Anyone else discovered this beaut written by Neil and Jonatha Brooke? Someone dear to me once said that this song was, for her, what love should be like. What love will be like.



Shatter the plate now
Crash the glass
And all the things I've carried
I put them down at last

I keep my promise
Some days better than my heart
But like little paper valentines
This is where we start

Cuz you take me to the window, love
And you leave the light on
You take off my uniform
And say baby put this new dress
Baby put this new dress on

You pull me from my corner
You promise not to laugh
I'm afraid you'll see right through me
But I'm afraid that I will never get enough

Cuz you take me to the window, love
And you leave the light on
You take off my uniform
And say baby put this new dress
Baby put this new dress on

From your window I can see the endless ocean blue
From your window I can finally see that I love you
I love you

So take me to the window, love
And leave the light on
Come take off my uniform
And say baby put this new dress
Take me to the window, love
And leave the light on
Come take off my uniform
And say baby put this new dress
Baby put this new dress
Baby put this new dress on...



Oh man people. Don't hesitate. Go straight to itunes and pick up this angelic gem. But be prepared for a direct hit to the sternum.

My information has it that Neil didn't have any hand in writing this song at all - That his involvement in the song came during the recording process.

Apparently Bob Clearmountain was producing Jonatha Brooke's "Steady Pull" record and felt the song needed something, and called up Neil to ask him to sing on it. Jonatha Brooke being a big Neil fan was understandably gobsmacked.

Not to go too off topic, but Jonatha Brooke is worth a listen to - There's some stand out tracks on her 1997 record "Ten Cent Wings", some of which sound VERY Crowded House, and 2001's "Steady Pull".

Good post Ross, I've loved this song for ages. I must say that I prefer your friend's take on it. I always felt a kind of danger in the song, exposure of one's most intimate, secret parts - beyond the obvious reading of changing your clothes in front of an open window with the light on Reading the lyrics on their own, it feels less threatening, more relief.

I also dig Better After All from Back in the Circus. Jonatha has a great voice, but it's absolutely wicked harmonized with Neil's.

quote:

Originally posted by Iarla:
My information has it that Neil didn't have any hand in writing this song at all - That his involvement in the song came during the recording process.

Apparently Bob Clearmountain was producing Jonatha Brooke's "Steady Pull" record and felt the song needed something, and called up Neil to ask him to sing on it. Jonatha Brooke being a big Neil fan was understandably gobsmacked.

Not to go too off topic, but Jonatha Brooke is worth a listen to - There's some stand out tracks on her 1997 record "Ten Cent Wings", some of which sound VERY Crowded House, and 2001's "Steady Pull".

huh... always thought it was a co-write. it just has a neil feel to it.

you're right Iarla - "Ten Cent Wings" is a knock-out. securely in my top 20 desert island picks.

quote:

Originally posted by GraceToo: I always felt a kind of danger in the song, exposure of one's most intimate, secret parts

Absolutely. But therein lies the beauty as well, no?

quote:

Originally posted by Ross Breithaupt:

quote:

Originally posted by GraceToo: I always felt a kind of danger in the song, exposure of one's most intimate, secret parts

Absolutely. But therein lies the beauty as well, no?

Mmm, yes.

But as a soon-to-be-once-bitten-twice-jaded single mom, may I just: *shudder*

I have been a JB fan for years....I was a fan of "the story',a duo consisting of Jonatha and Jennifer kimball.I was excited to hear that track when neil did the backing vox.....Jonatha is a superb writer and great singer.Neil has been quoted as saying she's great and I agree.

The audio for this song is now on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbgOjvkZCeU

Oh that's beautiful - thank you for that.

WOW. How unexpected to see this thread. (I haven't been on the forum a whole lot lately...busy wrapping up four months of chemo and just trying to keep my wits about me.)

I was a huge Jonatha fan for years, dating back to the late 90's, and haven't really thrilled to her more recent stuff (tho' CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, her latest, has a few fantastic tracks.) I remember when STEADY PULL came out and I saw that Neil guested on NEW DRESS, I was a bit startled. Surely she should be in awe of him - her liner notes say something like "Oh my heart" when she references singing with him, but I could never quite get my head around what the musical "connection" between the two of them was.

I agree that their voices are lovely together, but I am not a huge fan of the song. I like Jonatha's more rocked-out side, and I think she is weakest when she gets sentimental. But, interestingly, I feel sort of the same way about Neil's song-writing. I feel that his few mis-steps have come when he goes "soft."

So I guess I have just answered my own question, about what the connection is!

I don't know whether to thank you or curse you for this link! Since yesterday when I first took a listen, I've listened to nothing else! I've probably replayed it 30 times. It's stuck in my head. I can already figure it out on the piano and can sing both parts and have the words memorized! Obsessed I am. Beautiful!

So, thank you, damn it!

This song is gorgeous. I, too, encourage everyone to go have a listen.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by Ross Breithaupt:

quote:
Originally posted by GraceToo: I always felt a kind of danger in the song, exposure of one's most intimate, secret parts


Absolutely. But therein lies the beauty as well, no?


Mmm, yes.

As Anne Sexton put it: "Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.”

wow! What a fantastic song. How come I have never even heard of this person before?

What a lovely present on this June day.