"The Purple Dancer"

slipkid · #1 05-07-2009, 10:16 AM

Since Jeremy Spencer is lurking again, I thought I would ask about a song that's not easy to locate. The version found on "Madison Blues", and "Perfect Days", is an outtake and not the original. Would some kind soul make the single version available if they have it? I've read that it's much better than the widely available CD version.

As for the song's background (Jeremy?) it sounds to me like a joint collaboration between Spencer and Kirwan. In fact I'd say it was Jeremy's most contemporary song that he ever wrote with the Mac (if he did help to write it). Am I close to the truth? Is this the last song Jeremy Spencer recorded with Fleetwood Mac, or was "Dragonfly" the last, or did you even contribute on "Dragonfly"?

Thanks in advance.

If this has been discussed before, I apologize.

Update:

I found it here:

http://fleetwoodmacmusic.blogspot.co...1_archive.html

Thank you keeper of the Fleetwood Mac blog! Nice slide work Jeremy, you left musically on a high note.

chriskisn · #2 05-07-2009, 08:19 PM

Purple Dancer & Dragonfly are certainly two of the better songs to come out of this period (and there were plenty). I don't understand why they aren't more readily available.

The fantastic discography on here (fleetwoodmac.net) says that Jeremy provides guitar and vocals to Dragonfly. Certainly Purple Dancer is more of a duet between Danny and Jeremy, each taking alternate verses.

If the discography is correct, then Dragonfly was written by Danny with W.H. Davies (wasn't it a poem by W.H. Davies?), and Purple Dancer was written by Danny, Mick and John.

http://discog.fleetwoodmac.net/songs...59&perfid=4025

http://discog.fleetwoodmac.net/songs...77&perfid=5200

chriskisn · #3 05-07-2009, 08:28 PM

To answer my own question, the 1927 original W.H. Davies Poem of Dragonfly was...

The Dragonfly

Now, when my roses are half buds, half flowers,
And loveliest, the king of flies has come-
It was a fleeting visit, all too brief;
In three short minutes he has seen them all,
And rested, too, upon an apple tree.

There, his round shoulders humped with emeralds,
A gorgeous opal crown set on his head,
And all those shining honours to his breast-
‘My garden is a lovely place’ though I,
‘But is it worthy of such a guest?’

He rested there, upon the apple leaf-
‘See, see,’ I cried amazed, ‘his opal crown,
And all those emeralds clustered around his head!’
‘His breast, my dear, how lovely was his breast-’
The voice of my Beloved quickly said.

‘See, see his gorgeous crown, that shines
With all those jewels bulging round its rim-’
I cried aloud at night, in broken rest.
Back came the answer quickly, in my dream-
‘His breast, my dear, how lovely was his breast!’

The Danny lyrics are:

And when the roses are half-bud soft flowers
And lovely as the king of flies has come
It was a fleeting visit, all too brief
In three short minutes, he had been and gone

He rested there upon an apple leaf
A gorgeous opal crown sat on his head
Although the garden is a lovely place
Was it worthy of so fine a guest

Oh...
Oh...
Oh...
Oh...

Dragonfly, dragonfly ...

I apologise for going slightly off on a tangent from the original Purple Dancer thread...

jeremy spencer · #4 05-07-2009, 08:40 PM

Hmmm. I hope I'm doing more than that!

Yes, I was present on some of the brainstorming of ideas for Purple Dancer, but the lyrics were from Jenny Boyd, Mick's wife at the time.
As a whole, we were hard pressed for lyrics with much of a meaning but 'la-la-la'. A major frustration for me. I had so much to say, but didn't know how to say it, and ... well, history.
I had nothing to do with 'Dragonfly', performance or lyrically. Words by W. H. Auden, I believe? Maybe not. Some British poet, anyway.
Just FYI!
Oops, someone beat me to the punch! W. H. Davies. That's it!

wetcamelfood · #5 05-07-2009, 09:08 PM

Thanks Jeremy, yes, I had only put you as appearing on Dragonfly by default since you were in the band at the time (since many records unfortunately don't specifially state who does what on each track) so we're left to do a lot of assuming and "defaults". Anyways, it's good to know now I can remove you from the performance notes for that then.

Please do point out any other inaccuracies you see there so we can fix those as well, we strive to be as accurate and thorough as we can!

Through research I had done when working on the Dragonfly song page I came up with W(illiam) H(enry) Davies as the poet (full name listed) in case that helps to clarify who it was.

Wow! Had no idea Jenny Boyd did the lyrics for PD, I guess I should add that in as well then!

