A STONE ROSES EARLY CLASSIC

THE STONE ROSES

TRADJIC ROUNDABOUT

 

 

 

 

The early Stone Roses sound has a raw energy which harks back to the days of punk, John Squire and Ian Brown were into ‘The Clash’ and a local Manchester band called ‘Slaughter and the dogs’ with their classic song ‘cranked up really high’. These influences can be heard on the band’s early recordings. One of the earliest songs written in 1984 is ‘Tradjic Roundabout’ and already it shows Ian’s aggressive punk singing style and John’s brilliant guitar structures. The song captures the passion and the vibrant energy of those early gigs, along with other songs such as ‘Fall’ with its ‘I’m not your darling, darling/I wanna see you falling!’ and ‘Tell me’. I love the song and think it’s the best song from their early period and I have had a go at transcribing the lyrics which I hope are correct:

 

Tradjic Roundabout

The Stone Roses

 

‘Witches, warlocks and vulture-men too –

Martin Luther had nothing on you!
He had a dream; you’ll have a baby, baby,
Will you cope, I don’t know, maybe.

Your CIA in Mothercare,

They’ll screw you up cos you’re not all there!
I see submission in a million eyes,
Dream-weaving habits are still telling lies!

Ah you’re not so gifted at all, at all.

Bitches, basements, all over the land,

Just checking pulses with half-dose in hand!
You think you’re righteous cos you’re smoking some shit,
And I’m the one that pays for it!

Ah you’re not so gifted at all, at all,

And we’re not so gifted at all, at all.

Woo!

And you’re not so gifted at all, at all,

And we’re not so gifted at all, at all.’

 

The song was originally recorded in 1985 for The Stone Roses first album which was produced by Martin Hannett. The album was not released as the band was not happy with it. The album was eventually released in 1996 as ‘Garage Flower’ and the track listing for the album is:

1. "Getting Plenty" – 4:04
2. "Here It Comes" (Brown/Squire) – 2:39
3. "Trust a Fox" – 3:03
4. "Tradjic Roundabout" – 3:12
5. "All I Want" – 3:39
6. "Heart on the Staves" – 3:19
7. "I wanna be Adored" (Brown/Squire) – 3:29
8. "This Is the One" (Brown/Squire) – 3:41
9. "Fall" – 2:49
10. "So Young" (Brown/Squire) – 3:18
11. "Tell Me" (Brown/Squire) – 3:52
12. "Haddock" – 0:14
13. "Just a Little Bit" – 3:08
14. "Mission Impossible" – 3:48

 

Here is a link to the album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrYiw4xrgFQ&list=PL0D04F4E47AEBFC0E

THE STONE ROSES

Reni, John, Mani and Ian

from meeting them at

Wolverhampton Crown Court

Thursday 26th April 1990