Yes Sir, I Will
Encyclopedia
Yes Sir, I Will, released by Crass
in 1983 (see 1983 in music
), was the band's last 'official' album. The record consists of one continuous piece of music spread over the two sides of the original vinyl release (the CD release split the album into 7 tracks), making it the longest punk song ever recorded, although this is intercut with two brief interludes; a section of self-parody ("The Feeding of the Five Knuckle Shuffle") and a ballad
-style piano "Anarchy's Just Another Word" section sung by drummer Penny Rimbaud
. The album was essentially a bitter and virulent attack on then prime minister
Margaret Thatcher
and her government in the aftermath of the Falklands War
, set nearly wholly over a raging and an almost free-form improvised
backing provided by the groups' instrumentalists. Many of the 'lyrics' of this piece, which can be read at http://airy.phy.ulaval.ca/~pystl/Crass/Yes_sir.htm, are extracted from Rimbaud's extended poem Rocky Eyed. Sleeve notes for the album include parts of Rimbaud's article The Pig's Head Controversy http://airy.phy.ulaval.ca/~pystl/Crass/Pighead.htm that originally appeared in the Crass produced magazine International Anthem.
The title of the record is ironic, taken from a news cutting reporting a conversation said to have taken place between Charles, Prince of Wales
and a badly burned soldier (Simon Weston
) who had returned from the Falklands;
"Get well soon," the Prince said. And the soldier replied "Yes sir, I will".
Penny Rimbaud, commenting on this, has said "That was the hook. That was such an audacious thing to do at the time. Especially given that one had to feel compassion for Simon Weston."
A film made by Crass member Gee Vaucher
to accompany Yes Sir, I Will was shown at the UK
National Film Theatre's Stuff the Jubilee festival of punk
films in 2002, and the track has been recently remixed by Penny Rimbaud to incorporate additional jazz
instrumentation provided by Ingrid Laubrock
(saxophone
) and Julien Seigal (double bass
) to augment the original performance.
The 'Crassical Collection' version of this release, including new artwork by Gee Vaucher
, remastered sound and liner notes by Steve Ignorant
and Penny Rimbaud
, was released on May 17th, 2011. The reissue also contains a second disc (entitled 'Why Don't You Fuck Off?'), which features Penny Rimbaud's 2002 remix of the album, featuring jazz instrumentalists Ingrid Laubrock
and Julien Seigal.
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
in 1983 (see 1983 in music
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
), was the band's last 'official' album. The record consists of one continuous piece of music spread over the two sides of the original vinyl release (the CD release split the album into 7 tracks), making it the longest punk song ever recorded, although this is intercut with two brief interludes; a section of self-parody ("The Feeding of the Five Knuckle Shuffle") and a ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
-style piano "Anarchy's Just Another Word" section sung by drummer Penny Rimbaud
Penny Rimbaud
Jeremy John Ratter , better known under his pseudonym of Penny Rimbaud, is a drummer, writer, poet, former member of performance art groups EXIT and Ceres Confusion, and co-founder of the anarchist punk band Crass with Steve Ignorant in 1977.-Biography:Rimbaud Jeremy John Ratter (born 8 June 1943,...
. The album was essentially a bitter and virulent attack on then prime minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
and her government in the aftermath of the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, set nearly wholly over a raging and an almost free-form improvised
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
backing provided by the groups' instrumentalists. Many of the 'lyrics' of this piece, which can be read at http://airy.phy.ulaval.ca/~pystl/Crass/Yes_sir.htm, are extracted from Rimbaud's extended poem Rocky Eyed. Sleeve notes for the album include parts of Rimbaud's article The Pig's Head Controversy http://airy.phy.ulaval.ca/~pystl/Crass/Pighead.htm that originally appeared in the Crass produced magazine International Anthem.
The title of the record is ironic, taken from a news cutting reporting a conversation said to have taken place between Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and a badly burned soldier (Simon Weston
Simon Weston
Simon Weston OBE is a former British Army soldier who became well known throughout the United Kingdom for his recovery and charity work after suffering severe burn injuries during the Falklands War.-Early life:...
) who had returned from the Falklands;
"Get well soon," the Prince said. And the soldier replied "Yes sir, I will".
Penny Rimbaud, commenting on this, has said "That was the hook. That was such an audacious thing to do at the time. Especially given that one had to feel compassion for Simon Weston."
A film made by Crass member Gee Vaucher
Gee Vaucher
Gee Vaucher is a visual artist who was born in 1945 in Dagenham, East London.Her work with Anarcho-punk band Crass was seminal to the 'protest art' of the 1980s. Vaucher has always seen her work as a tool for social change. In her collection of early works Crass Art and Other Pre Post-Modernist...
to accompany Yes Sir, I Will was shown at the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
National Film Theatre's Stuff the Jubilee festival of 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...
films in 2002, and the track has been recently remixed by Penny Rimbaud to incorporate additional jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
instrumentation provided by Ingrid Laubrock
Ingrid Laubrock
Ingrid Laubrock is a German-born jazz saxophonist, who plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones.She studied with Jean Toussaint, Dave Liebman and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama....
(saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
) and Julien Seigal (double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
) to augment the original performance.
The 'Crassical Collection' version of this release, including new artwork by Gee Vaucher
Gee Vaucher
Gee Vaucher is a visual artist who was born in 1945 in Dagenham, East London.Her work with Anarcho-punk band Crass was seminal to the 'protest art' of the 1980s. Vaucher has always seen her work as a tool for social change. In her collection of early works Crass Art and Other Pre Post-Modernist...
, remastered sound and liner notes by Steve Ignorant
Steve Ignorant
Steve Ignorant is a singer and artist. He co-founded the anarcho-punk band Crass with Penny Rimbaud in 1977. After Crass stopped performing in 1984, he has worked with other groups including Conflict, Schwartzeneggar, The Stratford Mercenaries, Current 93 , US punk band Thought Crime, as well as...
and Penny Rimbaud
Penny Rimbaud
Jeremy John Ratter , better known under his pseudonym of Penny Rimbaud, is a drummer, writer, poet, former member of performance art groups EXIT and Ceres Confusion, and co-founder of the anarchist punk band Crass with Steve Ignorant in 1977.-Biography:Rimbaud Jeremy John Ratter (born 8 June 1943,...
, was released on May 17th, 2011. The reissue also contains a second disc (entitled 'Why Don't You Fuck Off?'), which features Penny Rimbaud's 2002 remix of the album, featuring jazz instrumentalists Ingrid Laubrock
Ingrid Laubrock
Ingrid Laubrock is a German-born jazz saxophonist, who plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones.She studied with Jean Toussaint, Dave Liebman and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama....
and Julien Seigal.
Personnel
- Steve IgnorantSteve IgnorantSteve Ignorant is a singer and artist. He co-founded the anarcho-punk band Crass with Penny Rimbaud in 1977. After Crass stopped performing in 1984, he has worked with other groups including Conflict, Schwartzeneggar, The Stratford Mercenaries, Current 93 , US punk band Thought Crime, as well as...
- VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Joy De VivreJoy De VivreJoy De Vivre was the second female singer of the anarcho-punk band Crass. She was also one of two lead singers on the Crass album Penis Envy in 1981. She studied at Colchester Arts School, where she met Andy Palmer....
- VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Phil Free - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Gee VaucherGee VaucherGee Vaucher is a visual artist who was born in 1945 in Dagenham, East London.Her work with Anarcho-punk band Crass was seminal to the 'protest art' of the 1980s. Vaucher has always seen her work as a tool for social change. In her collection of early works Crass Art and Other Pre Post-Modernist...
- Voices, Artwork - Eve LibertineEve LibertineEve Libertine is a British singer.She was one of the two female vocalists who worked with the influential British anarcho-punk band Crass...
- VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - N.A.Palmer - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(Rhythm), VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, Voices - Penny RimbaudPenny RimbaudJeremy John Ratter , better known under his pseudonym of Penny Rimbaud, is a drummer, writer, poet, former member of performance art groups EXIT and Ceres Confusion, and co-founder of the anarchist punk band Crass with Steve Ignorant in 1977.-Biography:Rimbaud Jeremy John Ratter (born 8 June 1943,...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Pete WrightPete Wright (musician)Peter Wright, better known as Pete Wright, was bass guitar player and vocalist for anarchist punk band Crass from 1977 until 1984. Occasionally he is credited as Pete Wrong on the bands' record covers. After the dissolution of Crass he formed the performance art duo Judas 2.-References:...
- BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Paul Ellis - PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Strings - Crass - ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- John Loder - Engineer
- Judy - Typing
Quotes
- "The listener experiences and shares the performer's exhaustion as voices crack, the beat wanders, energy flags and returns" - George McKay describing the album in Senseless Acts of Beauty (Verso, 1996)
CD release
- "Yes Sir, I Will" – 5:30
- "Yes Sir, I Will" – 2:36
- "Yes Sir, I Will" – 1:00
- "Yes Sir, I Will" – 2:08
- "Yes Sir, I Will" – 6:47
- "Yes Sir, I Will" – 5:41
- "Yes Sir, I Will" – 20:08
'Crassical Collection' reissue tracklisting
Note that the tracks on disc 1 are cut up incorrectly. This tracklist assumes that it uses the original cuts from the 1990 CD. Disc 2 is cut up correctly.Disc One - Yes Sir, I Will
- "Step Outside" and "Rocky Eyes"
- "Anarchy's Just Another Word"
- "Speed Or Greed"
- "The Five Knuckle Shuffle"
- "A Rock 'n' Roll Swindler"
- "Burying The Hatchet"
- "Taking Sides"
Disc Two - Why Don't You Fuck Off?
- "Birth Of A Notion"
- "Step Outside"
- "Rocky Eyes"
- "Anarchy's Just Another Word"
- "Mouthing The Words"
- "The Five Knuckle Shuffle"
- "A Rock 'n' Roll Swindler"
- "Taking Sides"