Is Mark Looking Back ?

[ds1984]

It is interesting. Mark doesn't look back. But in songs, he often looks to the past. He writes more and more autobiographical songs.

I think he does actually look back but Guy uses this statement in order to avoid answering awkward questions. 

What he means with that is that he doesn't look back to unreleased songs or unreleased live cds or dvds.

When it comes to songs released, they are all his songs and, as he says, he plays what he feels like playing.

I wish he would feel like playing Two Skinny Kids

Which is an unreleased song and those are the ones he doesn't look back, only forward!

[ds1984]

It is, ironically, a song about looking back. He did look back when playing Once Upon a Time in The West though, so the looking forward thing is not always true. Like has been said, it is a get out of jail free card for Guy to play when asked these type of questions, and I would do the same if I were him.

[ds1984]

It is, ironically, a song about looking back. He did look back when playing Once Upon a Time in The West though, so the looking forward thing is not always true. Like has been said, it is a get out of jail free card for Guy to play when asked these type of questions, and I would do the same if I were him.

Technically we all live in the past, so you can't really look forward, and any song becomes "old" upon being released. The song was released, which means it's an old song, not a new one anymore, and you're looking back when playing it! A true looking forward guy would only play brand new songs each time only once and never recorded any of them.

[ds1984]

It is, ironically, a song about looking back. He did look back when playing Once Upon a Time in The West though, so the looking forward thing is not always true. Like has been said, it is a get out of jail free card for Guy to play when asked these type of questions, and I would do the same if I were him.

I insist in "looking back" doesn't mean looking back to his released catalogue in order to play it live in concerts, but to do nice things with that catalogue (like releasing a full edition of Alchemy or a special edition of the first album with demos or unreleased tracks) or release unreleased stuff, like the Madrid 2001 dvd, the unreleased STP songs etc

Looking forward means to them to release new stuff, not revisiting the old that wasn't released no matter these are worth to be revisited.

[ds1984]

Exactly. Mark doesn't have to go back to old topics. He doesn't have to do anything. Has many new songs for each album. Of course I would like to hear Batting For England and Back in the Day but I'm looking forward to new songs.

[ds1984]

Exactly. Mark doesn't have to go back to old topics. He doesn't have to do anything. Has many new songs for each album. Of course I would like to hear Batting For England and Back in the Day but I'm looking forward to new songs.

Hasn't he just released a set of remasters?  That's looking waaaaay back!  Also including Long Highway, an unreleased song first played in 1991!

[ds1984]

But these songs existed before. This is nothing new

[ds1984]

Exactly. Mark doesn't have to go back to old topics. He doesn't have to do anything. Has many new songs for each album. Of course I would like to hear Batting For England and Back in the Day but I'm looking forward to new songs.

Hasn't he just released a set of remasters?  That's looking waaaaay back!  Also including Long Highway, an unreleased song first played in 1991!

[ds1984]

Exactly. Mark doesn't have to go back to old topics. He doesn't have to do anything. Has many new songs for each album. Of course I would like to hear Batting For England and Back in the Day but I'm looking forward to new songs.

Hasn't he just released a set of remasters?  That's looking waaaaay back!  Also including Long Highway, an unreleased song first played in 1991!

Are you serious?

Yes.  The first show of the OES tour, 23rd Aug, unless I'm mistaken.

[ds1984]

But The Long Highway is the B side of the single What It Is 21 years ago.

[ds1984]

But The Long Highway is the B side of the single What It Is 21 years ago.

This is my point.  You are saying he doesn't look back. 

[ds1984]

Why are you mentioning The Long Highway?

[ds1984]

Why are you mentioning The Long Highway?

It has been released as part of the recent remaster series.  As I never bought the entire remaster package I decided to buy the WII EP from Apple Music, so I decided to use LH as an example.  The title is also quite apt!

[ds1984]

Ok. I thought you forgot about maxi single What It Is (2000)

[quizzaciously]

Speaking of looking back, I just realized ABBA recently released their 1978 song, an unreleased song from their 1979 album, updated with new music 43 years later.

This is "looking back" I certainly enjoy! I wonder how many 43-year old song Mark will have on his new album