Simple Minds: The Source of "Cocteau Twins" (+ Download Links)

[thebite]

There's a gig at Dime with Simple Minds playing at Grangemouth Town Hall in 1978. Their last song of the set was "Cocteau Twins".
I guess someone was there?

[frarn]

There's a gig at Dime with Simple Minds playing at Grangemouth Town Hall in 1978. Their last song of the set was "Cocteau Twins".
I guess someone was there?

Isn't that the track that appeared under the title "No Cure" on the first album?

or have I fallen foul of another URBAN MYTH???

[Dpressed]

There's a gig at Dime with Simple Minds playing at Grangemouth Town Hall in 1978. Their last song of the set was "Cocteau Twins".
I guess someone was there?

Isn't that the track that appeared under the title "No Cure" on the first album?

or have I fallen foul of another URBAN MYTH???

After the first post I checked the facts on Wikipedia & they agree with you Frarn

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Cocteau Twins

Early years

Robin Guthrie (guitar, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass guitar), both from Grangemouth, Scotland, formed the band in 1979. At a local disco, Nash, they met Elizabeth Fraser, who would eventually provide vocals.

The band's influences at the time included Joy Division, The Birthday Party, Sex Pistols, Kate Bush, and Siouxsie & the Banshees. The band was named after the song "The Cocteau Twins" by fellow Scotsmen 'Johnny and the Self-Abusers' (who later renamed themselves Simple Minds; the song "The Cocteau Twins" was also re-penned as "No Cure"). Their debut recording, Garlands (released by 4AD Records in 1982), was an instant success, as was the subsequent Lullabies EP.

[frarn]

I have said album somewhere - in fact its the only Simple Minds album I have - I hated the later "stadium rock" sound with a vengeance I'm afraid .....

[Dpressed]

^^^^^

Does the track in question show any signs of Cocteau Twins-ness or was it just a good name?

[frarn]

from memory (a while since I played it - its on vinyl!!!) it shows no propensity to standing in the shadows staring at its shoes!!! ;)

[mmmender]

Here are all the details on the 2 live Simple Minds recordings from 1978. I've also included links to zip files so that you can download the songs. I obviously only downloaded the one's that related to their song "Cocteau Twins" (which was later titled "No Cure"). There are ONLY mp3 versions of both songs included in each zip file, along with photos and a ticket stub. If you want the ENTIRE concerts, you'll have to download them separately (torrents) from Dime, however included in the original torrent files all of the tracks are in flac format only.

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RECORDING #1
Simple Minds
Town Hall, Grangemouth, Scotland
December 28, 1978
Track: "Murder Story"

Notes: At the end of "Murder Story" Jim can be heard ONLY INTRODUCING THE SONG "Cocteau Twins", but the recording fades out before the song starts. It's unclear whether or not further songs were performed during the show. Be aware: Sound is sub-par, for collectors only.
DOWNLOAD LINK:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bm212f

DIMEADOZEN TORRENT LINK (http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=271426)

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RECORDING #2
Simple Minds
Mars Bar, Glasgow, Scotland
July 30, 1978
Track: "Cocteau Twins"

Notes: This is likely the earliest recording of a Simple Minds concert - the sound is surprisingly good considering its age. A few of the other songs were later recorded for "Life in a Day", and several more ended up on the quickly-withdrawn "Early Years" CD. In case you are wondering, "Cocteau Twins" was the inspiration for the band of the same name. Be aware: "Cocteau Twins" fades out at about one and a half minutes.
DOWNLOAD LINK:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ynxa3y

DIMEADOZEN TORRENT LINK (http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=269763)

[mmmender]

Does the track in question show any signs of Cocteau Twins-ness or was it just a good name?

You can hear Jim singing "Cocteau Twins" repeatedly in the chorus of the song (mainly in the original/live version). If you listen to the actual (later recorded) version of the song (which you can download from ct.org HERE (http://www.cocteautwins.org/%7Eleesa/cocteautwins/mp3/Simple_Minds_Cocteau_Twins_Radio.mp3)), you can clearly hear "Cocteau Twins" sung near the end of the tune. When the song later also changed names from "Cocteau Twins" to "No Cure" AND you look at the lyrics (http://www.kovideo.net/lyrics/s/Simple-Minds/Cocteau-Twins.html), there's no mention of "Cocteau Twins" in the lyrics, even though he sings it at the end of the song.

