Named after the 1960 short story "The Day The Icicle Works Closed" by science fiction author Frederik Pohl, The Icicle Works joined Liverpool's early 1980s 'neo-psychedelia' wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom.
The band was founded in Liverpool by 18-year-old singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and frontman Ian McNabb. In 1980, McNabb joined up with drummer Chris Sharrock (who had been playing with McNabb on and off since he was nine) and bassist Chris Layhe (who had been recruited though a classified ad), and they began playing as The Icicle Works. By the end of 1981, the trio had recorded a six-song independently released cassette, and in 1982 they released the independent single "Nirvana". The following year, The Icicle Works were signed to the Beggars Banquet label, who issued the single Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) on their subsidiary label Situation Two.
Later that year, The Icicle Works' would release their biggest UK hit, 1983's Love Is a Wonderful Colour. Their debut eponymous album (1984) would follow shortly thereafter, reaching number 24 on the UK charts, and also hitting the U.S. top 40. Also appearing on the U.S. top 40 singles charts at around the same time (and hitting the Canadian top twenty) was Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly), a retitled and very slightly remixed version of The Icicle Works' Situation Two release of 1983.
However, commercial success for The Icicle Works after this point was minimal. Their second album, The Small Price of a Bicycle (1985) spun off no hit singles, and wasn't even released outside the UK. Later albums If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song (1987), and Blind (1988) were both issued in the UK and North America, and even spun off minor hits. Nevertheless, no post-1984 Icicle Works single would chart higher than 52 in the UK, and after "Whisper To A Scream", the band never again made the US Hot 100.
Some have attributed this unfortunate commercial decline to The Icicle Works' change in sound over the years, from an initial 'new wave' feel to a more straight-ahead rock sound inspired by Neil Young, The Doors, and the Ramones, amongst others. But whatever the cause, despite critical acclaim the band was unable to consistently record hit singles. As well, by the late 1980s, tensions within the group were increasing allegedly due to McNabb's controlling ways. By 1988, in addition to writing virtually all of The Icicle Works' material, as well as singing and playing guitar, McNabb was also producing the group's records.
Accordingly, shortly after Blind was issued, drummer Chris Sharrock departed to The La's. Sharrock would later be a member of The Lightning Seeds and World Party, and would also drum for Robbie Williams, Del Amitri and Eurythmics. Around this same time, Layhe also departed, and Beggars Banquet dropped the group from their roster.
Undaunted, McNabb soldiered on under The Icicle Works banner for a while. Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, briefly occupied the drumstool, while various keyboardists, bassists, and guitarists passed through before the band released Permanent Damage (1990), recorded for Epic/Sony. By that time, the band's lineup was McNabb, bassist Roy Corkill, former 10cc and Jethro Tull drummer Paul Burgess, keyboardist Dave Baldwin, and backing vocalist Mark Revell.
This 'second-generation' version of The Icicle Works quietly broke up after Permanent Damage failed to chart, and Epic dropped the band. Ian McNabb's solo career officially began in 1991 with the release of the single Great Dreams of Heaven; for further details on McNabb's solo career, please see the entry for Ian McNabb.
In 1992, a compilation called The Best of The Icicle Works was released, containing the best of their work from the Beggars Banquet years. Two years later, a live recording of a 1987 concert was issued.
On December 31, 2005, after having been a solo act for 15 years, McNabb announced he was reviving "The Icicle Works" name in 2006 for a series of concerts and an album. However, this version of the band would contain no original members other than McNabb.
Out Of Season
The Icicle Works Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her eyes are as dark as November when it falls on our village
If I stand on a chair, I can see here house from my bedroom window
She smokes cigarettes, she says its much too late for her to stop now
No, stop laughing, c'mon now honestly
Her father regards me with caution as I wait in his library
The scent of tobacco and the silence of the room are inside me
Ask but what's to gain and who am I to say?
I never knew the feeling when it came my way
I'm about as happy as I could be
I really think the spring will bring a change in me
There's something growing out of season
There's something growing out of season
There's something growing out of season
There's something growing out of season
Out of season, out of season
The Icicle Works's song Out Of Season is a beautifully crafted tune portraying the innocence of youth and the excitement of new love. The song talks about a young boy who has found the girl of his dreams and is asking his father's opinion on her. He describes her dark eyes, which are as dark as November when it falls on their village. He then talks about her smoking habit and how he thinks the spring will bring a change in him. The boy is optimistic and hopeful about this budding relationship, but there are challenges ahead.
The boy's father regards him with caution as he waits in his would-be girlfriend's father's library. The scent of tobacco and the silence of the room are inside him, making him feel nervous and unsure. The boy is unsure of what to expect and asks his father for his opinion. But his father doesn't give a straight answer, as he asks him what he stands to gain and who he is to say anything.
This song is a beautiful representation of the hopefulness and naivety of young love. It highlights the innocence of a young boy's feelings for a girl, and how he is trying to navigate his new emotions. The song also portrays the challenges that come with young love, such as disapproval from parents and the uncertainty of the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy, daddy, I have found the girl that I want to live with
I have found the girl I want to be with forever
Her eyes are as dark as November when it falls on our village
Her eyes are deep and mysterious like November in our town
If I stand on a chair, I can see her house from my bedroom window
I can see her house from my window if I stand on a chair
She smokes cigarettes, she says its much too late for her to stop now
She smokes cigarettes and has given up on quitting
Listen, do you think that she's right for me
Do you think she's the right one for me?
No, stop laughing, c'mon now honestly
Stop laughing, I'm being serious
Her father regards me with caution as I wait in his library
Her father is cautious of me as I wait in his library
The scent of tobacco and the silence of the room are inside me
The smell of tobacco and quietness of the room are making an impression on me
Ask but what's to gain and who am I to say?
What's the point of asking, and who am I to answer?
I never knew the feeling when it came my way
I didn't expect to feel this way
I'm about as happy as I could be
I'm really happy right now
I really think the spring will bring a change in me
I believe that spring will change me for the better
There's something growing out of season
Something is happening outside of the expected timeframe
There's something growing out of season
Something is happening outside of the expected timeframe
There's something growing out of season
Something is happening outside of the expected timeframe
There's something growing out of season
Something is happening outside of the expected timeframe
Out of season, out of season
Outside of the expected timeframe
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@benratcliffe6307
A great band that never got their full recognition
@davidhefner2010
Indeed
@thecaproni100
Fabulous, fabulous Song.. from a fabulous Band ..
@davidhefner2010
I absolutely love this.
Today. As much as when I spun my vinyl record of these great songs
@davidhefner2010
I so love this song
@Babbit1976
I recently saw Ian McNabb doing this as part of a solo acoustic set.
Still as moving as ever. ❤️
@xtstevie
Just a brilliant track by a great band....
@psychodebergeracpictures
Aside from 'Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)', this was my second favorite track from that album.
@davidhefner2010
It's amazing
@8enable
Damn I Love this song sooooo.......