Little Baby Nothing
Encyclopedia
"Little Baby Nothing" was the sixth single taken from the debut full-length album
— Generation Terrorists
— by the Welsh group the Manic Street Preachers
. It features vocals by former porn star Traci Lords
.
The song is about the sexual exploitation of a woman, and Lords agreed to a duet with the band's singer/lead guitarist James Dean Bradfield
. Bradfield said that "we needed somebody, a symbol, a person that could actually symbolize the lyrics and justify them to a certain degree. Traci was more than happy to do it. She saw the lyrics, and she had an immediate affinity with them. It was definitely easy to incorporate her personality into the lyrics. We just wanted a symbol for it, and I think she was a great symbol. She sounds like a female Joey Ramone
to me." Lords said that "I listened to the tape and really identified with the character in the song...this young girl who's been exploited and abused by men all her life." In an interview some years later, she admitted to being distressed at the news of the disappearance and presumed suicide
of Manics' guitarist/lyricist Richey Edwards.
Originally, the band wanted the duet to feature vocals by Australia
n singer Kylie Minogue
, but she couldn't be released from her PWL contracts. She later performed the song live with the group (the live bootleg recording of this is a highly sought after track amongst fans) She also collaborated with them on her 1997 album Impossible Princess
.
The track "Suicide Alley" had previously been released as the Manics' debut single. It was included on all formats (except CD2) as copies of the original 7" release were already fetching £250-300 at auction. The inclusion of the song on CD also upset Glen Powell's plans to reissue the single. Powell had produced the original version and still owned the master tapes.
The promotional video for the song was directed by music journalist Steven Wells and featured the first appearance on screen by pop duo Shampoo
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
— Generation Terrorists
Generation Terrorists
- Personnel :Manic Street Preachers*James Dean Bradfield – lead vocals, guitar*Richey Edwards – guitar*Sean Moore – drums, percussion, backing vocals*Nicky Wire – bass, piano on Little Baby NothingAdditional personnel...
— by the Welsh group the Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
. It features vocals by former porn star Traci Lords
Traci Lords
Traci Lords , also known as Traci Elizabeth Lords and Tracy Lords, is an American film actress, producer, film director, writer and singer...
.
The song is about the sexual exploitation of a woman, and Lords agreed to a duet with the band's singer/lead guitarist James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.- Early life :...
. Bradfield said that "we needed somebody, a symbol, a person that could actually symbolize the lyrics and justify them to a certain degree. Traci was more than happy to do it. She saw the lyrics, and she had an immediate affinity with them. It was definitely easy to incorporate her personality into the lyrics. We just wanted a symbol for it, and I think she was a great symbol. She sounds like a female Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
to me." Lords said that "I listened to the tape and really identified with the character in the song...this young girl who's been exploited and abused by men all her life." In an interview some years later, she admitted to being distressed at the news of the disappearance and presumed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
of Manics' guitarist/lyricist Richey Edwards.
Originally, the band wanted the duet to feature vocals by Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n singer Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
, but she couldn't be released from her PWL contracts. She later performed the song live with the group (the live bootleg recording of this is a highly sought after track amongst fans) She also collaborated with them on her 1997 album Impossible Princess
Impossible Princess
Impossible Princess is the sixth studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was released in Japan on 1 November 1997 by BMG Records, Australia on 12 January 1998 by Mushroom Records and 23 March 1998 in Europe by Deconstruction Records to mixed reviews. The album was produced by...
.
The track "Suicide Alley" had previously been released as the Manics' debut single. It was included on all formats (except CD2) as copies of the original 7" release were already fetching £250-300 at auction. The inclusion of the song on CD also upset Glen Powell's plans to reissue the single. Powell had produced the original version and still owned the master tapes.
The promotional video for the song was directed by music journalist Steven Wells and featured the first appearance on screen by pop duo Shampoo
Shampoo (band)
Shampoo were a British all-girl band in the 1990s, formed by Jacqui Blake and Caroline "Carrie" Askew. They were most famous for their hit song, "Trouble".-History:...
.
CD1
- "Little Baby Nothing" (7" version)
- "Never Want Again"
- "Dead Yankee Drawl"
- "Suicide Alley"
CD2
- "Little Baby Nothing" (7" version)
- "R.P. Mcmurphy" (live at Club Citta, Kawasaki, 13 May 1992)
- "Tennessee" (live at Club Citta, Kawasaki, 13 May 1992)
- "You Love Us" (live at Club Citta, Kawasaki, 13 May 1992)
7" / MC
- "Little Baby Nothing" (7" version)
- "Never Want Again"
- "Suicide Alley"