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

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?