Mr. Writer

"Mr. Writer" is a song by Welsh rock band Stereophonics, taken from their third album, Just Enough Education to Perform (2001). It was released on 19 March 2001, reaching number five on the UK Singles Chart, number seven in Ireland, and number 53 in Sweden, where it was the band's first and only single to chart.

"Mr. Writer"
Single by Stereophonics
from the album Just Enough Education to Perform
B-side
  • "Maritim Belle Vue in Kiel"
  • "An Audience with Mr. Nice"
Released19 March 2001 (2001-03-19)
Studio
Length
  • 5:19 (album version)
  • 4:26 (edit)
LabelV2
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Kelly Jones
Producer(s)Bird and Bush
Stereophonics singles chronology
"Mama Told Me Not to Come"
(2000)		 "Mr. Writer"
(2001)		 "Have a Nice Day"
(2001)
Music video
"Mr. Writer" on YouTube

Background

"Mr. Writer" is track three on Just Enough Education to Perform. In the album's booklet, vocalist Kelly Jones explained that he first started writing the song around the same time that he wrote "I Stopped to Fill My Car Up", the closing track from Stereophonics' previous album, Performance and Cocktails (1999).[1][2] He first came up with the verse chords, then the line "Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is", at which point he stopped working on the lyrics for several months. While in Europe, Jones practiced the chords on touring musician Tony Kirkham's keyboard.[1]

Later, at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales, Jones and songwriter-producer Marshall Bird were listening to Stevie Wonder's 1972 album Talking Book. The album's second track, "Maybe Your Baby", caught their attention due to its "really druggy lazy fucked up feel",[1] and both men agreed to make "Mr. Writer" similar in tone. Together, they combined the "Mr. Writer" chords and "Maybe Your Baby"-inspired riffs while Jones wrote the lyrics to the first verse and bridge that night. Afterwards, producer Steve Bush completed the demo recording by providing bass guitar and drums.[1]

The song was written as response to a journalist who had toured with the band and later gave them negative reviews. The song has been attributed as one of the factors that has caused the group's uneasy relationship with the media. In a 2008 interview with The Guardian, Jones admitted that "...every journalist thought ['Mr. Writer'] was about them. It took me 10 minutes to write and 10 years to explain."[3]

Versions

A live version from Millennium Stadium Cardiff appears on the "Vegas Two Times" single,[4] and a live acoustic version appears as track one on CD2 on the "Mr. Writer" singles, which also includes live acoustic versions of "Hurry Up and Wait" and the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down".[5]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by David Slade[6] and features clips of the band performing in a snowy globe and some other clips of the band dressed as clowns driving in a car which soon catches fire and is brutally destroyed. Then the band run off into the dusk at the end of the video.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Just Enough Education to Perform album booklet.[1]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom 19 March 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
 V2 [19][20]
United Kingdom 23 March 2001 CD [21]
United States 30 April 2001 Triple A radio [22]
1 May 2001 Alternative radio [23]

References
  1. Just Enough Education to Perform (UK CD album booklet). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2001. VVR1015842.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. "Stereophonics: Performance and Cocktails". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  3. Barnett, Laura (28 October 2008). "Portrait of the artist: Kelly Jones, musician". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  4. Vegas Two Times (UK CD single liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2002. VVR5019173.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. Mr. Writer (UK CD2 liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2001. VVR5015938.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. MVDBase Music video Database – searching for Stereophonics videography.
  7. Mr. Writer (UK CD1 liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2001. VVR5015933.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Mr. Writer (UK cassette single sleeve). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2001. VVR5015935.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Mr. Writer (European CD single liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2001. VVR5016048.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Mr. Writer (Japanese CD single liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2001. V2CI 98.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 15. 7 April 2001. p. 19. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  12. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mr Writer". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  13. "Stereophonics – Mr. Writer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  14. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  15. "Stereophonics – Mr. Writer". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  17. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  18. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  19. Sexton, Paul (24 March 2001). "U.K.'s Stereophonics, V2 Aim for Elusive Stateside Breakthrough" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 12. p. 17. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  20. "New Releases – For Week Starting March 19, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 17 March 2001. p. 23. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  21. "ミスター・ライター | ステレオフォニックス" [Mister Writer | Stereophonics] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  22. "Adult Alternative: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1399. 27 April 2001. p. 120. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  23. "Alternative: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1399. 27 April 2001. p. 113. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
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