Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake explained

Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake
Type:	demo
Artist:	Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake
Cover:	Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake.png
Alt:	A black background with "Mr & Mrs Smith & Mr Drake" written in gold text
Caption:	Artwork of the original 1984 cassette release
Released:	1984
Recorded:	1983–1984^[1]
Length:	36:44
Label:	Alphabet Business Concern All My Eye and Betty Martin Music
Chronology:	The Sea Nymphs
Next Title:	The Sea Nymphs
Next Year:	1992

Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake is an album by English psychedelic folk band the Sea Nymphs. Recorded and released in 1984 under the name Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake,^[2] it was the band's only recording to be distributed prior to their 1991 reformation. The band is a side project of Cardiacs, composed of core members Tim Smith, Sarah Smith and William D. Drake.^[3]

The album was initially only available on cassette through the fan club and at concert venues. The first version of the cassette cover is dark with the logo printed in gold; the track list is handwritten.^[4] The second version has a purple satin design with a smaller gold logo; the track list is printed in gold. In 2004 it was reissued on CD by All My Eye and Betty Martin Music.^[5]

Background

Tim Smith and William D. Drake met in 1983 when Drake was in the band Honour Our Trumpet with musician Little Sue. Smith had taught himself to sight-read music as a teenager and wanted Drake's involvement as he was classically trained. He joined Smith's band Cardiacs as he loved the music he was first provided with.^[6]

Track listing

Adapted from Bandcamp.^[7] All songs written by Tim Smith unless otherwise indicated.^[1]

Notes

• The lyrics of "To My Piano from Mr Drake" are adapted from "The Garden" by English poet Andrew Marvell.
• "Summer Is-a-Coming In" is based on the 13th century English round.^[8]

Personnel

Adapted from the Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake liner notes.^[1]

• Tim Smith – guitars, flute, trumpets, glockensput, Woolworths organ, vocals
• Sarah Smith – clarinets, saxophones, recorders, forks, melodica, vocals
• William D. Drake – piano, television organ, forks, ballroom string machine, vocals

References

Sources

• Book: Bell, Adrian. Aylesbury Bolton Wolverhampton Hove: A Little Man and 101 Cardiacs Gigs. Sullivan County, New York. Iron Bell Publishing. 2011. 978-0-95-687950-9.
• Book: Jones, Emily. Folk Horror Revival: Harvest Hymns. Volume II. Durham, England. Folk Horror Revival. 10 May 2018. 9780244086831.
• Book: Larkin, Collin. The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music. London, England. 1997. Virgin Books. 1992. 9780753501597. Colin Larkin.

Notes and References

1. Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake. Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake. 2004. All My Eye and Betty Martin Music. liner notes. AMECD 004.
2. Web site: Hughes . Rob . 28 November 2016 . After seven years away, the Sea Nymphs have come back to life . 24 September 2021 . Prog.
3. Web site: Kitching . Sean . 2 November 2016 . Reviews: The Sea Nymphs . 24 September 2021 . The Quietus.
4. Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake. Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake. 1984. Alphabet. liner notes. ALPH 003.
5. Web site: All My Eye And Betty Martin Music. 5 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080705191806/http://www.anyware.co.uk/ame/news.html. 29 December 2021. 2008-07-05.
6. Web site: Kitching . Sean . 3 July 2022 . The Strange (Parallel) World of… Tim Smith Of Cardiacs . 3 October 2022 . The Quietus.
7. Web site: Mr And Mrs Smith And Mr Drake . 25 March 2018 . 17 June 2022 . .
8. Web site: Mr Spencer . Ex-Cardiacs Tunesmith William D. Drake Writes Songs That Are Timeless, Bold and Beautiful . . 7 October 2016 . 2 August 2011.