Sean, lyrics by Richey and Nicky", but in EMG there are some lyrics which are clearly entirely by Richey (for example, Kevin Carter) and the credit is "music by James, Sean and Nicky", when it's clear that Nicky did not write a note at least until The Ballad Of Bangkok Novotel.