The Rollo Cheeky Standard

photo of Dido

Dido

Dido Armstrong, sister to Rollo, has appeared as a lead and backup vocalist on various Cheeky Records projects. She sang the song 'Flowerstand Man', co-written with Rollo, that appears on Faithless' "Reverence" album. She also sings lead vocals for 'Hem of His Garment' and chorus vocals on 'Postcards' on the Faithless album, "Sunday 8pm", out September 1998. Dido's first album came out in the U.S. on Arista Records on June 1, 1999. Her album has no scheduled release date in England, due to legal entanglements at the label level.


Latest update: August 24, 2000
Comments, additions, & corrections to: mattski@mit.edu

News

In the Dido article at Billboard online, August 22, 2000, it is mentioned that 'Thank You' will get a single release. Whether that means a radio promo only release or commercial release, remains to be seen.[August 24, 2000]

See the listing below for the one-track promo CD for 'Here With Me' (Rollo's Chillin' With The Family Mix). [May 15, 2000]

Dido did an in-store performance and signing in Boston at Tower Records on Newbury Street on Thursday, May 4 at 6pm. She sang four songs. 'All You Want' was the first. Next was 'Here With Me', which she said had received a lot of attention as the theme to the popular U.S. TV show, "Roswell" on the WB Network. 'Don't Think Of Me' was described as a sort of bitchy little song that she co-wrote with her brother (Rollo). She said 'Thank You' was her first song to see the light of day, that it took all of five minutes to finish off and she was very proud of it. Her voice was strong and she sang all out, even though she still had a full concert to give in less than two hours at the Karma Club on Lansdowne Street. She was accompanied by Vinnie (spellcheck please) on guitar. (Was this the special acoustic performance advertised on the Arista website or would there be more musicians on stage for this series of concerts?) The songs were well served by the simpler arrangement and Vinnie's guitarwork. The melodies came across just as strong as on the recording. I could not attend the concert, but I would like to hear from others with their reviews. She very graciously signed CDs for fans. When I told her I had this small website, she asked where it was. That stumped me for a second (a Homer Simpson moment), then I quite logically wrote down the URL. She smiled and returned to her signing duties. [May 5, 2000]

Dido has special acoustic performances scheduled in the U.S. in April and May 2000, according the Arista website. Dido is also scheduled to perform on the Conan O'Brien show on NBC on April 28 and on the Donnie & Marie show on June 1.

More information on Dido available at Cheeky Records, her label in the U.K., or at Arista Records, her label in the U.S.

Dido is on tour in U.S from February 12 to March 2, 2000, with some in-store and TV appearances. See her webpage at the Arista Records for more details. [February 23, 2000]

See listing below for promo only single release of "Don't Think Of Me". It came out either in January or February 2000. [FEBRUARY 23, 2000]

Dido appeared on Late Night With David Letterman on CBS on September 16, 1999. I got this information from the graphically updated Arista website. See link below. [November 17, 1999]

U.S. tour dates are listed at Dido's page at Arista Records(U.S.) [August 3, 1999]

There was a release party for Dido's album on Thursday, June 17, at Club Cafe in Boston, MA.

HMV gave away Dido coffee mugs with purchase of her album when it first came out. The photo of Dido's mug on the mug came from the album artwork. For the cafe/caffeine crowd.

The song 'Thank You' is on the soundtrack to the motion picture "Sliding Doors". It is featured prominently in the love scene and final credits of that film. Dido performs this song that she wrote with Paul Herman (of Skinny fame). Rollo and Dido co-produced it.

According to an interview (July 7, 1997) with Richard Dekkard:

Dekkard introduced Dido into the 7PM Management roster of artists. Together they began to work toward completion of an album of tracks (with Dekkard as producer/mixer?), but he fell out with 7PM Management. Dido stopped work with him at that point. Since then, Dido, a good friend of his, has also left 7PM and may work with him again.


Rough draft (will be adding to this):Concert Review of Dido's Last Show of Her First U.S. tour, Friday, September 10 at Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA, USA.

Doors were advertised to open at 7pm, but people were being let in after 8pm. It was raining hard and the building overhang did not shelter the whole crowd. The opening act, Kendall Payne, a singer from L.A. wearing a t-shirt that said "rock star", came on after 9pm and played for half an hour. Her band was two men, one on guitar and other on bass (guitar) and keyboards. A nice show and some people in the audience were fans of hers.

