B01.02 Wouldn't It Be Good

Nik Kershaw gave details about the recording of this song in different interviews:

"Recording Secrets" by Nick Webb - Sound on sound magazine - January 1986:

"Studios are the worst places in the world for doing your brain in. It's so easy to get yourself caught up in the technical side. You know, when we recorded Wouldn't It Be Good we had about twenty guitars on that one track, all playing single lines and because of that the harmonies all sounded great with each other. But when we tried to overdub other things on it, like bass and keyboards, we all looked at each other and said, 'That's out of tune'. So we tried tuning all the other instruments to these guitars and it just wouldn't work. We were going crazy. We put some music down on tape anyway and left it. Then when we came back to it, we found we'd been working on this song for a good hour before we remembered it was supposed to be out of tune! And nobody had noticed. It was just a case of us getting in a state about absolutely nothing, which happens all the time in studios."

Interview for EonMusic ( https://www.eonmusic.co.uk/nik-kershaw-eonmusic-interview-june-2017.html ), published in June 2017:

"Peter Collins was the producer of the two albums [HUMAN RACING and THE RIDDLE, both released in 1984], but all we actually did for most of the tracks, was pretty much just re-record my demos. The exception was Wouldn’t It Be Good, because there was no demo as it was one of the last tracks that I wrote at the time. But I knew the chords that I wanted, and I mapped them out on a keyboard. I tried playing the chords with a kind of aggressive guitar sound, but because there was a clash in the way the harmonics went together, it just really sounded quite unpleasant. But I was not averse to listening to the odd Queen record, and I suggested to Peter that we make a kind of guitar orchestra, like Brian May would do, just to separate those notes so you don’t have the harmonics clashing with each other (...). I think I’m playing fifths in one go. But some of the more subtle notes just didn’t work, so I think I did about four takes of each note, so there were a lot of takes, and this was all on analogue tape, obviously. We then bounced them all together to make that one sound. I very rarely get asked about the technical side of it, and it’s one thing that really interests me. I mean, I love the whole recording process and why things sound like they do. I’m fascinated listening to other people talk about how they make records".

Interview for The Guardian ( https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/15/how-we-made-wouldnt-it-be-good-by-nik-kershaw ), published on August 15th 2022:

"I was unemployed and living in a crummy rented farm cottage in the Essex countryside. It was a frustrating period, recording demos and hoicking the demo tape up to London.

I’d spent a lot of time not getting a deal. Then Mickey Modern became my manager and got me signed to MCA records.

Wouldn’t It Be Good was written in the knowledge I had a record contract, things were starting to happen and I was heading for world domination.

Why was it so melancholic? You'd have to ask my analyst. I had so much confidence, which hadn't been beaten out of me yet.

I spent time on the lyrics but didn't question where they came from. It's about envy from two people's perspectives. The song came together in the studio.

I knew I wanted it to sound aggressive but the distorted guitar chords caused a lot of clashes – it wasn't a very pleasant sound.

I’d been listening to Queen for years – Brian May had been using guitars like that but not as a complete bed to a song or chorus, which gave it a unique quality.

The video was shot by Storm Thorgerson. I’ve never completely figured out what it's about or how the lyrics fit with aliens.

This was before green screen and the only way an image could be projected on to something was by covering it in Scotchlite reflective tape.

I wore a calico suit with this tape stuck all over it, which kept coming off. We shot the final scene at Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory in Cambridge.

It was January, dark and freezing. I was a bit baffled by the video but loved it and knew it would get played. That was Storm's remit (...).

That same interview also had some interesting words by producer Peter Collins:

"Charlie Eyre hired me to produce Pass the Dutchie by Musical Youth. It was a big hit and cemented our professional relationship. I heard Nik's demos and thought he was brilliant. He was fairly diffident when we met, there was no posing or posturing and we got straight down to the business of making his debut album, Human Racing, at Whitechapel's Sarm East Studios

Nik was the first singer-songwriter I’d produced. I went in with a completely open mind. I knew my taste was very commercial and some of his stuff needed more impact to get on the radio.

