Egg Shaped Fred

One EP ("Egg Shaped Fred")
EP by Mansun
Released 25 March 1996 (UK)
5 June 1996 (Japan)
Recorded 1996
Genre Alternative rock, Britpop
Length 16:42
Label Parlophone
Toshiba EMI (Japan)
Producer Paul Draper
Mansun chronology

"Skin Up Pin Up / Flourella"
(1995)		 "Egg Shaped Fred" (One EP)
(1996)		 "Take It Easy Chicken" (Two EP)
(1996)

"Egg Shaped Fred" (lead track of One EP) is a song by the English alternative rock band Mansun. The song was written by band-leader Paul Draper. It was produced by Draper, mixing and engineering by Ronnie Stone with assistance from the group's long-term collaborator Mike Hunter. Released in 1996 the song was the group's major label début for Parlophone and their third release overall. It was the first release by the group to carry their unique naming system, as such it was released as One EP. The EP was their first to enter the UK Top 40 peaking at #37.[1]"Egg Shaped Fred" was remixed and extended for inclusion on Mansun's debut album Attack of the Grey Lantern in 1997.

The melody and lyrics of "Egg Shaped Fred" are based on a nursery rhyme. Paul Draper explained in the liner notes to Legacy: The Best Of Mansun: "This was a nursery rhyme that kids at school sand sneeringly at me because I had an egg shaped head apparently. So I purged my soul of those kids with this song! Everyone else thought it was mad for a rock band to release a nursery rhyme. Saved on the therapy though."[2]

The promotional music video for "Egg Shaped Fred" was directed by Lawrence Watson.

B-sides

One EP consisted of four tracks all of which were written by Paul Draper. It was released on CD, Cassette and 7" Vinyl. CD versions included a short instrumental hidden bonus track. The EP was also the group's first to be released in Japan.

"Ski Jump Nose" was a band and fan favourite and was a mainstay in the groups live set. Writing in 2004 in the liner notes to Kleptomania Draper explained that the song was 'originally a contender for lead track on our first EP'.[3] A medley version with "The Chad Who Loved Me" and "An Open Letter to a Lyrical Trainspotter" was often performed live and included as a B-Side to the "Taxloss" single in 1997. In 1998 an acoustic version was released as a b-side to "Legacy".

"Lemonade Secret Drinker" is a reference to R. White's Lemonade, in particular the popular 1973 advertising campaign Secret Lemonade Drinker. An acoustic version was included as a b-side to "Wide Open Space".

"Thief" is notable for being one of songwriter Paul Draper's most disliked songs. It is notable for Dominic Chad closing out the song on electric guitar with the opening notes of "Taxloss". An alternative and more polished version was included as a hidden bonus track on the Kleptomania compilation in 2004.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Paul Draper. 

7"/Cassette
No. Title Length
1. "Egg Shaped Fred"   3:53
2. "Ski Jump Nose"   3:42
3. "Lemonade Secret Drinker"   3:46
4. "Thief"   3:31
UK CD/Japanese CD
No. Title Length
1. "Egg Shaped Fred"   3:53
2. "Ski Jump Nose"   3:42
3. "Lemonade Secret Drinker"   3:46
4. "Thief"   3:31
5. "Hidden Bonus Track" (Included on the end of "Thief") 1:47

Personnel

Mansun
Production

Chart positions

Chart (1996) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[4] 37

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 348. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ↑ Legacy: The Best Of Mansun liner notes
  3. ↑ Kleptomania liner notes
  4. ↑ "UK Chartlog". zobbel.de. Retrieved 7 April 2010.

External links