Wikipedia

So You'd Like to Save the World

"So You'd Like to Save the World" is a song by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1993 as the lead single from his third studio album Bad Vibes. The song was written by Cole and produced by Adam Peters. It peaked at number 72 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for two weeks.

"So You'd Like to Save the World"
Single by Lloyd Cole
from the album Bad Vibes
B-side"For the Pleasure of Your Company"
Released13 September 1993[1]
Length3:33
LabelFontana
Songwriter(s)Lloyd Cole
Producer(s)Adam Peters
Lloyd Cole singles chronology
"Butterfly"
(1992) 		"So You'd Like to Save the World"
(1993) 		"Morning Is Broken"
(1993)

Background edit

Like the rest of the Bad Vibes album, "So You'd Like to Save the World" was recorded in Cole's home studio in New York. Speaking of the song's message, which takes a swipe at po-faced environmentalists, Cole told the Daily Record in 1993, "I'm having a gentle go at people like Sting and Peter Gabriel. Both of these guys have a sense of humour, so why don't they use it more? If you believe in helping the environment, it doesn't mean you can't make fun of it, too. The song is very self-mocking. I recycle products as much as the next guy, and I'm all for these environmental issues. If people take my song too literally, I don't care. I'm sick of worrying what people make of my lyrics."[2]

Critical reception edit

Upon its release, Stuart Bailie of NME commented, "Sounds a bit like '70s Lennon, which is handy, since Lloyd has already done the pastiche of Lou and Dylan and we need a change. Still, you feel cheerful, because there are jokey lines about star signs and eco freaks and his mates all clap fondly at the end."[3] Peter Kinghorn of the Newcastle Evening Chronicle noted that "despite the plodding beat it bubbles along nice and brightly".[4] Taylor Parkes of Melody Maker commented on how he felt Cole's career had been on a continuous downward spiral since Lloyd Cole and the Commotions' 1984 debut album Rattlesnakes, on which Cole had the lyrical ability to "pump out rough nuggets of eloquent, pretend-bohemian beauty". Parkes continued, "By the second album, it was shrinking fast, carried on shrinking... shrinking... Until finally: 'So You'd Like to Save the World'. Piss off, Lloyd."[5]

Track listing edit

7–inch single (UK and Europe) and CD single (Australia)[6][7]

  1. "So You'd Like to Save the World" – 3:33
  2. "For the Pleasure of Your Company" – 3:41

CD single (UK and Europe)[8]

  1. "So You'd Like to Save the World" – 3:33
  2. "For the Pleasure of Your Company" – 3:41
  3. "4 M.B." – 4:46

Limited edition CD single (UK and Europe)[9]

  1. "So You'd Like to Save the World" – 3:33
  2. "Vicious" – 3:51
  3. "Mystic Lady" – 3:03

Personnel edit

Production

  • Adam Peters – producer (all tracks)
  • Bob Clearmountain – mixing ("So You'd Like to Save the World")
  • Lloyd Puckitt – mixing ("For the Pleasure of Your Company")

Other

Charts edit

Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 72

References edit

  1. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 11 September 1993. p. 23. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 24 February 2023 – via World Radio History.
  2. ^ Sloan, Billy (4 September 1993). "Lloyd's down to earth". Daily Record. Glasgow. p. 27. Retrieved 24 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ Bailie, Stuart (18 September 1993). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 21.
  4. ^ Kinghorn, Peter (25 August 1993). "Choices/Listings - Singles & Albums". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. p. 9. Retrieved 24 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ Parkes, Taylor (21 August 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 31.
  6. ^ So You'd Like to Save the World (UK and European 7-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole. Fontana Records. 1993. VIBE 1, 862 724-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ So You'd Like to Save the World (Australian CD single sleeve). Lloyd Cole. Fontana Records. 1993. 862 724-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ So You'd Like to Save the World (UK and European CD single sleeve). Lloyd Cole. Fontana Records. 1993. VIBED 1, 862 725-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ So You'd Like to Save the World (UK and European limited edition CD single sleeve). Lloyd Cole. Fontana Records. 1993. VIBES1, 862 727-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Lloyd Cole: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
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