73. ‘The Debt Collector’

On ‘Parklife’. Produced by Stephen Street.

This slightly sinister instrumental (see 61) – redolent of some Theatre Of The Absurd staging of Steptoe And Son – was recorded live, with the Kick Horns, at Maison Rouge. The take used was the fourth. “I think we may have had to drop one bass note in later,” says Alex. Graham wanted the live ambience of a Tom Waits track, hence his audible foot-tapping and stamping on a tambourine, busker-style. His opening count-in of “one Mississippi, two Mississippi” is designed to set up the waltz time of the song (a favourite tempo of the group – see 67, 71, 84).