That's Too Bad

About That's Too Bad

"That's Too Bad" is the debut single by Tubeway Army, the band which provided the initial musical vehicle for Gary Numan. It was released in February 1978 by independent London record label Beggars Banquet. On the day of its release, Numan quit his job in a warehouse to become a professional musician. Although it failed to enter the UK singles charts, "That's Too Bad" nonetheless sold relatively well, taking into account the small numbers pressed (4,000) and the lowly status of both label and artist. Numan later said, "The song was written 99% to get a contract. It was a naive attempt to make punk commercial, which it didn't do!"The B-side of the single was "Oh! Didn't I Say". Both songs are in an aggressive punk rock style, very different from the synthesizer-based music which became Numan's trademark. At this stage of his career, Numan (born Gary Webb) had not yet found his future stage name and called himself 'Valerian'; his band mates Paul Gardiner and Jess Lidyard also used assumed names. Webb's compositional credits on the original vinyl single were under the Valerian pseudonym as well. The back of the original vinyl single's sleeve contained two discrepancies: Valerian was spelt 'Valeriun'; and the band picture featured live drummer Bob Simmonds, not Jess Lidyard ('Rael') who actually played in the recording session."That's Too Bad" was also later released as a gatefold with the single "Bombers" in August 1979. It was released in its original form in 1983 and reached No.97 in the UK Charts. These tracks have subsequently been included on CD reissues of the album The Plan (1984). more »

Year:

1987

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I look up and the camera eye is
Searching my room
The t.v. screen is calling me
But for what or whom
Please mister do be careful
I'm so fragile
Maybe they'll let me down
To speedy's place for a while

Oh well that's too bad 
Oh well that's too bad 

I talk a lot, a sign of fear,
I thought you should know
I can see pictures of me well
They're so-so
I'll come on to the leader
Like I'm some hero
He'll laugh and raise his dying eyes
And just tell me to go

1920 flashbacks for an hour or more
Of crazy actors hiding
In the doorways top floor
Machines scream in anger
From a thousand dead ends
I turn my face, I crawl away,
I look for a friend

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Gary Numan

Gary Numan (born Gary Anthony James Webb on 8 March 1958) is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" (as Tubeway Army) and "Cars". His signature sound consists of heavy synthesiser hooks fed through guitar effects pedals. more »

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