The original title was Wouldn't It Be Nice. “Nice” felt meaningless to me and I persuaded Nik to change it. We decided to use real rather than programmed drums, which proved a major breakthrough. The engineer, Julian Mendelsohn, also recommended doubling the guitar solo with horns. Jerry Hey, who worked with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, recorded them in Los Angeles.

It was a complex production with an unusual structure, which was a major part of its appeal. I remember trying to get Nik to put it into a more conventional pop format and he wouldn’t, which I totally accepted. I had no doubt it was going to be a monster. Nik was so committed and dynamic in his performance. The way he delivered the main lyric was unique for the time".

Album version (4:36) (= Single version)

Available on the 1984 "Human Racing" album (vinyl LP, tape, CD and online digital file) and on the 1984 NIK2 and NIKP2 "Wouldn't It Be Good" 7" singles.

This version is also available on many collections.

bpm speed is slightly different on some collections resulting in different track length of the same mix of the song.

1991 The Collection (Track 1 - 4:32)

1994 Wouldn't It Be Good (Track 1 - 4:33)

1995 Anthology (Track 2 - 4:32)

1997 Wouldn't It Be Good (Track 1 - 4:31)

1998 Greatest Hits (Track 1 - 4:31)

2000 The Essential (Track 1 - 4:32)

2005 Then & Now (Track 1 - 4:36)

2022 Essential Nik Kershaw (Disc 1 - Track 1 - 4:31)

And :

1988 "One Step Ahead" CD single

1991 "Wouldn't It Be Good" (NIK14) CD single

1993 "Wouldn't It Be Good / I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" Old Gold collection CD single

1998 "Wouldn't It Be Good - '98 Remixes"

The soundtrack of the 1984 video clip available on the 2005 "Then & Now" video collection DVD is the same album version with a music-less introduction.

A remastered version was released for the first time on the 2012 Human Racing album double CD and online digital file.

Also released as track 2 on the A side (first vinyl record)  of the 2023 "Collected" vinyl collection.

Note that it was originally supposed to be track 3 on the A side of the LP album.

12" Special Extended version (6:51)

This version was released on one of the NIKT2 12" vinyl records in 1984.

It was also released as track 2 on the B side of the 1984 NIKC6 "The Riddle" limited edition cassette single.

Also available as track 1 on the 1993 "Best Of NK" CD collection.

Available on the 1991 "Wouldn't It Be Good" (NIK14) CD single.

A remastered version was released for the first time as track 8 on disc 2 of the 2012 "Human Racing" album double CD.

Also released as track 17 of the 2022 online only "Extended Versions" collection.

Also released as track 2 on the E side (third vinyl record) of the 2023 "Collected" vinyl collection limited edition only.

7" Single version Edit (4:10)

This version is an edit version the album recording and was released on the US 7" single and the Canadian 7" single.

This edit version can be found on CD on two various artists collections :

1995 Just Can't Get Enough - New Wave Hits of the 80's, Volume 13.

2022 Now Yearbook 1984 Extra.

[Listen to it HERE]

7" DJ Edit / Short version (3:58)

This version is an alternate (much shorter) edit mix of the album version. It was released in 1984 on the NIKDJ2 UK promo  7" single and the Canadian promo 12" single.

It is NOT AVAILABLE on CD.

[Listen to it HERE]

Simon Boswell Extended Version (7:50)

This extended remix was released on the 1984 NIKX5 "Human Racing" 12" record.

Available as track 2 on disc 3 of the 2022 Essential Nik Kershaw CD collection.

Also released as track 15 (Simon Boswell Remix) of the 2022 online only "Extended Versions" collection.

'99 Acoustic (5:02)

This version was released on the 1999 "Somebody Loves You" CD Single and as a bonus track on the "UNE U1015.2" release of the 1999 Fifteen Minutes album.

Also available as track 2 on the 2006 "The Riddle" CD album (which is in fact a re-issue of the Fifteen Minutes album with two acoustic bonus tracks as tracks 1 and 2).

