Trust me #118
Love You by Primal Scream
Way before the beats, groove, futuristic sounds and strobe lights of Screamadelica and the leather-clad rock n roll swagger, funky jams and blissed out ballads of Give Out But Don't Give Up, Primal Scream were a band (like many from Glasgow) influenced by the West Coast California sounds of bands like Love and The Byrds.
The sun kissed music from America was filtered through the Glasgow rain, Southside tenement bedrooms and the romanticised vision and imagination of Bobby Gillespie to create the original Primal Scream sound. Gillespie was a kid obsessed with music - if he was forming/joining a band, then it had to be as good as the music of his heroes.
In addition to his ambition, Gillespie also happened to look absolutely magnificent. Super cool, with a floppy fringe haircut that you can just imagine kids reading the NME / Melody Maker at the time wanting to replicate. Whether drumming with The Mary Chain, fronting Primal Scream or running the Splash One night - Gillespie had exceptional style, vision and energy. Something that John Charnley from The Clouds touched on in an interview for my blog last month.
Gillespie formed Primal Scream with his friend Jim Beattie whose 12-string Rickenbacker guitar was all over their early recordings. All Fall Down b/w It Happens was released as a single in 1985, followed by the seminal Crystal Crescent b/w Velocity Girl in 1986. Velocity Girl was the opening track on NME's legendary C86 compilation tape. Here is a blog I wrote on the song back in 2019 where I describe it as 82-seconds of a sugar pop rush, pure and perfect.
The Reverberations compilation album released in 2023 is a beautiful time capsule of early Primal Scream, primarily focusing on rounding up the early singles and a series of Janice Long and John Peel sessions from 1985 and 1986 - way before the Primals released Sonic Flower Groove, their debut album, in October 87.
Reflecting on the release of these archival recordings, Bobby Gillespie said: “This music proves we really had something special going on back then. I'm very proud of this album, I'm glad these sessions are finally being released.”
One of the songs included is I Love You, from a 1st December 1985 John Peel session, later released as Love You on Sonic Flower Groove, almost 2-years later. The Peel Session version evidences the early confidence and belief that surged through Primal Scream from the off. Gillespie's band had the ambition and ability to write songs that felt important.
Beattie's Rickenbacker cascades with a crystaline, sun-drenched shimmer, allowed to run for 20-seconds before Gillespie starts to sing. Moe Tucker style beats come in. This is The Velvet Underground with Roger McGuinn on guitar. Gorgeous.
I sometimes misunderstand, things you say
Lose all since I command
We collide in a time, almost drowning
I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you
Primal Scream sound fantastic on this Peel session. Gillespie is beautifully vulnerable, sincere, singing heart-on-sleeve lyrics, wide-eyed and head over heels in love. Pure, true and soulful.
Time may tell if I'll entail
Maybe I, can hear your shout prevail
Or shall faith we betrayed
Become far soon
I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you
On the Peel version, Beattie plays the song out after the second chorus, the whole song lasts just 2-minutes 22 seconds. By the time Primal Scream recorded it for Sonic Flower Groove they doubled the length to create sublime, lush psychedelic pop.
The song structure is all there, remaining true to the Peel version, but after the second chorus, instead of fading things to conclusion, Beattie adds some kick and fizz to his guitar for a solo over a dreamy 35 second instrumental.
Gillespie comes back in to croon the chorus and then adds a gorgeous don't walk away coda, strings come in over the chiming and jangling guitars and Primal Scream sound like the best band on the planet.
I've thoroughly enjoyed delving into the 85-87 Primal Scream era. The Reverberations compilation of sessions and early singles is a fascinating archive of the band developing their sound, leading to Sonic Flower Groove.
Love You and I Love You from the 85 Peel Session are both added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.
Previous Trust Me blogs
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