Football and Music

The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme

Posted on March 2, 2010   |   Filed under: Music  |  Tags: WorldCup, WorldCup86  |  3 Comments »  

In another post I will be taking a look at the return of the World Cup to Mexico, but before that an instrumental track from a band who if they walked down the street you probably wouldn’t recognise…

…But if you heard their music – and especially their collaborations you’d know exactly who they were.

Colourbox (pictured above with vocalist Lorita Grahame) were on the seminal 4AD label from the early-to-late 80′s and were proto-trip hop. The combined and drew on influences as varied as blues, soul, rock, dub and funk.

Their releases hit the charts with four of their singles reaching the top 10. Their only proper (self-titled) album went to number one.

Then in 1986 they released two different singles simultaneously on the same day. A rare thing for an indie label and a big risk. But the gamble paid off as the single Baby I Love You So reached No.4 and the other single, which got to Number 6 in April of that year wasn’t even originally written as a football-related tune:

This from their profile on 4AD Records:

“…Alongside this (Baby I Love You So) release, in an entirely characteristic change of tack, they issued “The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme”, timed to coincide with that year’s football tournament in Mexico. And it damn nearly lived up to its title, too – the BBC seriously considered using it to soundtrack its national TV coverage of the event. The track remains Martyn’s favourite Colourbox recording, although, he says, they’d originally written it as a baseball theme. “I’m not even that interested in football, but I do know the BBC came very close to choosing it.”

As you will see from the cover scans below, the front cover of the single featured a vintage pic of Jimmy Hill and the back had Bobby Robson:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. » The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme (7 inch) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. » Phillip Glass (7 inch version) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. » The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme (12 inch) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. » Official Colourbox World Cup Theme/Phillip Glass

But it doesn’t end there…

There was a post over on The Vinyl Villain back in November 2008 in which MrsCTel talked about this Colourbox track. On the comments natp noted that this track had inspired Saint Etienne to create the following track (as a B Side) four years later:

…and of course we have to have the A Side too (12 inch version mind) because with the name of the band and the name of the group this will complete some…sort…of…trifecta….or something…

We are still not done yet…

I mentioned at the beginning about Colourbox and their collaboration. This occurred a year after the World Cup single when they got together with A.R. Kane, then gave the name to this project: M/A/R/R/S – and you know the rest…

[I've mediafired these files - clicking on the link will take you elsewhere] - Pump Up The Volume (Extended) - Pump Up The Volume (Bonus Beats - Pump Up The Volume (Instrumental) - Pump Up The Volume (Radio Edit)

Alright now we’re finished.

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• The Hand Of…
• An Old To Mexico (86)
• Big Trip To Where Now…?
• The Talent Round
• Now We Know How It Feels