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Studio Album 5 | 1983 | Heads Or Tales

Tracks:

CD [LP|MC]

1. [1A] The Flyer 3:42

            (Music: J.Crichton, M.Sadler | Lyrics: J.Crichton)

2. [2A] Cat Walk 4:24

            (Music: J.Crichton, J.Gilmour, I.Crichton | Lyrics: J.Crichton)

3. [3A] The Sound Of Strangers 4:07

            (Music: J.Crichton, M.Sadler, J.Gilmour, I.Crichton, S.Negus | Lyrics: M.Sadler)

4. [4A] The Writing 4:12

            (Music: J.Crichton, M.Sadler | Lyrics: J.Crichton)

5. [5A] Intermission 5:27

            (Music: J.Crichton, M.Sadler, I.Crichton | Lyrics: J.Crichton)

6. [1B] Social Orphan 3:23

            (Music: J.Crichton, M.Sadler | Lyrics: M.Sadler)

7. [2B] The Vendetta (Still Helpless) 3:43

            (Music: J.Crichton, M.Sadler, Jim Gilmour, I.Crichton | Lyrics: M.Sadler)

8. [3B] Scratching The Surface 5:15

            (Music: J.Gilmour, J.Crichton | Lyrics: J.Gilmour)

9. [4B] The Pitchman 5:37

            (Music: J.Crichton, M.Sadler, I.Crichton, J.Gilmour, S.Negus | Lyrics: J.Crichton)

10.[--] Cat Walk (Unabridged) 7:44

            (Music: J.Crichton, J.Gilmour, I.Crichton | Lyrics: J.Crichton)

CD total time 46:14 (Polydor)

Michael Sadler - Lead Vocals|Keyboards

Jim Crichton   - Bass|Keyboards|Moog Bass

Jim Gilmour    - Lead Keyboards|Vocals|Sax [Lead Vocal on ‘Scratching The Surface’]

Ian Crichton   - Guitars

Steve Negus    - Drums|Percussions(Electronic)

Produced by Rupert Hine | Rocker-Fella Productions N.V.

Recorded at The Farmyard, Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, England

Recording engineer: Stephen W.Tayler | Assisted by Andrew Scarth

Digitally Mastered

Innersleeve photo by Larry Williams | Front & back illustration by Stephen Burke

Mangement by Maze International

(C)1983 Rocker-Fella Songs

(P)1983 Rocker-Fella Productions N.V.

Releases: Sept 1 1983 (Vinyl, MC) | 1983,87,94 (CD) | 2003 (CD, Remastered by Steve Negus)

          Aug  6 2021 [US|CA] (CD+LP ‘earMusic reissue’ remastered by Eike Freese/Chameleon Studios, Hamburg)

works - studio - heads or tales

The Flyer

Back in ten minutes

And I’ll just hang the sign

I’ve got to find a place

To clear my mind

Chorus-

I’m the flyer

With only one desire

I’m the flyer

Nobody’s gonna shoot me down

I’ve got an urgent appointment

And I can’t be late

I’ve got a million things

That have to wait

Just hang on a minute

I’ll try to hury back

I hate to make you wait

But I’m going and I’m going fast

(Chorus)

I fly - and never look back

I fly away before they shoot me down

I fly

Back in ten minutes

And I’ll just hang the sign

I’ve got to find a place

To clear my mind

(Chorus)

I fly - and never look back

I fly away before they shoot me down

I fly

I’ll hang the sign and find a place to clear

my mind

I fly - and never look back

I fly away before they shoot me down

I fly

I hate to make you wait

(Chorus x2)

I’m the flyer

Cat Walk

High up above

Like a cat clings

To an icy roof

He keeps a slow pace

Tight hold

Anxious view

There’s something ticking away

Inside his head

He’s got to keep that vital disdance

You can see it in his eyes

That glance across the shoulder

Chorus-

He’s on a Cat Walk

He’s got a Cat Walk

He’s on a Cat Walk

He’s got a Cat Walk

He’s always on the far side of the street

Never getting too close

Too near, might meet

Someone a little to close to himself

You can see it in his eyes

Those eyes are getting older

You can see it in his eyes

That glance across the shoulder

(Chorus x3)

The Sound Of Strangers

No more

Going for the more familiar

No more

The nervous anxious grin

No more

Turning away from the perculiar

No more

Afraid of letting anyone in

Chorus-

Oh… The sound of strangers

Clawing at the door

Oh… The sound of strangers

Doesn’t scare me anymore

No more

The fear of making the wrong impression

No more

Sitting on the edge of my chair

No more

Looking for approval on a quick decision

No more

Watching me from over there

(Chorus)

