Radio #007 - Elliott Smith: Ballad of Someone
A celebration of the music and influence of Elliott Smith, available on BBC Sounds now.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001rmqm
'Elliott Smith: Ballad of Someone' is available to listen to now on BBC Sounds (for non-UK readers / listeners, that’s the BBC’s streaming app through which you can listen to and subscribe to BBC programmes.)
Full details of how to use BBC Sounds are here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/listening-outside-the-uk/international
I wrote about my love for Elliott’s music in this previous piece on Substack. It was while I was writing that piece that I realised there might be scope to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Elliott’s passing on my BBC Radio Wales show. After all, what better way to mark his legacy and influence than by sharing as much of his music as possible, guided by artists who had been inspired and moved by him?
The idea was fixed when I realised that the 20th anniversary of his death fell on a Saturday, programme night.
There have been a few key anniversaries for me this month (the 30th anniversary of this radio show; 30th anniversary of my band’s first ‘proper’ release; 20 years since Elliott’s passing.) Subsequently there has been a flurry - if not a full-on blizzard - of writing from me. Thank you for reading. The frequency and length of the posts will diminish here on in. There’s a lot going on at work and despite boggling advances in science, ovens still can’t clean themselves, neither do fallen leaves throw themselves onto the compost heap.
For the uninitiated, my radio show has been operating since October 1993 and has a remit to celebrate new Welsh music, and new Welsh music-only. Devoting an entire three hour programme to a deceased American songwriter is something of a stretch, a bucking of this remit. On paper it could be seen as a self indulgent, busman’s holiday of a programme, and that might have been the case had Elliott’s music not also touched so many (mostly quiet) artists around the world, so also here in Wales.
In August I drew up a list of artists who I thought might have had some of Elliott’s music in their sonic DNA and emailed them. I send a lot of emails. I’m the boy who cried, “Hey wolf! Please listen to my latest radio show… it’s the best you’ll ever hear… it’s on FIRE!”
Of course, this means that my stream of correspondence arrives in people’s inboxes as welcome as fart-flavoured Fruit Pastilles. I imagine that I’m spam-trapped and junk-foldered to buggery. Using words like ‘buggery’ probably doesn’t help.
Many of my Elliott-related emails probably still remain unopened. I’d misappropriate the Biblical verses about seeds here, but even I have limits
However the people who did read and respond to the emails have transformed a questionable exercise into a programme that I think offers real insight, love and inspiration. I’m incredibly proud of ‘Ballad of Someone’. I hope you have a chance to listen to it and to - maybe - share it wherever you see fit.
Elliott’s influence runs deep, but quietly so, as befits much of his music. He’s inherited the mantle of the indie singer songwriter’s singer songwriter from Nick Drake, occupying similar cult status to Townes Van Zandt, David Berman, Mark Linkous.
What was most striking about the replies and contributions that I received was that they were pan-generational. Long-serving legends of songwriting and production like Gruff Rhys, Raymond McGinley and David Wrench, who were releasing and / or recording music during Elliott’s lifetime, gave us telling and moving contributions alongside their song choices from Elliott’s back catalogue.
So, Gruff focused on a quality that he hears in Elliott’s voice that is so rarely commented upon; Raymond gives an insight into how beleaguered Elliott had become in his final years; and David Wrench highlighted Elliott’s legacy in one particularly beautiful quote that manages to justify the whole programme in a single sentence.
At the other end of the spectrum there are really telling contributions from young artists coming through - twst, Lacross Club, Aderyn - who remind us of the power of found music… that discovering artists and music via word of mouth and via mixtapes, playlists, memes and - heck - radio shows shows a great generosity of spirit… and that the music we want our friends, loved ones, circles of acquaintances to hear, might introduce them to something life changing, to something that might cause them to love and understand us a little more. Is there a more fundamental human spiritual need?
The contributing academics - Dr Sharon Becker from Towson University in Maryland, USA and Matthew Evans from the University of South Wales - lit aspects of Elliott’s genius with subtlety, insights and no didactic heavy-handedness.
There is so much throughout the programme that could be casting off points, lit fuses of inspiration for songwriters.
That would be a fantastic legacy for this programme. To paraphrase Jean Luc Picard, ‘PLEASE make it so…’
I didn’t arrange the songs chronologically. The show starts with ‘No Name #3’ because it was one of the first of Elliott’s songs that made my melancholic heart’s ears prick up.
From that starting point the programme’s narrative takes on a life of its own, really. Ritzy Joy Formidable, Aderyn and Gruff’s contributions were so perfectly illustrative of points that Matthew Evans raised that the shape of events rather defined themselves.
