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Cut Me Down

{{short description|1985 song by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Cut Me Down

| cover = Lloyd Cole and the Commotions Cut Me Down 1986 single cover.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

| album = Easy Pieces

| B-side = Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?

| released = {{Start date|1986|1|10|df=y}}{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Paul |title=Get into the New Year Groove |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19860104/277/0018 |newspaper=Evening Express |date=4 January 1986 |page=8 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 March 2023}}

| recorded =

| studio = Westside Studios (Shepherd's Bush, London)

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{ubl|4:30 (album version)|4:18 (single version)|6:05 (extended version)}}

| label = Polydor

| writer = Lloyd Cole

| producer = * Clive Langer

| prev_title = Lost Weekend

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = Rich

| next_year = 1986

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|rN-jqv4-x6Y|"Cut Me Down"}}

}}}}

"Cut Me Down" is a song by the British rock and pop band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, released in 1986 as the third single from their second studio album Easy Pieces. The song was written by Lloyd Cole and produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. It peaked at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for four weeks.

Background

In a 2009 interview with Time Out, Cole said, "'Cut Me Down' was a lovely song, just three chords, which was ruined by the arrangement we gave it."{{cite web |url=https://www.lloydcole.com/press/lloyd-cole-at-the-basement/ |title=Lloyd Cole at the Basement |publisher=Time Out |date=5 November 2009 |access-date=11 March 2023}}

Critical reception

Upon its release, Karen Swayne of Number One felt "Cut Me Down" was a welcome choice as a single after its "too-jaunty" predecessor "Lost Weekend". She commented, "It's a return to what he does best – all moody angst and careworn vocals alongside a dreamy beat." She added, "It may be too low key to win him any new supporters, but the bedsit brigade will be kept entertained."{{cite magazine |last=Swayne |first=Karen |title=Singles |magazine=Number One |date=11 January 1986 |issue=134 |page=36}} James Belsey of the Bristol Evening Post picked it as the newspaper's "single of the week" and described it as "subtle, elegantly thoughtful music with an infectious lilt".{{cite news |last=Belsey |first=James |title=Single of the week |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004769/19860104/009/0009 |newspaper=Bristol Evening Post |date=4 January 1986 |page=9 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 March 2023}}

Track listing

7–inch single (UK, Europe and Australasia){{cite AV media notes |title=Cut Me Down (Remix) |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1986 |type=UK 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=COLE 6}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Cut Me Down (Remix) |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1986 |type=European and Australasian 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=883 703-7}}

  1. "Cut Me Down" (Remix) – 4:18
  2. "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?" (Live – September '85) – 2:50

7–inch limited edition double pack single (UK){{cite AV media notes |title=Cut Me Down (Remix) |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1986 |type=UK 7-inch limited edition double pack single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=COLEG 6}}

  1. "Cut Me Down" (Remix) – 4:18
  2. "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?" (Live – September '85) – 2:50
  3. "Perfect Blue" (Instrumental) – 4:16
  4. "Forest Fire" (Live – December '84) – 4:41

12-inch single (UK, Europe and Australasia){{cite AV media notes |title=Cut Me Down (Remix) |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1986 |type=UK 12-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=COLEX 6}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Cut Me Down (Remix) |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1986 |type=European and Australasian 12-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=883 703-1}}

  1. "Cut Me Down" (Extended Remix) – 6:05
  2. "Cut Me Down" (7" Remix) – 4:18
  3. "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?" (Live) – 2:50
  4. "Forest Fire" (Live) – 4:41

12-inch single (Canada){{cite AV media notes |title=Cut Me Down (Remix) |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1986 |type=Canadian 12-inch single sleeve |publisher=Geffen Records |id=92 04720}}

  1. "Cut Me Down" (Extended Remix) – 6:05
  2. "Lost Weekend" (Extended Mix) – 4:20
  3. "Forest Fire" (Live) – 4:23
  4. "Perfect Skin" (Live) – 3:00

Personnel

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Production

  • Clive Langer – producer ("Cut Me Down", "Perfect Blue"), remixer ("Cut Me Down", "Perfect Blue")
  • Alan Winstanley – producer ("Cut Me Down", "Perfect Blue"), remixer ("Cut Me Down", "Perfect Blue")
  • Pete Dauncey – producer of "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken? (Live)"
  • Paul Nixon – producer of "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken? (Live)"
  • The Commotions – producers of "Forest Fire" (Live) and "Perfect Skin" (Live)

Other

  • Peter Anderson – sleeve
  • Clare Cameron – sleeve

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
Chart (1986)

! Peak
position

scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |title=European Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Eurotipsheet |volume=3 |issue=4 |date=1 February 1986 |page=21 |oclc=29800226 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-02-01.pdf |via=World Radio History |access-date=11 March 2023}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 92

{{single chart|Ireland2|12|song=Cut Me Down|rowheader=true|access-date=11 March 2023}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|49|artist=Lloyd Cole & The Commotions|song=Cut Me Down|rowheader=true|access-date=11 March 2023}}
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|38|artist=Lloyd Cole|song=Cut Me Down|artistid=25949|rowheader=true|access-date=11 March 2023}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{discogs master|type=single|36088}}

{{Lloyd Cole and the Commotions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cut Me Down}}

Category:1985 songs

Category:1986 singles

Category:Lloyd Cole songs

Category:Songs written by Lloyd Cole

Category:Song recordings produced by Clive Langer

Category:Song recordings produced by Alan Winstanley

Category:Polydor Records singles