Needle in the Hay
Encyclopedia
"Needle in the Hay" is a song written by Elliott Smith
first released as the opening track on his self-titled second release, Elliott Smith
, then released on 7" vinyl. It later appeared in Wes Anderson
's 2001 film, The Royal Tenenbaums
, and can be found on the movie's soundtrack
.
Trumpet and harmonica were recorded for the song but were omitted from the final mix. A mix featuring the extra instrumentation has not been released in any form.
During later shows with a full band, the song was given more of a "rock" arrangement and would feature drums and bass, with Smith also singing the vocals an octave higher.
During some live performances Smith would alter the lyrics "...head down to toes a reaction to you..." to "...everyone knows he's a reaction to you..."
The song has also been covered by punk
band Bad Astronaut
for their 2001 album Acrophobe
, Nadja
in their covers album "When I See the Sun Always Shines on T.V." and by Muppet parody Sad Kermit
. This song was also covered by Mélissa Laveaux
.
Pitchfork Media's
included the song at number 27 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
" singles, and the Kill Rock Stars
' "Some Songs" compilation. That version is available to download from the Kill Rock Stars website.
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
first released as the opening track on his self-titled second release, Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith (album)
Elliott Smith is the second album recorded by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It was released by Kill Rock Stars on 21 July 1995 in CD and vinyl LP. It was Smith's first full-length release on the label....
, then released on 7" vinyl. It later appeared in Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson
Wesley Wales Anderson is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer of features, short films and commercials....
's 2001 film, The Royal Tenenbaums
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Royal Tenenbaums is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson and co-written with Owen Wilson. The film stars Gene Hackman and Anjelica Huston, with Danny Glover, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson....
, and can be found on the movie's soundtrack
The Royal Tenenbaums (soundtrack)
The soundtrack to The Royal Tenenbaums features a score composed by Mark Mothersbaugh. Also featured are a variety of rock songs from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.There have been two soundtrack album releases for The Royal Tenenbaums...
.
Trumpet and harmonica were recorded for the song but were omitted from the final mix. A mix featuring the extra instrumentation has not been released in any form.
During later shows with a full band, the song was given more of a "rock" arrangement and would feature drums and bass, with Smith also singing the vocals an octave higher.
During some live performances Smith would alter the lyrics "...head down to toes a reaction to you..." to "...everyone knows he's a reaction to you..."
The song has also been covered by punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Bad Astronaut
Bad Astronaut
Bad Astronaut is an American indie/punk rock band founded in 2000 by Joey Cape, singer from Lagwagon. In Bad Astronaut, Joey Cape explores a new style of pop, with lyrics often about deep and intricate personal matters....
for their 2001 album Acrophobe
Acrophobe
Acrophobe is the first studio album by Bad Astronaut, released in 2001 on the Honest Don's independent record label.-Track listing:#"Greg's Estate" – 3:01#"Anecdote" – 2:47#"Grey Suits" – 2:19#"Quiet" – 1:10...
, Nadja
Nadja (band)
Nadja is a duo of Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff . Nadja began in 2003 as a solo project for Baker to explore the heavier/noisier side of his experimental/ambient music performed mainly on the electric guitar...
in their covers album "When I See the Sun Always Shines on T.V." and by Muppet parody Sad Kermit
Sad Kermit
Sad Kermit is an unofficial parody of Kermit the Frog, the popular Muppet. The video first appeared on YouTube in March 2007, showing a store-bought Kermit puppet performing a version of the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt" in a style similar to Johnny Cash's version.In contrast to the real Kermit...
. This song was also covered by Mélissa Laveaux
Mélissa Laveaux
Mélissa Laveaux is an Ottawa musician of Haitian descent signed to No Format! records...
.
Pitchfork Media's
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
included the song at number 27 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
Track listing
- "Needle in the Hay" (4:17)
- "Alphabet Town" (4:12)
- "Some Song" [Extended Intro][A] (2:21)
Footnotes
^ Also appears, without the extended intro, on the "Ballad of Big Nothing" & "Baby BritainBaby Britain
"Baby Britain" is a song written by Elliott Smith for his fourth studio album XO, released in 1998. The song was also released as a single in 1999.A remix version of "Baby Britain" was released on the Baby Britain promo CD...
" singles, and the Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
' "Some Songs" compilation. That version is available to download from the Kill Rock Stars website.