Del Amitri – Not Where It’s At

I first heard Del Amitri in the 90s. I remember hanging out in West End of Nashville at that time. It’s near Vanderbilt University and was a really hip place to be. I was looking for some Roger McGuinn glasses. Those small rectangle glasses that were very popular in the ’60s. I searched shop after shop and could not find them. I finally found them around closing time. Anyway…boy that was a long story but I remember that is when I heard Del Amitri for the first time…hey it stuck with me!

Some songs I hear and I think…I wish so much I would have written this song. This is one of those songs because it’s catchy without being too sweet. Not a profound lyric (teenage angst) in this one but clever and it’s the overall sound…right up my cobbled power pop alley. The crunchy and jangly guitars mesh with each other. This wasn’t as big as their other song Roll To Me but I always favored this one by a long shot.

I would have never guessed this wasn’t an American band. They formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1980. The band was larger in the UK than here. This song is from the album Some Other Sucker’s Parade which peaked at #6 in the UK and #160 on the Billboard 100 in 1997. This song was played on our main rock station and got quite a bit of alternative play…if it came out today I would buy it.

The band was started by Justin Currie (vocals, bass) and a group of schoolmates. Currie became the constant band member over time. When they started they were influenced by Joy Division and The Cure. They switched to power pop and released their self-titled debut album in 1985. Waking Hours (1989) was their commercial breakthrough, featuring the hit single “Nothing Ever Happens”, which became a chart success and fan favorite. They have had 5 top-ten albums in the UK. They also had an astounding 15 top 40 hits in the UK. A shout out to CB who sent me a few of their songs and I’ve been happily getting reacquainted with this band.

It’s funny how some bands can get back on your radar. The Replacements are one of those bands that I rediscovered because of blogs. When I hear Del Amitri I think of a modern Badfinger because of the crunch and jangle of the guitar that feeds my inner power pop soul.

They took a break in 2002 but reunited in 2014 for a series of live shows. They continued to tour periodically in the following years. In 2021, they released Fatal Mistakes, their first studio album in nearly two decades, which was well-received by critics and fans alike.

Justin Currie: We’ve never pretended we didn’t want to be in the mainstream. I don’t mean in terms of sales, but in terms of everybody should be able to get our music. To me, that’s one of the functions of pop music. You bring everybody together in a room to sing along to a catchy tune. 

Rhythm Guitar player Iain Harvie: “Probably about 80 per cent of the songs on this record don’t have overdubs, apart from the vocals obviously, with all the harmonies, and maybe the guitar solo if there was a really dreadful mistake in the middle that we just couldn’t live with. Wherever possible, we recorded with our live format of bass, drums, two guitars and keyboards for most of the songs.”

Not Where I’m At

With some girls it don’t matter who you hang withWith some girls it don’t matter how you talkAnd some girls they are easy to be yourself withBut the one girl that I wantAin’t easy to please with what I’ve got

With some girls it don’t matter where you’re aimingWith some girls it don’t matter how you actAnd some girls they don’t care what car you came inBut the one girl that I wantShe wants that one bit of geography I lack

Yeah, she don’t want me‘Cause I’m not where it’s atYeah I’m not where it’s at

And some girls they will worry about reactionsAnd some girls they don’t give a damn for thatBut somehow I ain’t ever in on the action‘Cause the one girl that I wantShe wants that one little quality I lack

Yeah she don’t want me‘Cause I’m not where it’s atYeah I’m not where it’s at

I don’t have my finger on the pulse of my generationI just got my hand on my heart I know no better location

Yeah she don’t want me‘Cause I’m not where it’sI’m not where it’sI’m not where it’s atYeah I’m not where it’s at

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

33 thoughts on “Del Amitri – Not Where It’s At”

      2. Yep… I just was closer to this song. What surprised me is how successful they were in the UK. Their other songs are really good as well.

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    1. I had no clue they weren’t an American band…this song got heavy play here in Nashville…CB reminded me of it. It’s really good pop/rock or power pop…

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      2. And yes…like the cornucopia on the Fruit of the Loom logo (that never existed but people remember) I had it in my head they were from either NYC or nearby New Jersey

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    1. This one was played in Nashville at the time a lot…on our major rock station at the time…they have some good songs…I never knew they were that big in the UK

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  12. Pingback: Del Amitri – Not Where It’s At – MobsterTiger

    1. I would go see them if given a chance…thanks for the comment Mike! I was listening to Lightning 100 and KDF at the time I believe.

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