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Stoneage Dinosaurs

"Stoneage Dinosaurs" is a song by English rock band Cardiacs from their EP Big Ship (1987). The song was written by frontman Tim Smith and produced by Smith alongside Graham Simmonds. Musically, the song is a melancholy track with violins, saxophones and funeral paced drums. Its lyrics reference family, contemporary celebrities and the First World War. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who noted its stark difference to the other tracks on the EP.

"Stoneage Dinosaurs"
Song by Cardiacs
from the EP Big Ship
Released27 January 1987
StudioRaven
Length5:22
LabelAlphabet Business Concern
Songwriter(s)Tim Smith
Producer(s)
  • Tim Smith
  • Graham Simmonds

An unusually relaxed song in the Cardiacs discography, "Stoneage Dinosaurs" was later included on the compilation Songs for Ships and Irons (1991). A cover of the song by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree from the tribute album Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1 (2010) was released as a split single with Oceansize on 16 April 2011 for Record Store Day to raise funds for Smith, after Smith had a heart attack and severe stroke in 2008.

Background and composition

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"Stoneage Dinosaurs" was recorded at Raven Studios.[1] It was written by Tim Smith and was produced by Smith and Graham Simmonds.[1] The song appeared on side two of Big Ship, which was released by the Alphabet Business Concern on 27 January 1987.[2][3] The whole EP was subsequently included on the compilation Songs for Ships and Irons (1991).[4][5] During a live performance of "Stoneage Dinosaurs", the backing tape slowed down, making the band sound out of tune. To counter this, Cardiacs descended into a thrumming wall of noise to make it appear deliberate.[6] The song features a saxophone solo by Sarah Smith, Tim Smith's wife at the time, which was played note for note on guitar by Jon Poole during concerts in the late 90s.[7]

A melancholy song,[4] "Stoneage Dinosaurs" features "violins, saxophones and funeral paced drums" according to Melody Maker's Mick Mercer.[8] The song's lyrics reference celebrities and television personalities from the time of Smith's childhood, including Michael Miles, Peter Glaze and Liberace, as well as the contemporary Mr T.[9] Smith's brother Jim is also mentioned,[9] being the first time Smith sung about himself and part of his family.[10] The First World War, and war in general, is another lyrical element which appears in the song.[9]

Reception

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"Stoneage Dinosaurs" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Mercer wrote that "'Stoneage Dinosaurs' sounds like a sixties dollop", describing it as an "impressively restrained operation" but criticised its length.[8] Biographer Adrian Bell described the song as "the most moving record which always leaves a little bit of something in your mind".[10] He recalled its live performance being "a majestic epic that sent us all home with warm hearts and fuzzy tummies" and "the kind of song that brings everybody down to a nice relaxed high after the frenzied activity of all that's gone before."[11] Sarah Smith's saxophone solo has been remembered as one of her standout moments.[9] In The Independent, Paul T Horgan described the song as sounding different from the other tracks on the EP, calling it a "powerful adagio of lament" and "grossly under-appreciated.[12]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Big Ship EP liner notes.[1]

Cardiacs

Production

Steven Wilson version

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"Stoneage Dinosaurs"
 
Single by Steven Wilson
from the album Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1
B-side"Fear"
Released16 April 2011
StudioNo Man's Land (Hertfordshire)
Length4:15
LabelKscope
Steven Wilson singles chronology
"Vapour Trail Lullaby"
(2010) 		"Stoneage Dinosaurs"
(2011) 		"Postcard"
(2011)

Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson contributed a cover of "Stoneage Dinosaurs" to Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1 (2010), a tribute album covering the songs of Tim Smith.[13][14] The album was released to raise money for Smith who had a heart attack that triggered a major stroke in June 2008.[15] Wilson recorded the cover at his studio No Man's Land in Hertfordshire.[16] To promote a vinyl reissue of the album, the cover was released as a split single with "Fear" by Oceansize on 16 April 2011 to coincide with Indie Record Store Day by record label Kscope.[17] "Fear" appeared originally on the Spratleys Japs album Pony (1999).[16]

After Smith died in 2020, Wilson wrote a statement on Twitter and uploaded his cover to YouTube as a eulogy, saying he was "deeply saddened" and complimented Smith on his "truly unique [sound] and musical [personality]".[18]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Tim Smith

7-inch single[16]
No.TitleMusicOriginal releaseLength
1."Stoneage Dinosaurs" (by Steven Wilson)CardiacsBig Ship4:15
2."Fear" (by Oceansize)Spratleys JapsPony2:20

Other cover versions

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An additional cover of "Stoneage Dinosaurs" was released by the instrumental rock band Gilmore Trail and friends Martin Archer, Ellie Shepherd, Kathy Sparshott and Paul Sparshott on 11 August 2018.[19] The cover was included on the tribute album The Whole World Window II (2018).[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Big Ship (liner notes). Cardiacs. Alphabet Business Concern. 1987. ALPH 004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Strong 2003, p. 254.
  3. ^ Belcher, David (17 January 1987). "Instant arrest by the Cardiacs". The Glasgow Herald. p. 8. Retrieved 19 January 2023 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b Lawson, Dom (2 March 2021). "Cardiacs' best albums - a buyers guide". Classic Rock. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  5. ^ Sgrignoli, Marco (20 July 2022). "Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto". Ondarock [it] (in Italian). Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  6. ^ Davis & Torabi 2021, p. 241, Search "stoneage dinosaurs".
  7. ^ DDG (22 December 2021). "Stoneage Dinosaurs (Cardiacs, 1987)". Open magazine. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  8. ^ a b Mercer, Mick (March 1987). "'Big Ship' (Alphabet)". Melody Maker. Archived from the original on 26 February 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2022 – via cardiacs.com.
  9. ^ a b c d MUSEUMSAREDEAD (17 August 2015). "Stoneage Dinosaurs". The Cardiacs Discography, song by song. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b Bell 2011, p. 356.
  11. ^ Bell 2011, p. 35.
  12. ^ Rentoul, John (31 March 2018). "The Top 10: Songs on Albums That Don't Sound Like the Others". The Independent. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Porcupine Tree raise funds for Cardiacs Tim Smith". BBC News. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  14. ^ Sacher, Andrew (22 July 2020). "Cardiacs' Influence Discussed + Covered by Napalm Death, Porcupine Tree, Voivod". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  15. ^ Gittins, Ian (3 February 2011). "Cardiacs tribute album to raise money for paralysed singer Tim Smith". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  16. ^ a b c "Stoneage Dinosaurs" / "Fear" (7-inch single liner notes). Steven Wilson / Oceansize. Kscope. 2011. LOTSCOPE001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ aaamusic (2 April 2011). "Oceansize and Porcupine Tree release split single for Cardiacs Tim Smith". AAA Music. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  18. ^ Sacher, Andrew (22 July 2020). "mems of Faith No More, Porcupine Tree, Blur, Voivod, Pinback & more pay tribute to Cardiacs' Tim Smith". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  19. ^ Gilmore Trail (4 July 2018). "Stoneage Dinosaurs | Gilmore Trail & Friends". Bandcamp. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  20. ^ "The Whole World Window II | Various Artists. Produced by Hyena Inc. For Tim Smith. Cardiacs". Bandcamp. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2022.

Sources

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