Dido came on at 10pm or so and played till 11pm. She wore a fuschia sleeveless blouse/t-shirt and black capri pants with a thin rhinestone belt slung low on her hips. Her opening song won the crowd over with its strong lament for a lost lover. The band, especially the guitars and deck sampling and scratching gave the live version a rougher edgier feel without losing the melancholic feel of the song. Dido's manner and gestures during that song reminded me of Björk. I don't see so many concerts, so my perspective may be limited. Even the song structure live, the way it was lengthened out with solemn yet funky interludes and the colorful inflections of samples and sounds was Björk-like in terms of production values. I was thinking how Björk really helped laid the ground for a live mixture of electronic and acoustic accompaniment fronted by a strong personality: important for bands with a mixture of instruments and especially for being a strong female pop presence, not completely dance or rock or electronic, some entertaining hybrid that accounts for all its cultural influences in a carefree manner, wearing the mantle of musical diversity lightly. Dido brought this to mind. Then I let the notion go and heard and saw Dido emerge from her songs as a storyteller with the band providing a commentary. Funny samples or sounds would comment at the end of verse, or start out a song with a surprise, like laughter that comes at an odd time but becomes infectious. A good humor pervaded the sound and the crowd and people started to move to the music. Saint Etienne's Sarah Cracknell came to mind, as someone vulnerable but tough enough to survive and tell tales with an instinct for pleasure. Dido's interaction with the band, her relaxed posture and body language, drew in the crowd to actually listen to the words, the story being told. The songs really got great treatment from the band and it was a true ensemble jam performance.

Tracks from the album expanded in funked-up, rocked-up, hip-hop-scratched-and-sampled up arrangements. Save for the decks, which were a nice difference here, the performance was strong in the same ensemble way that Faithless performed at their first Boston show at Axis in . Not identical but tailored to suit Dido's musical personality. The show worked, the songs' hooks and melodies were in service to an emotion or tale, whether fully exposed or not. It was a pleasure.

Set list

1. My Lover's Gone
2. All You Want
3. ThankYou
4. Don't Leave Home [a song about addiction, non-album track]
5. Honestly OK
6. Don't Think Of Me
7. Isobel
8. Here With Me
9. Hunter
10. I'm No Angel [first encore song]
11. Every Little Thing (He Does Is Magic)
[cover of hit song by The Police with gender changed from She to He]

Alex on drums, Pete on bass (guitar), Chris on decks [scratching on and sampling from vinyl at turntables], Marky [?] on keyboards, M [?, a woman] on backing vocals, Mindy or Mandy [?, a man] on guitar.


Discography





   No Angel  [album]



   (Arista, U.K., May 31?, 1999)
   CD, catalog # ?, ISBN # ? 
      [includes all ? tracks]

   (Arista, U.S., June 1, 1999)
   CD, catalog # 07822-19025-2, ISBN # 07822-19025-2 6
      [includes all 12 tracks]

   (Arista, U.S., ?, 1999)
   CD, catalog # ARCD-9025, ["No Angel Advance"] promotional
      only, foldout digipak with clear red plastic cover
      [includes 11 tracks, not the bonus track]
 

   1.    4:14   Here With Me 
   2.    3:57   Hunter 
   3.    4:33   Don't Think Of Me 
   4.    4:28   My Lover's Gone 
   5.    3:53   All You Want 
   6.    3:38   ThankYou 
   7.    4:38   Honestly OK 
   8.    4:54   Slide 
   9.    3:54   Isobel 
   10.   3:55   I'm No Angel 
   11.   3:10   My Life
   12    6:43   Take My Hand  [bonus track] 


   1 and 10. Written by D. Armstrong, P. Statham & P. Gabriel.
   2 and 9. Written by D. Armstrong & R. Armstrong.
   3. Written by D. Armstrong, R. Armstrong, P. Taylor and P. Herman.
   4. Written by D. Armstrong & Jamie Catto.
   5. Written by D. Armstrong, P. Herman and R. Armstrong.
   6 and 8. Written by D. Armstrong and P. Herman.
   7. Written by D. Armstrong, M. Benbrook & R. Armstrong.
  11. Written by D. Armstrong, R. Armstrong & M. Bates.
  12. Written by D. Armstrong & R. Dekkard.


   Tracks 1, 2 and 5. Produced by Rick Nowels and Dido.
      Initial pre-production & programming on track 1 by Pascal
      Gabriel & Paul Statham.
   Track 3. Produced by Youth.
   Track 4. Produced by Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto and Dido.
   Tracks 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11. Produced by Rollo & Dido.
   Track 12. Produced by Rollo, Dido & Sister Bliss.

