MARMALADE - “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”
(#263, 4th January 1969)
The link between bouncy music-hall and Jamaican pop would create whole careers for some people, though Paul McCartney didn’t get the mix right. The crucial ingredients he’s missing are wit and bite - there’s no reason that good-time party music needs to be sappy too, and this mushy game of happy families is just that, in original or Marmalade form. He hadn’t quite lost the common touch as a writer - this would have been an easy chart-topper for the Beatles too, if they’d put aside squabbling long enough - and the Marmalade version probably improves on its source by moving even further away from mock-ska and into safer knees-up territory. But it’s hard to escape the feeling that this is a singalong too far. 3
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FT's Tom on September 4th, 2006
And into 1969 we go!
A lazy write-up for a barely less lazy record :)
FT's pˆnk s lord sükråt cunctør on September 4th, 2006
i loved this song as a kid (8 i guess and wholly unaware of ska real or fake); i remember dancing unselfconsciously to it at my sister’s 6th bday party: i was singing along robustly and suddenly realised i was bein LARFED AT by 6-yr-old girls!! just as i wz singing the words “life goes on — BRA!”
(oddly enuff i think the girl doin the larfin was called PARIS!!) (my sister’s memorable character-summary from around this same date: “She’s called PARIS, she tells lies, and she wan me at the races”)
FT's Doctor Mod on September 4th, 2006
Considering that the so-called White Album had just been released at the time, I have to ask what possible reason could there be for this recording in the first place? (But it got to be number one, so someone–a lot of someones–must have found some “reason” for it.)
Even though I’ve been told (by friends and enemies alike) that I am capable of sarcasm that can peel the paint off the wall when I so choose, I must admit that I can’t say anything about this that Tanya hasn’t already said so much better than I can possibly say it. Especially the bit about the “skank” (or the lack thereof).
(In other words, go to the link on the right.)
Daniel_Rf on September 5th, 2006
“Life goes on” is such a weird hook to give to a song that’s supposed to be happy and idyllic; I wonder how much that adds to the air of forced jollity. He might as well have chosen “mustn’t grumble”.
Mildy interesting comparsions to be drawn with Chuck Berry’s (awesome) “You Never Can Tell”, as far as songs about marital bliss centered around platitudes in the chorus go.
And I’m going to be That Guy and note that Marmalade have Lesser Known Recordings that are Really Great. Well, “I See The Rain”, anyway.
Daniel_Rf on September 5th, 2006
Oh and hey Doctor Mod, re: why this even exists, I had some vague memories that Marmalade were signed to Apple at the time. Searching AMG reveals this not to have been the case, but:
“Disaster struck (though no one thought it disaster at the time) with their late 1968 single version of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.” It was publisher Dick James who offered them the Beatles song ahead of the issue of The Beatles (aka The White Album). Marmalade cut the song not even knowing that it was a Lennon-McCartney composition.”
Doctor Casino on September 5th, 2006
I haven’t much to add besides seconding the love for “I See The Rain,” which is absolutely splendid, one of the best guitar sounds/riffs to come out of England, ever. “Obla-Di” has certainly never been my favorite Beatles song, it’s simply too repetitive in a way that unfortunately presages other McCartney winkers, including the superior “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” and “Silly Love Songs.”
The cliche is that the Beatles needed each other to restrain their worst impulses, but I also think they needed each other to simply flesh out their weaker songs. “Obla-Di” simply begs for a change in texture somewhere, to not be QUITE SO JOLLY (lyrically, vocally, instrumentally) for just forty seconds or so. If John could have been arsed to do some work on it and Paul would have let him, perhaps Marmalade might have only reached number two with their cover, but the song would probably stand the test of time much better…
jeff w on September 5th, 2006
Does the Marmalade version include the tranny switcheroo in the lyric that you get in The Beatles’ take? It’s years since I’ve heard it.
FT's Doctor Mod on September 5th, 2006
Ah, yes–the gender-role reversal thing. Macca says he just got the lyrics confused in the studio. Am I the only one who finds the explanation a bit disingenuous?
intothefireuk on September 6th, 2006
I actually thought it was just a means to get Oh bloody (ob-bla-di) on the radio (wtf does it mean otherwise ?). I had no idea from listening to Marmalades version that it was related to ska/reggae ! Yet another kids sing-a-long at Xmas time. Kiddie oriented music seems to dominate the chart at Xmas for the next few years (69 The Archies/Rolf - 70 Clive Dunn - 71 Bennie Hill - 72 Little Jimmy) until we are all saved by Slade (depending on your POV of course).
ITF
Chris Brown on September 10th, 2006
The Beatles claim to have got the phrase from a Jamaican friend of theirs (who IIRC was later shot by the immigration authorities). That doesn’t rule out him having based it on the swear words though.
I actually saw a copy of the 45 in a charity shop a couple of days ago and thought of buying it for research. I didn’t, obviously. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any other Marmalade.
FT's anatol_merklich on September 12th, 2006
(#263, 4th January 1969)
These dates are of the “week ending” type right? That means this = number one at my birth, o no!
FT's Doctor Mod on September 13th, 2006
Actually, Marmalade’s “Reflections of My Life” was a minor hit Stateside. I actually bought a copy of the single when it came out.
Marcello Carlin on September 13th, 2006
Subsequently covered, of course, by Kevin Rowland on his criminally unavailable lost masterpiece My Beauty.
Oh No It's Dadaismus on September 13th, 2006
seconding the love for “I See The Rain,” which is absolutely splendid, one of the best guitar sounds/riffs to come out of England, ever
SCOTLAND!!!!!!!!!
Jersey on December 4th, 2006
Looking+for+information+