As someone who tutted all the way through The Beatles’ ‘Anthology’ documentaries because chronology wasn’t pedantically observed or respected, I get if you listen to this show as an ardent Elliott Smith fan and wonder what on earth was driving the sequencing.
The programme is very ‘Figure 8’ heavy, amplified by the fact that it’s the album Elliott and I speak about in the archive interview included in the programme from 2000. I love ‘Figure 8’ but it’s the most divisive of Elliott’s albums.
The contributing artists chose the songs they chose under no editorial guidance from me. I sent updated lists of what had been chosen to those who responded. Everyone was free to explore wherever they wanted in Elliott’s catalogue of rarefied consistent excellence (did Elliott ever record a ‘bad’ song? I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t merit attention… a rare feat in itself.)
The twenty-nine featured songs cover every one of Elliott’s albums and - hopefully - will act as a springboard into this most brilliant oeuvre, especially for newcomers.
That’s another intention of the programme. To introduce people who hadn’t heard Elliott before to his music. Perhaps a dense three hour special isn’t the most accessible way to do that, but I should never under estimate the audience or their curiosity. Only time will tell on this point. I hope I speak with artists in ten or fifteen years time who found inspiration - and Elliott Smith - through this programme.
It’s as much a frustration as a pinch-myself, discombobulating delight to hear my interview with Elliott. I really liked his music at the time, but I had no idea then what he would become to me now. I wish I’d asked different questions… probed him more about ‘Everything Means Nothing To Me’ and the brilliant arrangements on ‘Figure 8’. I wish I hadn’t taken ‘Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud?’ quite so literally, and had asked him about the symbolism on the album and his love of multiple meanings. I also wish I’d been recording when we were talking about the differences between American and UK cigarettes. He laughed when I called them ‘fags’, almost choking on his beer.
The ‘Figure 8’ interview was done under some time pressure, unlike our previous conversation. I had to get back from London (where the interview was recorded) to Cardiff to present an edition of Radio Wales’ short-lived pop quiz ‘Rock of Ages’. I went from speaking to Elliott to hosting a show that included Dave Bartram from Showaddywaddy, Reg Presley from The Troggs and Man’s Deke Leonard. What a surreal turnaround.
More than anything, I wish I had a copy of the first interview I recorded with Elliott the previous year. My programmes from that period weren’t archived as a matter of course. It’s possible that someone has a copy of the programme on cassette tape, somewhere. It’s my Holy Grail. I’d pay cash money to hear that again. Not a lot, though. Would a couple of Crunchies seal the deal?
Please do leave a comment / message if you have any thoughts on the programme (preferably on my Substack so that all of the thoughts can be collated together). It’s more than just neediness that prompts that request! ‘Elliott Smith: Ballad of Someone’ has been a labour of love. If it connects with any of you, or fulfils any of its satellite aims, I’d love to know about it.
Profound thanks to everyone who contributed and who has shared information about the programme to help spread the word about Elliott’s peerless music.
Finally I’d like to send my love and empathy to Elliott’s family and friends. I did approach one of Elliott’s closest collaborators early on in the process of putting the programme together, and they explained that they wouldn’t be doing anything to coincide with this anniversary. The pain is still raw, of course. These dates must trigger all manner of deep-seated hurts and regrets, even after twenty years.
The programme ends with two posthumously released songs that are ample evidence that despite the demons and addictions that ravaged him at the end, Elliott’s visionary genius remained and he still had so much more to achieve for himself, and to share with the world.
There are no easy fixes for addiction, despair and anguish. Suffice to say that if you’re experiencing any of the above, or you know people who are, please seek professional help. Although this is a private blog and not officially sanctioned by BBC Wales / the BBC (see note below), the BBC’s official line for any content that covers subject matter that might echo distress / despair is copied below:
“if you have been affected by any of the topics raised in this programme, or If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, a list of organisations that can help is available at http://bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call for free to hear recorded information on 0800 066 066”
I’ve been open about my mental health challenges over the years, and - for me - a trip to my GP saved my life. Which sounds melodramatic, but isn’t. I’m not conflating my experience with Elliott’s but there is still too little conversation about male mental health, especially as men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women (here in Wales. Source: https://media.samaritans.org/documents/Suicide_Stats_Wales_2021.pdf), and that suicide is one of the leading causes of death among men (Source: ONS https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregistrationsummarytables/2021)
Sources:
‘Torment Saint’ by William Todd Schulz
‘Shooting Star: The Definitive Story of Elliot Smith’ by Paul Rees
‘Heaven Adores You’ (film) directed by Nickolas Rossi
A short note on swearing / cursing: BBC Radio Wales operate a strict and clear no swearing policy on the station. Much as I wish I’d been able to include uncensored versions of ‘Say Yes’, ‘Rose Parade’ and ‘Kings Crossing’, I have to adhere to the editorial policy of our station. There is no watershed on radio.
