This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
@benjimouse I know a guy who somehow knows the words to any song you can imagine. He sings as well but would be better suited to sticking with song writing. He claims that he wrote the lyrics to "Different Strings" when he was 17, and then sold the rights to them for $200. The song ended up on Rush's Permanent Waves album in 1980. He does not make any claims for writing any other songs, but is always sure to be clear that he wrote the lyrics only and not the music. It is his only claim to musical fame....
@benjimouse I know a guy who somehow knows the words to any song you can imagine. He sings as well but would be better suited to sticking with song writing. He claims that he wrote the lyrics to "Different Strings" when he was 17, and then sold the rights to them for $200. The song ended up on Rush's Permanent Waves album in 1980. He does not make any claims for writing any other songs, but is always sure to be clear that he wrote the lyrics only and not the music. It is his only claim to musical fame. I have no reason to believe that it is not a true story, and even if it is not, who doesn't enjoy a good lie?
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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@benjimouse I know a guy who somehow knows the words to any song you can imagine. He sings as well but would be better suited to sticking with song writing. He claims that he wrote the lyrics to "Different Strings" when he was 17, and then sold the rights to them for $200. The song ended up on Rush's Permanent Waves album in 1980. He does not make any claims for writing any other songs, but is always sure to be clear that he wrote the lyrics only and not the music. It is his only claim to musical fame....
@benjimouse I know a guy who somehow knows the words to any song you can imagine. He sings as well but would be better suited to sticking with song writing. He claims that he wrote the lyrics to "Different Strings" when he was 17, and then sold the rights to them for $200. The song ended up on Rush's Permanent Waves album in 1980. He does not make any claims for writing any other songs, but is always sure to be clear that he wrote the lyrics only and not the music. It is his only claim to musical fame. I have no reason to believe that it is not a true story, and even if it is not, who doesn't enjoy a good lie?
@housewelder Peter Gutteridge's original 1993 version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MTIzG_2pw . The Clean's 2002 cover here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRW-Rk_b28s . YlT covered it in 2009.
@housewelder Peter Gutteridge's original 1993 version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MTIzG_2pw . The Clean's 2002 cover here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRW-Rk_b28s . YlT covered it in 2009.