THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

975-Brian Protheroe-Pinball.

1974-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 2.21. How about this for recognition. It is said that Morrissey (see also best songs 940-673-222-167-72 and 42) had told Noel Gallagher (see also best songs 1006-758 and 15) in a Los Angeles bar about this song. Gallagher then went and wrote the song ‘Riverman,’ having been inspired by hearing ‘Pinball.’

Brian Protheroe was born on June 16th, 1944, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, he probably would have had an even more successful career as a musician, if it wasn’t for his first love of being an actor. Protheroe’s first job as an actor was with his local repertory theatre in Salisbury. He worked there for around seven months, then spent the next five years learning his craft in various theatre companies around Britain. In 1968 while working in a theatre company in Lincoln, he met Martin Duncan who was a musician, and the pair would collaborate on many occasions over the following years. In 1973 Protheroe was playing the part of a pop singer in a play called ‘Death on Demand,’ when a representative from ‘Chrysalis Records’ heard a song he had written for the show. Impressed with what he had heard, Protheroe was signed up to ‘Chrysalis Records’ for a four Album deal.

The discography of Brian Protheroe includes six studio Albums issued between 1974-2020, and 11 singles released between 1974-2019, there are also three official compilation Albums available. ‘Pinball’ remains his only charting song on the UK top 40, when reaching Number 22 in 1974. Protheroe has appeared in eight feature films between 1978-2019, including playing the part of a Co Pilot in the 1978 ‘Superman’ film starring Christopher Reeve (1952-2004.) He has also appeared in many television dramas, including ‘Lovejoy,’ and Holby City,’ and since 2015 he has narrated the Channel 4 dating show ‘First Dates.’

‘Pinball’ was released as the debut single from Brian Protheroe, and was taken from his debut studio Album of the same name. The song was written by Protheroe, and produced by Del Newman, (1930-2020) who would also work with Protheroe on his future ‘Chrysalis’ Albums. Other notable works from Newman include providing the string arrangements for Cat Stevens’ 1970 Album ‘Tea for the Tillerman,’ and conducting with George Martin, (1926-2016) the orchestral score for ‘Paul McCartney and Wings” theme song for the 1973 James Bond film ‘Live and Let Die.’

‘Pinball’ is an autobiographical song, which Brian Protheroe has described as,’A diary entry for one particular weekend in 1973.’ Protheroe has said he wrote the song at a time when he had just split with his girlfriend and was living in a friend’s flat in Covent Garden, London. ‘Pinball’ describes Protheroe’s despondent feelings, and his setbacks, and his activities at that time, (‘I’ve been playing Pinball,’) the lyrics also mention Marilyn Monroe, (1926-1962) and the 1968 Beatles song ‘Hey Jude’ (see also best songs 6.) ‘Pinball’ can also boast a ‘tenor saxophone’ which was played by Tony Coe. Coe is an English Jazz musician who has played on dozens of tracks in the Jazz world, including playing on three Georgie Fame Albums between 1966-1968.

Brian Protheroe has spoken about the writing of ‘Pinball,’ ‘I was out of work and living in a flea ridden room in Covent Garden. The song came out of the mundane things I saw over the course of the weekend, but it was also a plaintive, sad cry for the Beatles splitting a few years before. There’s a sax solo and other than that it’s very simple. There is no chorus, just folky verses.’ Protheroe has also said,’I’m very proud of ‘Pinball,’ it perfectly encapsulates how I was feeling at the time.’

‘Got fleas in my bedroom, got flies in my bathroom, and the cat (miaow) just finished off the bread. So I walk over Soho, and I read about Monroe, and I wonder was she really what they said.’