And, if memory serves me well (which I'll try and sort out by digging for the old thread - EDIT: found the quotes, see next post below) Simple Minds wrote that song about 2 friends they had who were apparently 2 gay guys that were obsessed with the filmmaker/artist/poet Jean Cocteau....so, those guys were referred to as (the) Cocteau Twins.


EDIT: These are the related threads I could find where this topic has already been discussed
Cocteau Twins: Meaning of the Title? (http://www.cocteautwinsforums.com/showthread.php?t=7550)
Simple Minds Song Cocteau Twins (http://www.cocteautwinsforums.com/showthread.php?t=8492)
Cocteau Twins: Origin of the name
(http://www.cocteautwinsforums.com/showthread.php?t=1170&highlight=simple+minds)

[mmmender]

Some of you may remember a Cocteau Twins interview for "Reflex" magazine back in 1988......well here are some quotes from that issue........

Softspoken and yet unyielding, Robin Guthrie speaks the most and says the least. For example, try probing him about the origin of the group's name, and Robin begins an explanation reluctantly, "It's a long story. There were these two gay blokes who were into Jean Cocteau and they were known as the Cocteau Twins..." His voice fades off, and he does not want to continue.

Robin will divulge only so much information. However, he readily states, "If there were one thing I could change it would be the name...when we picked it, it was just the name of the band, and people started reading all these things into it." Robin projects the feeling their name is sort of kink in the machinery, yet he invites just the sort of probing reflections the Twins appear to constantly shirk. As with almost all else, the relevance of the namesake is minimized. "It's just one of those inconsequential little things," sighs Elizabeth. Or is it?

The late Jean Cocteau was the author of the classic Les Enfants Terribles, a story of two brothers and a sister—ironically named Elizabeth—creating an alternate reality. Cocteau's films and writings offer an ideal component to their musical interpretations. The connection is obvious once one sees a film like Beauty and the Beast or Orpheus -- with their surreal imagery and offbeat moodiness—it's difficult to term the association irrelevant.

Read the entire Reflex Magazine Interview (http://www.cocteautwins.com/html/media/print/reflex_sep88.html)

[Quisquose]

True Confessions Time:

I... have actually never really loved the name "Cocteau Twins".


:sulk:

[randomrob]

yeah, it definitely got alot of eye-rolls when I'd approach the stereo w/a tape...

[frarn]

True Confessions Time:

I... have actually never really loved the name "Cocteau Twins".


:sulk:

wash your mouth out, young lady!

:D

[Dpressed]

Must admit that I always hear Cocteau Twins in a scouse accent .... care of one John Peel

[edward]

I'm glad they were called Cocteau Twins. I don't know when I would have gotten around to learning who Jean Cocteau was otherwise. Also the name is round and watery. When it's pronounced it's like someone taking a big leap into the air, and on "twins" they hit the diving board and launch off into ..... ?
It's a good name even if it's origins are dubious.

[garym]

Here's a live version back in 78 on You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDlsFPAxjMY

[litotes]

You can hear Jim singing "Cocteau Twins" repeatedly in the chorus of the song (mainly in the original/live version). If you listen to the actual (later recorded) version of the song (which you can download from ct.org HERE (http://www.cocteautwins.org/%7Eleesa/cocteautwins/mp3/Simple_Minds_Cocteau_Twins_Radio.mp3)), you can clearly hear "Cocteau Twins" sung near the end of the tune. When the song later also changed names from "Cocteau Twins" to "No Cure" AND you look at the lyrics (http://www.kovideo.net/lyrics/s/Simple-Minds/Cocteau-Twins.html), there's no mention of "Cocteau Twins" in the lyrics, even though he sings it at the end of the song.

And, if memory serves me well (which I'll try and sort out by digging for the old thread - EDIT: found the quotes, see next post below) Simple Minds wrote that song about 2 friends they had who were apparently 2 gay guys that were obsessed with the filmmaker/artist/poet Jean Cocteau....so, those guys were referred to as (the) Cocteau Twins.


EDIT: These are the related threads I could find where this topic has already been discussed
Cocteau Twins: Meaning of the Title? (http://www.cocteautwinsforums.com/showthread.php?t=7550)
Simple Minds Song Cocteau Twins (http://www.cocteautwinsforums.com/showthread.php?t=8492)
Cocteau Twins: Origin of the name
(http://www.cocteautwinsforums.com/showthread.php?t=1170&highlight=simple+minds)

Also, great to hear Annie Nightingale in the intro and outro...

Chris