Ah yes… I made rather a fool of myself during the recording of this I must confess.
In what way?
Well, I let the mood take me somewhat and as a result, my professional demeanour slipped, which I’m deeply ashamed of. But it was the drums you see, I had never before heard anything quite like them.
The band had seven percussionists.
I believe that was the number. I hadn’t seen anything of it’s like before. My experience as a cleaner up to that point had involved sessions with a drumkit which was usually employed to keep a fairly simple rhythm. This was Latin percussion and quite beyond any experience of mine. At first, I assumed there had been an error of some kind as a collection of odd-looking drums without any sticks were hauled into the studio. I thought “Hello, what silly billies, they’ve gone and left their sticks at home.” But then they started to biff the drums with their hands and I rather got caught up in it all I’m embarrassed to admit.
What did you do?
Well, I danced. There really is no other word for it. I didn’t set out to, but the rhythms were just too intoxicating. I was dusting at the time and quite without realising it my dusting became significantly more rhythmical in nature. I began to shimmy while cleaning and at one point I caught myself doing a soft-shoe shuffle using my duster as a sort of cane. It was dreadfully embarrassing.
Did anyone notice?
If they did they were far too polite to say anything, which is just as well because I allowed my standards to slip at one point and realised I had undone my top button and loosened my tie! I mean can you imagine? I think it only lasted a minute or two before I caught myself but it was mortifying to think that anyone had seen me lower my standards so comprehensively.
Have you ever revisited the album in the years since?
Oh goodness no. Wild abandon of that sort is something I think is best avoided at all costs.
But wasn’t it fun?
Whether or not it was pleasurable is neither here nor there. If the activity can’t be undertaken while suitable attired then the activity is not one that an English Gentleman should be involved in. Or so I’ve always been taught. And you certainly won’t find this particular English Gentleman sacrificing decorum for pleasure. That sort of thinking is what separates us from the animals… and indeed the French.
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