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Either/Or
Release Date: February 25, 1997
"Plainclothes Man" (solo version)Recorded Fall 1996 and mixed by Larry Crane at Jackpot! Recording Studio. KEVIN MOYER: Since we already heard Heatmiser doing a full band version of a song that Elliott originally released solo, we wanted to also show the opposite here - Elliott doing a solo version of a Heatmiser song. This song was written by Elliott and the original full band studio version appears on the bands final album Mic City Sons. In the film we hear Rob Schnapf talking about recording the full band studio version of this song and how they couldn't figure out the vocals and how the recording session went late into the night and early morning... ROB SCHNAPF (Producer of albums Either/Or, XO, Figure 8, From a Basement on the Hill and more): It was a really great time. Just trying to figure out how he should sing it. Trying things different approaches and then finally finding the spot in his voice and the right intention or were we hanging around until the proper balance of alcohol melded the headspace into a fearless surrender to the song. No more laboring, just refining. Don't know for sure but it was cool to bare witness too. KEVIN MOYER: But the version included here is interesting because it is Elliott doing a solo version of that same song... In the film we blend the two versions. I think this is another example of Elliott trying songs out in different ways to see which he liked better, solo and stripped down or more layered bigger version with Heatmiser. LARRY CRANE : I always assume that Elliott recorded this version in case Mic City Sons was shelved. I'm glad that never happened! Note the different intro; he would use this technique live on some other songs over the years. JEREMY WILSON (musician with The Dharma Bums, recorded first Heatmiser demo): Elliott may have dissed on the music he made with Heatmiser later in life. That doesn't make the music any less special in my opinion. The "loud" version of Elliott had a rhythm and pulse all its own that made you want to move and lose yourself, but keep "thinking" and definitely feeling all at the same time. I think of even his rock side as sensitive and loved him for it. To me it seemed brave at the time. KEVIN MOYER: Yeah I think Elliott was rebelling against his own sound at the time, I don't think it was anything personal and it was just his way of moving on probably, as he wasn't always the best with closure. At the time it was the rise of grunge and heavy and loud sound and Heatmiser was there at the top of the heap and I think he just got tired of it. So he stripped it all down and just began performing by himself alone on stage sitting on a folding chair and strumming an acoustic guitar. At the time, that was not the popular thing to do. I mean, that.s punk right there - to do the opposite of what everyone else was doing, and to do it all alone by yourself with nothing to hide behind. It.s kind of like the opposite of when Bob Dylan plugged in and went electric.
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1997 show highlights
July 15, 1997, Elliott performs at the Yo Yo a Go Go Festival in Olympia, WashingtonKEVIN MOYER: This is a live version of "Say Yes" performed at "Yo Yo A Go Go" concert on July 15th, 1997 and recorded live at The Capitol Theater in Olympia, WA. The studio version of this song was released on Kill Rock Stars album "Either / Or" album the same year. I remember the first time I heard this live performance with the audience banter at the beginning asking him to "play the one about the girl", I thought this would be a perfect way to set up and introduce Joanna in the film. It was one of the ideas that I offered that made it in the final edit, and I'm glad because it is such a very sweet part of the film about two very sweet people who were often very sweet to each other. It's also a good way to subtly talk about how much of an influence Joanna was on Elliott and also the break up that would come along with it... JOHN CHANDLER (Portland music critic and journalist): I remember talking to Elliott about "Say Yes" right after the record came out. He was in a nervously optimistic mood but was worried about closing the record on a positive note. Like he might be inviting trouble somehow. But he seemed determined to embrace positivity - though that isn't a word I remember him using - at that point in time. May 3, 1997 Elliott Smith Stinkweeds, Phoenix, AZ, US
April 10, 1997
April 9, 1997
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March 31, 1997
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