Oh… The sound of strangers

Oh… The sound of strangers

Oh… The sound of strangers

Oh… The sound of strangers

The Writing

She looked down at my palm

I had to know what was in store for me

So many plans had gone wrong

She said her eyes could see the future

She said that in my past

She’d seen a mountain in front of me

She said it wouldn’t last

A change in luck would set me free

Chorus-

The writing is on the wall

Those words will change it all

The writing is on the wall

Good luck is just the thought

I pick up the morning express

I turn to the page that is calling me

Lately I’ve been a mess

I’ve got to see what the lion says

The sun is in the fith house

You’re sure to feel its strong effects

The clouds are clearing away

This losing streak will end today

(Chorus)

The writing is on the wall

Intermission

See the man

Watch another man

See their lives

Dissolve into one

See the boy in his eyes

Remember other times

Chorus-

I fall inside

Reflecting eyes

Dissolve in time

The same man

Doesn’t try to understand

How the time

Slipped through his hands

It’s so hard to see

Through those failing eyes

(Chorus)

Social Orphan

Somewhere, someone’s standing by

The same game plan, the same aging fantasies

Spruces up the small talk and the smile

It’s no wonder, he’s under

The preasure of pride once again

Chorus-

(He) calls himself a social orphan

Cought up in the game

(He) sees himself a social orphan

Cought up in the thrill of the chase

A number, a matchbook, the night before

(But) no last names, and no long term promises

Finds it quite an effort not to smile

It’s no wonder,

He understands the need to try it again

(Chorus x2)

Someone, somewhere hit square one

The same contacts, the same tired old double talk

Dreams about a weekebd and a smile

It’s no wonder,

He’s under the preasure of time once again

(Chorus x2)

The Vendetta (Still Helpless)

I’m up each day

At the crack of dawn

Primed for the first inspection

He’s runing the home and the family

Like a military installation

(This can’t be right)

(Helpless, I feel so helpless)

I can’t do this and I can’t do that

I dare not make a move

Without his orders

No matter how well I do what I do

It’s never good enough, (not for him)

Chorus-

Helpless,

I feel so helpless

Helpless,

(I) don’t like to be so helpless

I don’t wish to feel in my own home

Some kind of prisoner

There must be a way to put a stop

To his violent behaviour

(Chorus)

Somehow something’s changed around the house

It suddenly seems so calm

Now what are we supposed to do

With all of this new found freedom

(Chorus)

Scratching The Surface

So you won’t tell me, where you’ve been up to now

I don’t know, they’ve seen you come and go (oh)

You’re well on your way but never leaving the chair

Playing scenes on TV screens

Watching widely to glimpse the full view

While the hours have their hands all over you

You say that you see me, well I see you too

I look behind, what do you find, all but an empty room

Scratching the surface and you can’t get away

You’ve traveled far and so far you have nothing to say

Chorus-

Scratching the surface

You better come up for air

A new experience to get you there

Scratching the surface

You better come up for air

Strapped to the media, a machine to fear

You’re onto something then it slips right away

It’s in your hand follow through right in front of you

You say that you hear me, well I hear you too

My secret is no secret, outside of the tube

So you won’t tell me, what you’ve done up to now

You’re watching me, I’m watching you decide (oh)

Scratching the surface, you can’t get away

You tried so hard, and so far you have nothing to say

(Chorus)

(Chorus)

Scratching the surface

Scratching the surface (oh)

Scratching the surface (oh)

The Pitchman

What have you got for me this time

Can you make it sparkle

Can you make it shine

Have you got anything brigther

Something like that but a little bit tighter

Chorus-

Pitchman, Pitchman

Sell me that Pitchman

Pitchman, Pitchman

Sell me that Pitchman

Something I need has slipped my mind

I’ve come here to barter

I’ve come here to buy

I’ve got this town tucked in my back pocket

I can’t seem to stop it

I just wish I had more time

(I just wish I had more time)

I’m in a hurry can we wrap it up

Will you try not to scratch it

Don’t mark it up

I’ve got a hunger for the things that sparkle

I’ve got a thirst for the things that shine

Everyone a winner

Everyone amazing

Everyone a shocker

Everyone to tantalize

Don’t mark it up!

Everyone a sure thing

Everything’s tempting

Everyone must tantalize

But don’t mark it up!

(Chorus)