A Bus for a Bus on the Bus explained

A Bus for a Bus on the Bus
Cover:A Bus for a Bus on the Bus.png
Type:single
Artist:Cardiac Arrest
B-Side:
  • "A Cake for Bertie's Party"
  • "Food on the Wall"
Released:1979
Recorded:25 July 1979
Studio:Elephant (London)[1]
Length:4:33
Label:Tortch
Chronology:Cardiacs
Next Title:Seaside Treats
Next Year:1985

"A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" is the debut single by English rock band Cardiacs, then known as Cardiac Arrest,[2] released in 1979 under Tortch Records.[3] The song's title recalls "A Pound for a Brown on the Bus" from the Mothers of Invention album Uncle Meat (1969).[4]

Until the release of The Special Garage Concerts Vol II, none of the tracks on the 7-inch single had been reproduced anywhere else. The single was supposed to contain four tracks and not three, but the limited space on the 7-inch format prevented it. The fourth track was to be "Keep Your Dead Mice with You",[5] [6] which was later re-recorded as "Dead Mouse" on the Toy World album. The single is one of the rarest Cardiacs items.

Recording

According to Pugh, Jim Smith broke the E string on his bass during recording. Before recording Cade bought some children's items from a newsagent and brought them to the session. Smith proceeded to give each member a different item and conducted them like an orchestra to make noises on "A Cake for Bertie's Party" during the middle section. During the recording of "Keep Your Dead Mice With You", which was at the end of the session, Smith and Pugh tried to put together a vocal harmony but it was not finished. The songs were mixed at the end of the session and 1000 copies were pressed.

Reissues and alternate versions of tracks

Cardiac Arrest E.P. has never been reissued, and thus is one of the rarest Cardiacs releases. None of the tracks have ever been reissued from the original master, although tracks have had live versions appearing on other albums.

Track listing

A1. "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (Tim Smith, Michael Pugh) – 4:33

B2. "A Cake for Bertie's Party" (T. Smith, Jim Smith, Colvin Mayers) – 3:10

B3. "Food on the Wall" (Mayers) – 1:08

Personnel

According to Eric Benac:[8]

Pete's Cardiacs Site credits synth to Tim Smith rather than vocals and credits Pugh as "Peter 'Zip' Boker" and Mayers as "Max Cat".[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: August 2013 . 2005 . History . 27 February 2023 . Cardiacs.
  2. Web site: Beaumont-Thomas . Ben . 22 July 2020 . Tim Smith, frontman of cult band Cardiacs, dies aged 59 . 25 November 2022 . The Guardian.
  3. Web site: Mark . Alvin . 22 July 2020 . Tim Smith, the Cardiacs frontman, dies at 59 . 21 August 2022 . Music Times.
  4. Web site: Sgrignoli . Marco . 20 July 2022 . Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto . 25 November 2022 . . it.
  5. Web site: The Cardiacs Museum . https://web.archive.org/web/20090410065330/http://www.cardiacs.org/cardiacarrest.htm . 2009-04-10 . Cardiacs.org . 2009-04-10 . 2012-06-17.
  6. Web site: Tagg. Peter. 13 September 2005. Peter Tagg's Testimonial. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110515204235/http://www.cardiacs.com/testimonials/testimonials-71-75/. 15 May 2011. 17 June 2012. Cardiacs.com.
  7. Web site: Worrall . Sean . 28 January 2020 . Organ Thing: SlapPeR’s fromage to the great Tim Smith of Cardiacs, A Bus for a Bus on the Bus is aid of Tim… . 18 February 2023 . Organ.
  8. Book: Benac, Eric . The Cardiacs: Every Album, Every Song . 27 August 2021 . Sonicbond Publishing . 978-1-78952-131-3 . On Track . 153.
  9. Web site: A Bus for a Bus on the Bus . https://web.archive.org/web/20200128052644/http://www.death.plus.com/cardiacs/discog/bus.htm . 28 January 2020 . 29 May 2023. Pete's Cardiacs Site.

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