   Recorded and mixed at Swanyard, The Church, Sarm West, Olympic, Eden
      and Angel Studios.  Thanks to all the assistants, especially:
      Jason Howes, Grippa & Andy @ Swanyard, Chris @ The Church
      & Jeff @ Eden.

   Dido: All vocals. Keyboards on 7 & 9. Recorder on 6.
   Rollo: Programming on 6, 8, 9, 10 & 12.
   Rick Nowels: Keyboards on 1, 2 and 5. Acoustic guitar on 1, 2 and 5.
      Wurlitzer and Chamberline on 2 and 5.
   Ash Howes: Recorded and mixed 1, 2 and 5.
   Phill Brown: Mixed 6, 7, 8 and 11.  Recorded and mixed 9 and 10.
   Goetz, courtesy of Z Management: Recorded and mixed 12. Mixed 4.
      Recorded 6, 7, 8 and 11. Additional recording on 9.
   Hugo Nicolson for Big Life Management: Recorded and mixed 3.
   Randy Wine: U.S.A. recording engineer on 2 and 5.
   James Sanger: Programming on 1, 2 and 5.
   Jony Rockstar: Programming on 3.
   Duncan Bridgeman: Recording, keyboards and programming on 4.
   Matty Benbrook: Programming on 7. Live drums on 8, 9 and 11.
   Nick Manasseh:  Additional programming and dub effects on 7.
   Peter Vittese: Additional programming and keyboards on 1.
   Richie Stevens: Additional live drums on 2 and 5.  Additional
      percussion on 5.
   Geoff Dugmore: Live drums and percussion on 3.
   Mal Hyde Smith: Percussion on 6, 9 and 12.
   Sudha: Percussion on 8 and 10.
   Aubrey Nunn: Bass on 4, 8, 10 and 12.
   Tim Vogt: Bass on 9.
   Youth: Bass on 3.
   John Pierce: Bass on 2 and 5.
   Paulie Herman: Guitar 3, 6, 8 and 9. Harmonica on 9.
   Dave Randall: Guitar 4, 10 and 12.
   John Themis: Electric guitar on 1, 2 and 5. Percussion on 1, 2 and 5.
   Rusty Anderson: Electric guitar on 2 and 5.
   Martin McCory: Electric guitar on 9.
   Mark Bates: Piano on 3 and 9. Keyboards on 12. Piano, Wurlitzer,
      keyboards and organ on 11. Piano and keyboards on 6.
   Paul Statham: Keyboards on 1. Keyboards and piano on 10.
   Sister Bliss: Keyboards on 12.
   Bruce Aisher: Keyboards on 8.  Additional keyboards on 7.
   Pauline Taylor: Additional background vocals on 2, 3 and 12.
      Background vocals and additional arrangement on 8.
      Background vocals and background vocal arrangement on 11.
   Rachael Brown: Background vocals on 8 and 11.
   Aquila: Background vocals on 8.
   Mark Felton: Harmonica on 10.

   Strings on 1, 3, 11 and 12 arranged by Will Malone and led by
      Gavin Wright.


   From Arista website for Dido:

   "Musically the album covers a vast array of genres - from
   cinematic scoring of "Here With Me," the universal pop of 'Thank
   You', the street dub of 'Worthless' to the guitar induced 'Slide'
   and the title track 'No Angel'."


   ['Here With Me' and 'I'm Coming Home' were released promotionally in
   England by Arista U.K..  Other known song titles, not included on
   album:  'I'm Coming Home' and 'Worthless'.]




   "The Highbury Fields EP" 

   (Arista/BMG, U.S., April/May?, 1999)
   CD, catalog # ASCD-3634, promotional only

   [includes tracks from forthcoming "No Angel" CD, plus
   'Worthless', a non-album track.  It comes is a red clear jewelcase
   and contains background information on Dido and her album.  The
   CD is clear around the outside and baby blue in the middle.
   A nice package!] 

   1.    4:14   Here With Me
   2.    4:30   My Lover's Gone
   3.    3:58   Hunter
   4.    4:49   Honestly OK
   5.    7:48   Worthless

   1. Produced by Rick Nowels & Dido.  Initial pre-production
      & programming by Pascal Gabriel
      Written by D. Armstrong, P. Statham & P. Gabriel.
   2. Produced by Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto & Dido.
      Written by D. Armstrong & Jamie Catto.
   3. Produced by Rick Nowels & Dido.
      Written by D. Armstrong & R. Armstrong.
   4. Produced by Rollo & Dido.
      Written by D. Armstrong, M. Benbrook & R. Armstrong.
   5. Produced by Rollo, Sister Bliss & Dido.
      Written by R. Armstrong, Sister Bliss & D. Armstrong.

