Yes Sir, I Will

Yes Sir, I Will, released by Crass in 1983 (see 1983 in music), was the band's final 'official' album. The record consists of one single track (broken into two) made up of a bitter and virulent attack on then prime minister Margaret Thatcher and her government in the aftermath of the Falklands War, set over a raging and an almost free-form improvised backing provided by the groups' instrumentalists. Many of the 'lyrics' of this piece, parts of which can be read at [1] (http://www.southern.com/southern/label/CRC/07010a.html), are extracted from drummer Penny Rimbaud's extended poem Rocky Eyed.

The title of the record is ironic, taken from a news cutting reporting a conversation attributed to have taken place between Prince Charles and a badly burned soldier who had returned from the Falklands;

"Get well soon," the Prince said. And the heroic soldier replied "Yes sir, I will".

Above; inner sleeve artwork of Yes Sir, I Will

A film made by artist Gee Vaucher to accompany Yes Sir, I Will was shown at the UK National Film Theatre[?]'s Stuff the Jubilee festival of punk films in 2002, and the track has been recently remixed by Penny Rimbaud to incorporate additional jazz instrumentation (provided by Ingrid Laubrock[?] (saxophone) and Julien Seigal[?] (double bass) to augment the original performance.

Personnel

• Steve Ignorant - Vocals
• Joy DeVivre - Vocals
• Phil Free - Guitar
• Gee Vaucher - Voices, Artwork
• Eve Libertine - Vocals
• N.A. Palmer - Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals, Voices
• Penny Rimbaud - Drums, Vocals
• Pete Wright - Bass
• Paul Ellis - Piano, Strings
• Crass - Producer
• John Loder - Engineer
• Judy - Typing