"Well son, can't promise a whole lotta money but you'll get more pussy than Frank Sinatra." Ronnie Hawkins to The Band, before Dylan.

"You play in a band 'cos of the dosh an' the burdz! Anyone says otherwise, they're lyin'." Eddie Tobin 1978

"That's still true, Billy, but at your age we need to concentrate on earning you money so's you can buy girls!" Eddie Tobin 1995

NOBODY HOME

"Isn't the future a wonderful thing?" (Bill Nelson's Ansaphone greeting.) Whatever's wrong, there's a helpline waiting. But do they care about you? Remember the good old days when someone gave a shit, 'cos that's all the help we need. (P.S. - Barry's bassline: sublime! 'Give thanks!')

FRIEND

Based on real scumbag who's serving 'life', unlike his victims. Naming him would be granting the bastard publicity, which he still craves. I'd kill 'im, really would. Really!

DO IT

Opinions are all very well, but…
"Actions hurt louder than words."

WALK OUT

Brian at Ca-Va Studios urged me to record this. "But it's funk" I bemoaned. "Stick some BB King licks on it" he countered. So I did. "It's still funk!" quoth I when he'd left.

DON'T KEEP ME WAITIN'

Bass-players fodder!

GET INSIDE OF YOU

For 35 years I had the best big brother in the world. (Showed me my first chord too.) Hasn't spoken to me, mum, his kids, anyone for 6 years. I was angry when I wrote this after "getting through the phone call" one last time. I'm not angry now; just hope he's OK. He ain't heavy…

TAKE MY HAND

Kenny had a song "Silver Bracelets" requiring a chorus. Sung whilst waving an imaginary banner, my "Come on and… etc." was intended as a piss-take, which was how I regarded his favourable response, 'til he set up the microphone.

COLOUR MY LOVE

Having the listing K Cobain in the phone book has not gone un-noticed by big Kenny. Late night callers yelling, "You're deid!" rarely expect a reply from him, though sometimes he agrees with them. I like to think a little 'Seattle' sleeplessness influenced his playing on this.

HAMMER COMES DOWN

I've had the verse section for years. Even tried it at No Jive rehearsals but never found a suitable chorus so Kenny & I opted for a non-chorus which led to the solo that should have been on Physical Graffiti, but wasn't.

NOBODY CALLS ME THAT

Fact - You never know you're in the company of a real 'Glasgow Hard Man' 'til it's too late.

Trainspotter's corner: Guitar intro ripped from Pleasure Man (Slaughter On 10th Avenue.) Outro from Bowie's Lady Grinning Soul (Aladdin Sane.) Both originally played by Mick Ronson.

DREAM ON

London '78. My then girlfriend, now wife, Mary, realises her mistake and splits for Scotland. Her 'Mistake' pens a ditty in the "You'll be sorry" vein, though in reality (a weird place, man!) it was I who was sorry, but hey, she knew that, dammit!

FREEZER ON LEGS

Is the 'hidden track'. Self explanatory and based on no one, right? (Similarities to person(s) living etc. is pure coincidence, darlin'.) Doh!

2XS (as told by BR - Feb '99)

Pre-production and writing took three forms.
1. Manny wrote and recorded alone at home studio with Linn-drum and synths/guitars.
2. Pete & Dan worked at Dan's house acoustically.
3. Billy demo-ed ideas on band's 4-track Teac at home. Darrell brought notepad & whiskey.

Prior to recording, band rehearsed at Sound Control and listened thru all ideas. (John Locke's "Rasta In A Ferrari" was thrown out here. I liked it!)

LOVE LEADS TO MADNESS (Rankin/Sweet)

I had chorus from "Mirrors" era. Darrell and I wrote verses at home. Sounded really heavy in rehearsal (unlike final version) and became album's obvious single.

BOYS IN THE BAND (Charlton)

Recorded live at rehearsals and done similarly in studio with little overdubbing.

TAKE THE RAP (Rankin/Sweet)

First song recorded in studio (Take 2). Manny doesn't play on it.

LONELY IN THE NIGHT (Charlton)

This was Manny's who played all guitars.

YOU LOVE ANOTHER (Charlton)

Copied from Manny's demo, Pete added bass. Manny did the rest including drum machine. I didn't play on it (but I sang!)

GAMES (Rankin)

Last verse sung with 'gusto' by Dan after I told him whom the song was about.

MEXICO (McCafferty/Agnew)

All guitars played by Pete and Billy.

PRESERVATION (Rankin/McCafferty)

Billy's song (Mirror's again) with middle eight "Nice girls" section added by Dan.

GATECRASH (Charlton)

After my "We're rolling", John Locke yells "Take one!", and it really was!

DREAM ON (Rankin)

Although the song was considered complete (1979 demo), Manny added 2 lines, "You can cross your heart" and "You can count the reasons" while I was in the pool at the studio, no problem. Biggest Euro-hit for Naz. I'm not credited recently - life's too short etc.

BACK TO THE TRENCHES (Agnew/McCafferty)

Pete n Dan's folk song transformed. Another live recording.

2XS FACTIODS

• Pete shaved off his beard and none of us recognised him at Edinburgh airport prior to departure (photos exist).
• Recording was stopped for two days whilst the desk was treated for alcohol poisoning. Really!!