   ['Worthless' is a moody dance soundtrack number with vocals that
   glide in and stay at about the 3-1/2 minute mark.  It sounds very
   much like Rollo & Sister Bliss.]





   Here With Me  [single]



   (Arista/BMG, US, April/May? 1999)
   CD, catalog # ASCD-3640, promotional only

   A.    4:13   Here With Me  (Radio Edit)
   B.    0:10   Here With Me  (Call Research Hook)




   (Arista/BMG, US, April/May? 1999)
   12", catalog # ADP-3640, promotional only

   A.    5:30   Here With Me  (Rollo's Chillin' With The Family Remix)
   B.    4:15   Here With Me  (Album Version)

   Track A. Produced by Rollo & Dido.




   (Arista/BMG, US, May? 1999)
   CD, catalog # ASCD-3689, promotional only
   
   1.    5:30   Here With Me  (Rollo's Chillin' With The Family Remix)

   [A round sticker on the front of the CD jewelcase has Dido spelled
    out in large blue letters on a band of red set against more blue.
    Below that, smaller blue letters spell out Rollo's Chillin' With
    The Family Remix.  Above Dido's name, the song title is in red
    against blue.  There's no artwork or insert in the back.

    The cd's red core fades out to the transparent edge in a
    corona effect.  Dido's name is in blue and the other text is
    silver and white.]




   Four Song Sampler

   (Arista/BMG?, US, January/February? 1999)
   CASS, catalog # ?,  promotional only
   [Black lettering on a white cardstock insert]
   [track times are approximate]

   1.    3:06   Here With Me
   2.    3:14   Thank You
   3.    4:20   My Love Is Gone  [sic]
   4.    6:31   Take My Hand

   [Thanks to Martin Kavka for information on this release.  I have
   included an edited version of his comments below and added a little
   to them.]

   Track 1.  Different from album version, this version may have been
   produced by Rollo and Dido, like the Rollo mix available on the
   12" vinyl promo.  This may be an edit of that mix or the
   12" mix may be an extended version of this mix.  It could
   also be a demo version.  It starts out with Angelo Badalamenti (sp?)
   "Twin Peaks" keyboards (even the same chords?), and there
   are no drums until after the first chorus.  This version stresses the
   narrator's emotional instability in the absence of her partner.

   Track 2. 'Thank You' here is missing the opening percussion loop,
   and basically loops the piano line four times (two without the faint
   "whoo! whoo!", two with) before the vocal comes in.  I
   don't own the "Sliding Doors" soundtrack.  Is the soundtrack
   version different from the album version?

   Track 3. 'My Love Is Gone' is the same as 'My Lover's Gone'.

   Track 4.  Probably the same as bonus track on U.S. album.  Will confirm.





   Don't Think Of Me  [single]


   Written by D. Armstrong, R. Armstrong, P. Taylor and P. Herman.
   Produced by Youth. Recorded by Hugo Nicolson for Big Life Management.


   (Arista/BMG, US, January/February ?, 2000)
   CD, catalog # ARPCD-3803, promotional only

   1.    3:56   Don't Think Of Me  (Radio Mix)
   2.    4:18   Don't Think Of Me  (Album Version) [Edit]
   3.    0:10   Don't Think Of Me  (Call Out Research Hook)

   Track 1. Mixed by Chris Lord-Alge
   Track 2. Mixed by Hugo Nicolson.

   Jony Rockstar: Programming.
   Geoff Dugmore: Live drums and percussion.
   Youth: Bass.
   Paulie Herman: Guitar.
   Mark Bates: Piano.
   Pauline Taylor: Additional background vocals.
   Strings arranged by Will Malone and led by Gavin Wright.

   [Another nice promo package from Arista for this single:
    photos and artwork on tray and insert cards are done up in unique
    way that is still consistent with style of prior releases. Tray card
    has design of tic-tac-toes squares marked out with X's and O's. The
    CD is clear on the outer part with pretty red X's and O's spreading
    out from red center.  Lyrics included on inner sleeve.  The first
    track is a mix exclusive to this release so far.  It makes Dido's
    voice more prominent and clear and changes some elements of the
    instrumentation.  That would make it a radio mix then.]





   Sliding Doors  [film soundtrack appearance]


   ( , U.S., ?, 1998)
   CD, catalog # ?, ISBN # ?

   includes ? tracks, including:

   5.    3:46   Thank You




Created Matthew Sikorski, Copyright 1998