John

Wouter Vuijk · #6 05-08-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy spencer

Yes, I was present on some of the brainstorming of ideas for Purple Dancer, but the lyrics were from Jenny Boyd, Mick's wife at the time.

Did / does she get any royalties for this??????

Almost Simon · #7 05-08-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wouter Vuijk

Did / does she get any royalties for this??????

I doubt there'd be huge songwriting royalties for this tune seeing as it wasn't a hit nor was it on an album. Plus the publishing was split between several band members.

It wouldn't be the first time someone who's contributed hasn't received a credit. But i'm sure Mick would've given her something for her efforts.

chriskisn · #8 05-08-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Almost Simon

But i'm sure Mick would've given her something for her efforts.

just not in the financial sense

bretonbanquet · #9 10-27-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wouter Vuijk

Did / does she get any royalties for this??????

Sorry for dredging up an old thread - just found it

Wasn't the song credited to Spencer / Kirwan / Fleetwood? If so, that's where she got the credit, via Mick - that's my guess.

GJK · #10 10-29-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretonbanquet

Sorry for dredging up an old thread - just found it

Wasn't the song credited to Spencer / Kirwan / Fleetwood? If so, that's where she got the credit, via Mick - that's my guess.

No, it was credited to 'M.J.K. Fleetwood, J.G. McVie & D.D. Kirwan'.

'The purple dancer' has been my favourite (official) FM song since the early eighties. I'm still hoping for a cd release...
To my knowledge, 3 versions are available: the two on the "Madison Blues" CD and the 'official' version, released as the B-side of 'Dragonfly' and on a German (?) lp: "The Best of Fleetwood Mac".
I have the single and 4 or 5 copies of the album.

GJK

(Going to see Peter Green on Saturday October 31st!)

slipkid · #11 05-08-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy spencer

Hmmm. I hope I'm doing more than that!

Yes, I was present on some of the brainstorming of ideas for Purple Dancer, but the lyrics were from Jenny Boyd, Mick's wife at the time.
As a whole, we were hard pressed for lyrics with much of a meaning but 'la-la-la'. A major frustration for me. I had so much to say, but didn't know how to say it, and ... well, history.
I had nothing to do with 'Dragonfly', performance or lyrically. Words by W. H. Auden, I believe? Maybe not. Some British poet, anyway.
Just FYI!
Oops, someone beat me to the punch! W. H. Davies. That's it!

Thanks for your insight Jeremy. Since you responded, you are no longer "lurking".

THD · #12 02-16-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriskisn

Purple Dancer & Dragonfly are certainly two of the better songs to come out of this period (and there were plenty). I don't understand why they aren't more readily available.

I saw them perform Purple Dancer on a BBC prog broadcast on New years Eve 1970(?) The prog may have been a Top of the Pops special There were many singers and groups I don'trecal FM doing any other numbers , but I do remember ,when the end titles rolled ,they were standing with the studio audience , who were dancing to whoever was performing ,and Jeremy was bopping away too ,whilst the others stood still.

Moz · #13 05-07-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipkid

Since Jeremy Spencer is lurking again, I thought I would ask about a song that's not easy to locate. The version found on "Madison Blues", and "Perfect Days", is an outtake and not the original. Would some kind soul make the single version available if they have it? I've read that it's much better than the widely available CD version.

I have a Purple Dancer "Kiln House session" version here that I'm listening to and it clocks in at 5:41. Would this be the same as the outtake version on Madison Blues? Regardless, I love the stuff from this era.

Edit: I also have a track (7:08) titled Station Man/Danny's Chant Demo. Is this featured on any compilations or box sets? I only have studio albums and Live in Chicago, and it's time for me to go to bed, so I can't do a Google search right now.

slipkid · #14 05-08-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moz

I have a Purple Dancer "Kiln House session" version here that I'm listening to and it clocks in at 5:41. Would this be the same as the outtake version on Madison Blues? Regardless, I love the stuff from this era.

The outtake I have clocks in at 5:05. Of course I only have "Perfect Days". "Madison Blues" has two outtake versions of Purple Dancer. You must have the other one.

chriskisn · #15 05-08-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipkid

The outtake I have clocks in at 5:05. Of course I only have "Perfect Days". "Madison Blues" has two outtake versions of Purple Dancer. You must have the other one.

I have three versions of Purple Dancer

Madison Blues Disc 1 - 5.04
Madison Blues Disc 2 - 7.36 (although really only 7.18 as the rest is the start of the next track)
Single version - 5.41