Acoustic Version (4:33)

This version can be found as track 12 on the 2010 "No Frills" collection album.

Re-Recorded Version (4:50)

This 2009 re-recorded version is available on many Internet digital collections.

[Listen to it HERE]

It was released in 2010 as track 6 on the third CD of the Canadian 3-CD "Best Of Pop '80s" collection.

This re-recorded version was also re-released in 2023 as track 2 on a 3 track digital single.

The picture used for the digital single shows someone who's supposed to be Nik Kershaw but isn't.

It is unclear whether this is an official release or not.

The picture of this digital single could be a clue that this might not be an official release.

Re-Recorded Version (Instrumental) (4:50)

This is an instrumental version of the 2009 re-recorded version.

It was released along with the sung version as an online only single in Africa.

Sadly no-longer available online.

NOT AVAILABLE on CD.

Re-Recorded (Sped Up Version) (3:44)

This is literally a sped up version of the 2009 re-recorded version.

NOT AVAILABLE on CD.

It was re-released in 2023 as track 1 on a 3 track digital single.

It is unclear whether this is an official release or not.

The picture of this digital single could be a clue that this might not be an official release.

[Listen to it HERE]

Re-Recorded (Slowed + Reverb) (5:52)

This is literally a slowed version of the 2009 re-recorded version with added reverb effects.

NOT AVAILABLE on CD.

It was re-released in 2023 as track 3 on a 3 track digital single.

It is unclear whether this is an official release or not.

The picture of this digital single could be a clue that this might not be an official release.

[Listen to it HERE]

80's Classical Version (5:21)

This version was recorded with the Orchestra of Opera North.

It was released as track 2 on the "80's Classical - Volume 1" album.

It was also released as a digital single.

[Listen to it HERE]

L'Avenue Remix (4:40)

This version was released as track 14 on the "80's Classical - Volume 1" album.

[Listen to it HERE]

Live in Germany 1984 (4:49)

An official live version of the song, recorded in Alabama Hall in Munich (Germany) in 1984, can be found on the CD/DVD release 2011 Live In Germany CD/DVD release.

Reissued in 2013 on the "The Riddle (Live in Concert)" CD/DVD release.

Live Aid 1985 (5:18)

This live version was released on vinyl record (fourth LP of a 12 record-pack).

NOT AVAILABLE on CD.

Available on Internet digital format.

A DVD version is also available.

[Listen to it HERE]

Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (5:19)

This live version was released on VHS.

NOT AVAILABLE on CD.

The Secret Policeman's Third Ball Concert version (4:56)

This live version was recorded in 1987 and released on vinyl and CD.

It was also released on VHS.

[Listen to it HERE]

It was later released as track 8 on The Secret Policeman's Balls 2003 DVD.

Howard Jones - The 25th Anniversary Concert - Live At The IndigO2 (7:34)

Nik Kershaw was a guest artist for Howard Jones' 25th anniversary concert at the IndigO2.

He performed (vocals and guitar) an acoustic version of his song with Howard Jones playing the piano.

The song is track 7 on this 2008 triple CD album.

A video version (6:50) can be seen HERE.

Live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire 2012 (5:25)

Another official live version of the song, recorded in Shepherd's Bush Empire in London (England) on September 28th 2012, can be found on the 2013 DVD release of the concert.

Note : Three remix versions were released in 1998 on two different CD singles taken from the 1998 Greatest Hits Collection.

Are these remixes official versions of the song?

Did Nik Kershaw approve those releases?

Here is the list of these remixes :

Five Key Cut (4:52)

Available on CD on the 1998 "'Wouldn't It Be Good '98" CD Single

Phunky Rabbits' Havanna Club Mix (5:05)

Available on CD on the 1998  "'Wouldn't It Be Good '98" CD Single & the 1998 "'98 Remixes" CD Single

'98 Remix (Hartmann's Radio Mix) (3:34)

Available on CD on the 1998 Greatest Hits Collection and both 1998 "'Wouldn't It Be Good '98"  & 1998  "'98 Remixes" CD Singles.

BACK TO INDEX