Tracks:
Flowers of Romance (mix) / Home is Where the Heart is
Release Date:
27.3.81
Label & Catalogue
Number:
Virgin. VS 397
Highest UK Chart Position:
24
Personnel:
Vox - John Lydon
Instruments - Keith Levene / John Lydon
Drums - Martin Atkins
Format Info:
Picture Sleeve. 'Home is Where the Heart is' plays at 33rpm.
Track Info:
This 7"/12" version of 'Flowers of Romance' is a slightly
different mix than the album version; with extra drums, and better
production. It was later included on 'Plastic Box'.
When the single was
originally released, the B-side, 'Home is Where the Heart is' was
credited to Lydon/Levene/Wobble & Jim Walker. However, it was
simply a publishing mistake and should be credited to Martin Atkins.
The track originates from the 1980 US Tour with Atkins...
Although Wobble is given
a co-credit, he doesn't actually play on the track. Instead the
bass was recorded by Levene, using a tape loop, of a Wobble style
bass line...
'Home is Where the Heart
is' & 'Flowers of Romance (instrumental)' appeared for the first
time on CD as bonus tracks on the 'Flowers of Romance' re-issue
in 1990.
Trivia:
"Flowers of Romance" was the name of the – almost
mythical – 1976 band featuring Sid Vicious, Palmolive, Viv
Albertine & Keith Levene; among others. Apparently John Lydon
gave them their name.
No promo video is known
to have been shot for the single. However, Lydon, Levene & Lee
did appear on 'Top of the Pops' to promote the single.
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Producer:
Produced by 'Public Image Ltd'
Engineered by Nick Launay
(launay.com
snippet)
Studio:
The Manor, Oxfordshire / Town House, London
Sleeve Design:
Unknown. However, the front cover pic is a Polaroid taken by Jeannette
Lee. So it possible she helped design the sleeve.
Quotes:
The song 'Flowers of Romance' is absolutely not a love song. It's
more about the attitude that still seemed prevalent. I don't want
anything different. Which is where the line "I gave you
flowers you wanted chocolates instead", comes from. The
romance referred to is not being romantic but alludes to people
romancing over past events...
- John Lydon, 'Plastic Box' sleevenotes 1999
The single has no guitar
on it, it's just a cello'd bass, all drums. With stuff, like 'Flowers
of Romance', we'd put the backing track together and we were getting
into computer mixes, which was keeping John interested. He did a
sax solo on it, he didn't know how to play but that's what came
out. It was very experimental like that. My outlook was that a child's
painting can be as far-out as a Van Gough.
- Keith Levene, Perfect Sound Forever 2001
Lyrics:
Flowers
of Romance
Home is Where
the Heart is
Press Reviews:
NME,
28th March 1981
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