How Sweet to Be an Idiot

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How Sweet to Be an Idiot
File:NeilInnesHowSweet.jpg
Studio album by
Neil Innes
Released1973 (UK)
RecordedMarch – July 1973
StudioChipping Norton Studio, Oxfordshire
GenrePop/rock
Length37:56
LabelUnited Artists
ProducerNeil Innes
Neil Innes chronology
How Sweet to Be an Idiot
(1973) 		The Rutland Weekend Songbook
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStar[1]
Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues
File:NeilInnesRecycled.jpg
Studio album by
Neil Innes
Released1994 (UK)
Recorded1973
GenrePop/rock
LabelEMI
ProducerNeil Innes
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[2]

How Sweet to Be an Idiot is the first solo album by Neil Innes, formerly of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, and was released in 1973.

Release

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The title track was released as a single (with B-side "The Age of Desperation") but failed to chart. It was a more instrumented version than on the album, arranged by Richard Hewson.[3] Its melody was borrowed by Oasis for their single "Whatever", released in 1994; Innes claimed plagiarism and as a result received royalties and a co-writing credit.[4][5]

The album was re-released by United Artists in 1980 under the title Neil Innes A-Go-Go[6] and by EMI in 1994 with additional tracks – most of which had been released on singles – under the title Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues.[2] This edition of the album was dedicated to Ollie Halsall, who had died in 1992, and former Bonzo Dog bassist Dennis Cowan, who had died in 1972;[7] it featured a guest appearance by Michael Palin on the title track.[2]

Innes later said of this time the album was recorded,

United Artists had been very kind to me ... In my own way, I wanted to repay them – by making a bunch of silly singles at a time when the music industry still seemed to have a sense of humour. Wrong again.[6]

Innes performed the title song on Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl and on Monty Python Live at Drury Lane.[1] Surviving members of Monty Python performed the song for Terry Jones's funeral at Golders Green Cemetery.

Reception

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Stewart Mason, reviewing the album for AllMusic, described it as "split between tongue-in-cheek parody and straight pop songs" and containing "solidly melodic Beatlesque pop", but was critical of the "unfortunate sterility to Innes' self-production".[1]

A review of the release by Mark Deming of AllMusic was more appreciative than that of his predecessor, saying that "most [of the tracks] walk a graceful tightrope between sly humor and solid pop-friendly rock & roll" and recommending that "anyone who digs a great hook played with heart should get to know the music of Neil Innes".[2]

Track listing

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  • All songs written by Neil Innes
  • How Sweet to Be an Idiot and Neil Innes-A-Go-Go have identical track listings

Side one

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  1. "Prologue" – 0:49
  2. "Momma Bee" – 2:47*
  3. "Immortal Invisible" – 4:04*
  4. "Topless A-Go-Go" – 4:08
  5. "Feel No Shame" – 6:12

Side two

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  1. "How Sweet To Be An Idiot" – 2:45
  2. "Dream On" – 3:04 [listed as "Dream" on Neil Innes-A-Go-Go]
  3. "L'Amour Perdu" – 2:10
  4. "Song For Yvonne" – 2:52*
  5. "This Love of Ours" – 2:57*
  6. "Singing A Song Is Easy" – 5:08

Track listing for Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues

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  1. "Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues" – 3:33
  2. "Angelina" – 2:50
  3. "Come Out into the Open" – 3:42
  4. "Prologue" – 0:51
  5. "Momma Bee" – 2:54
  6. "Lie Down and Be Counted" – 3:09
  7. "Immortal Invisible" – 4:12
  8. "Age of Desperation" – 2:34
  9. "Topless-A-Go-Go" – 4:04
  10. "Feel No Shame" – 6:24
  11. "How Sweet To Be an Idiot" – 2:51
  12. "Dream On" – 3:05
  13. "L'Amour Perdu" – 2:17
  14. "Song for Yvonne" – 2:57
  15. "This Love of Ours" – 3:04
  16. "Fluff on the Needle" – 5:36
  17. "Singing a Song Is Easy" – 5:04
  18. "Bandwagon" (Live) – 4:31

Personnel

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  • Neil Innes – vocals, guitar, piano
  • Andy Roberts – rhythm guitar
  • Mike Kellie – drums
  • Dave Richards – bass guitar
  • Ollie Halsall – lead guitar, organ
  • Gerry Conway – drums on *
  • The Mucrons – backing vocals[3]
  • Dennis Cowan – guitar on additional tracks for re-release

Notes

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