in 2019 we celebrated the 35th anniversary of Icicle Works' debut album and the 25th anniversary of my sophomore solo effort Head Like A Rock. Two wildly different records which we performed together for four nights over two weekends in Holmfirth, London, Glasgow and Liverpool. The band consisted of Roy Corkill, Richard Naiff, Mathew Priest, Christopher Kearney, Tim Divine, Dixie Daye, Amanda Dillon and myself. There was a very jolly atmosphere in the bus on the way to every show. We put in an inordinate amount of effort and rehearsals to get this thing happening. When the all-to-brief moment was over, it was quite hard to come down from all the excitement. One day I was sitting at the piano at home and this jaunty little pop tune emerged. It captures the joy of that time. Something I miss greatly. Playing music live onstage - on a good night - can be the greatest feeling in the world.
Ciaron and I put this arrangement together really quickly and didn't deviate. We thought it was finished and then at the last minute I came up with a three-part harmony guitar part in tribute to Brian May and his Red Special guitar. I always like to have a happy-go-lucky car-window-down tune on every LP. And here it is.
7) You Bring Good Things
Started out on a sunny day, on the road somewhere,
happy bus full o' people gonna make some noise out there,
music playin' and we're swayin' to the rhythm of a funky band,
what you sayin? Are you stayin? But I know it as you take my hand,
You bring good things, make my heart sing,
see what love brings, and then...
been around seen a lot o' things I can't forget,
who's to bless, who's to blame, it's a game and there's there's no regret,
got a feelin' it's whirlin' around like the summer breeze,
you're a treasure, it's a pleasure just to know you in days like these,
You bring good things, make my heart sing, see what love brings, and then...
Started out on a sunny day, on the road somewhere,happy bus full o' people gonna make some noise out there, music playin' and we're swayin' to the rhythm of a funky band, what you sayin? Are you stayin? But I know it as you take my hand,
You bring good things, make my heart sing,
see what love brings, and then...
Written by R.I.McNabb © Peermusic (UK) Ltd. 2020
Ian McNabb: Lead vocal, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass. Ciaron Bell: Piano, percussion, sound effects. Dixie Daye: Backing Vocals. Nick Kilroe: Drums.
