The Feelies were an inspiration to REM and many alternative bands in the 80s. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992 having released four albums. The band reunited in 2008, and most recently released albums in 2011 and 2017.
The band’s name is taken from a fictional entertainment device described in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.
The song was released in 1986 on the album The Good Earth with REM’s Peter Buck producing. It was written by members Glenn Mercer and Bill Million. The band toured in support of the album as an opening band for Lou Reed as well as REM that year. The album was one of their most successful albums.
It certainly doesn’t have earth shaking lyrics but it’s a gorgeous over all sound and atmosphere they produce. It reminds me of something that would be on a movie soundtrack…it’s over with before you know it.
Let’s Go
Well alright
Well alright
Let’s go
Let’s go
Let’s go
Let’s go
All night long
All night long
(spoken?)
Why don’t we ? I know you?
Why don’t we ? I know you?
Go low (?)
Low low (?)
Go slow
Slow
All night long
All night long
All night long
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It would be hard to write a song that has simpler lyrics then this, but the music is really good.
Yes they kept it really simple
hard indeed, but Lipps Inc rose to the challenge asking to go to ‘Funkytown’!
Or the Beatles “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road”
I’ve never heard of this group. When I saw the lyrics, I was expecting a Ramones-type intensity and tempo, but got acoustic and harmonies instead. Very nice.
Glad you liked it…they have some atmospheric type music…if that is the right word.
I think that word is a good fit.
A name I’d vaguely heard of but not music I knew. As others said, boring lyrics but a very nice sounding song. Is it me or are the vocals fairly buried in there? Unless you listen closely or turn it up quite loud sounds rather like an instrumental… but that might just be limitations of little computer speaker
No they are down there. I can hear the influence in this and some of their other songs. They are well thought of.
A nice, soft sound. Very pleasing on the ears.
Thank you Matt!
I like their first record but I need to go further in sometime. Thanks for the reminder.
Sometimes simple is the best. I can totally hear Stipe singing over this tune. Total REM vibe
I agree man…when I heard they were a large influence…I heard it….glad you confirmed it.
Wow! I love this Max. I have heard of the band but not heard their music. I would have thought they would have sounded different. I can see why REM was influenced. I also hear a bit of Jayhawks at least this song.
You know…now that you said it…I can hear some of the Jayhawks. Glad you liked it Paul.
I can hear the REM influence in here and it sounds vaguely like another song I know and like but can’t remember the name of.
A really nice tune Max. It sounds vaguely familiar, though I can’t recall ever hearing about a band named the Feelies.
I missed them in the 80s…some of these bands I remembered but not them. Nice sound though.
Heard the name but not the music. You’re right about the sound.
I’ve never heard of them, before. Do I hear a steel drum in this?
Listening to it again…I might yes.
It’s a very distinctive sound.
One of my favorite bands ever! Their first album sounds a bit different from the rest of them, but I like them throughout their career. They perform some fantastic covers live, too. Their cover of Patti Smith’s “Dancing Barefoot” is exquisite.
I’m so happy a true fan read this. As you could tell…I don’t know a whole lot about them but I really liked them!
I grew up in the 80s and I was never really happy with mainstream…these bands I’ve been finding are fantastic. The Feelies though were really different…a good different. Thank you for commenting.