A shorter note on the authority of this piece: These are my own thoughts and not those of the BBC / BBC Wales. This isn’t an official press release or document intended to be regarded as such from the organisations I work for.
Elliott Smith: Ballad of Someone playlist
All songs by Elliott Smith unless noted.
'No Name #3' - chosen by Adam Walton [http://linktr.ee/waltonic]
'Can't Make A Sound' - chosen by Bryde [http://bryde.bandcamp.com]
Heatmiser 'Lowlife' - chosen by David Wrench [http://www.davidwrench.co.uk]
'I Better Be Quiet Now' - chosen by Johanna Warren [http://johannawarren.bandcamp.com]
Matthew Evans - University of South Wales pt 1 [http://southwales.ac.uk/courses/ma-songwriting-and-production]
'Somebody That I Used To Know'
'Clementine' - chosen by Aderyn [http://instagram.com/aderyn.music]
Matthew Evans - University of South Wales pt 2 [http://southwales.ac.uk/courses/ma-songwriting-and-production]
'Everything Means Nothing To Me' - chosen by Ritzy Bryan, The Joy Formidable [http://thejoyformidable.com]
Matthew Evans - University of South Wales pt 3 [http://southwales.ac.uk/courses/ma-songwriting-and-production]
'Speed Trials' - chosen by Gruff Rhys [http://gruffrhys.com]
'Memory Lane' - chosen by Scott Lee Andrews [http://linktr.ee/StrangeUnit]
'Say Yes' - chosen by Rona Mac [http://facebook.com/RonaMacMusic]
'Needle In The Hay' - chosen by Nicki Wells [http://nickiwells.com]
'Rose Parade' - chosen by Primitive Knot [http://primitiveknot.bandcamp.com]
'Ballad of Big Nothing' - chosen by James Stickels, Kidsmoke [http://kidsmokemusic.bandcamp.com]
'Between The Bars' - chosen by Tom Emlyn [http://linktr.ee/tomemlyn] and Cara Ludlow [http://facebook.com/CaraLudlowMusic]
Dr Sharon Becker - Towson University, Baltimore, USA pt 1 [http://towson.edu/cla/departments/english/facultystaff/sbecker.html]
'Angeles' - chosen by Thomas Hyndman, Campfire Social [http://facebook.com/campfiresocialmusic]
'Coast to Coast' - chosen by Tony, Burning Ferns [http://facebook.com/pages/Burning-Ferns/296166830411872?id=296166830411872]
'Tomorrow Tomorrow' - chosen by Katell Keineg [http://katellkeineg.com]
Elliott Smith & Adam Walton 'Figure 8' 2000 interview pt 1
'Son of Sam'
Elliott Smith & Adam Walton 'Figure 8' 2000 interview pt 2
'Everything Reminds Me Of Her'
Elliott Smith & Adam Walton 'Figure 8' 2000 interview pt 3
'Stupidity Tries'
Elliott Smith & Adam Walton 'Figure 8' 2000 interview pt 4
'Happiness / The Gondola Man'
'Waltz #1' - chosen by Aisha Vaughan [http://aishavaughan.com]
'Whatever (Folk Song In C)' chosen by Kyle Gintis [http://facebook.com/gintismusic]
'Waltz #2' - chosen by Ivan Moult [http://ivanmoult.com]
Dr Sharon Becker - Towson University, Baltimore, USA pt 2 [http://towson.edu/cla/departments/english/facultystaff/sbecker.html]
'Twilight' - chosen by Cai Lacross Club [http://instagram.com/tenbylacrossclub]
'Alameda' - chosen by Joe Gintis [http://facebook.com/gintismusic]
'Kings Crossing' - chosen by twst [http://instagram.com/twstwstwstwst]
'True Love' - chosen by Raymond McGinley, Teenage Fanclub [http://teenagefanclub.com]
'Unknown (instrumental)' - chosen by Adam Walton [http://linktr.ee/waltonic]
Hi Adam,
Although Elliott Smith’s music doesn’t speak to me quite the way that it does to many, I found your show on him fascinating and disturbing. It got me thinking about the ‘problem of evil’ which seems to present a knockdown argument against there being a worthwhile order to the universe, and whether great art can justify the suffering which contributes to it. Is a world where Smith had a less painful existence but never wrote ‘Waltz #2’ a better or worse one? I still say it’s a better one, but one which is also somehow less rich.
Regards,
Joseph Flatt
P.S. - I couldn’t believe that no-one picked ‘Pretty Mary K’!