Pete Atkin - Have You Got A Biro I Can Borrow? video free download
Pete Atkin is one of the relatively unheralded singer-songwriters of the 1960s and 70s. Baffling really, considering his lyrics are by the great Australian critic and poet Clive James, and that his melodies have a lilting oh-so-English quality reminiscent of Kevin Ayers, Nick Drake and even Cat Stevens. He's severely under-represented on youtube so I've decided to upload a few of his songs. 'Have You Got A Biro I Can Borrow?' is from his 1969 album 'Beware Of The Beautiful Stranger' and is probably the only love song to reference biros, double-decker buses, rubber bands and the belt of Orion.
More at http://www.peteatkin.com/
Comments
11 years ago
Paul Reilly
"... not a moment of the night that hasn't got you... innit" Oh Clive, you are just too clever for this world.11 years ago
dmpcornwall
I'm really glad to finally hear the full version of this song. I only knew it previously from a recording I made on Radio 2 of radio bloopers called "Can I Take That Again Please?" in which a disc jockey started playing this song only to jog the needle when it reached the first "So when the sun comes up tomorrow.." bit so that it went on to to another song.11 years ago
Thomas Patterson
Also, have you tried pete atkins own website? lots of links there.11 years ago
Thomas Patterson
Frangipani Was Her Flower is on Beware The Beautiful Stranger. I think the CD is quite hard to come by now, so if you can't find it, let me know and I'll see if I can link to it for you.12 years ago
buzzabout
Used to have this on an ancient tape. Lent it to someone with emphatically expressed desire for its return after listening as it was a rare and precious favourite. Some time later I asked for it back and they denied all knowledge of it.(Needless to say they are no longer considered a friend!) Am so chuffed to find it here. Superb songwriting! :-)12 years ago
Alex M.
9 likes? How is that even possible?12 years ago
Joe Beck
anyone out there able to upload "Beautiful Stranger".. please! Ty Xj12 years ago
Joe Beck
anyone out there able to upload "Beautiful Stranger".. please! Ty Xj13 years ago
Thomas Patterson
@ianshircore Thanks for the comment. I love a good coincidence and I'm glad I can share some of Atkin and James's wonderful songs. I'll upload a few more over the next week. TNP PS Their early albums were re-released last year on Edsel and are well worth picking up as they come with stacks of demos and unreleased songs.13 years ago
ianshircore
Extraordinary. 90 mins ago, as I parked the car, I was trying to explain to my girlfriend about Clive James and Pete Atkin and I cited BotBS and one other track -- Have You Got a Biro I Can Borrow. Then I looked on YouTube for some examples to play her. And there was nothing from either of the first two albums -- except this, which you had uploaded 13 hours earlier. Thank you. What a remarkable coincidence. Clive and Pete would like that. Keep uploading, as I haven't got the albums any more.Related Videos
