A Plan Too Far

Album: Stockholm (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • John McEnroe played guitar on this track. The tennis great learned to play the guitar with the help of axeman pals like Eddie Van Halen and Eric Clapton. After divorcing Tatum O'Neil in 1994, McEnroe formed The Johnny Smyth Band with himself as lead singer and guitarist and began gigging and writing songs. The group had almost completed an album when McEnroe suddenly quit in 1997.

    Another musical connection for McEnroe: his wife is Patty Smyth, who was lead singer of the band Scandal ("Goodbye To You," "The Warrior").
  • Hynde has known McEnroe since the 1980s and they have been having a version of the same argument over that period. She told The Observer. "I say to him, 'Don't do any more exhibition matches. If you want to play in a band, just play in some sh---y little band in a little club if that's what you want to do.' Of course, he doesn't do it."

    Hynde continued, "And he always says, 'I want to meet your accountant: how much are you getting paid?' I don't know, so that winds him up. As far as success goes, I've never really got too excited about losing or winning. I don't have whatever the gene is you need for that. Whatever the gene John McEnroe has, I don't have that. I don't care."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.