Thomas Dolby Live - "One of Our Submarines" - Live at Largo, 2012
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- Thomas Dolby (vocal, keyboards):
A moody atmospheric song about my uncle Stephen who drowned in a British sub in WW2.
The intro consists of multiple samples and loops played on my M-Audio Trigger Finger pads. I can sneak different loops in and out using the knobs, and trigger odd whale-like calls in Omnisphere, along with some bizarre unpredictable radio tuning sounds. At a given point I can send a click to Mat's ears so he knows where to start the drum fill into the groove.
During the song I'm playing lots of different sounds in several registers of the keyboard. None are very tricky, but it's easy to forget what I've assigned where-especially after a few months away from my rig! Sometimes I play this with no drums, a sort of ambient version which lets you hear all the sounds more clearly.
I've got two of the TriggerFinger boxes, and they're great but unfortunately they sometimes freak out and jumble up their memories. The product has been discontinued, so I guess I'm in the market for some new pads!
Mat Hector (drums):
One of my favorite tunes in the set. I think this is partially anthemic and expansive. Playing this track thorough a large PA is always a huge pleasure, it sounds so massive and engulfs the venue! The main goal for me on this tune is consistency. I'm essentially replicating a drum machine for this track so I'm aiming for an even dynamic throughout, machine like even. To help in creating this vibe I'm triggering an electronic bass drum and snare drum sounds via my acoustic bass drum and snare drum. Our sound engineer turns my acoustic drums down in the PA and turns the samples up so the audience really gets the electronic vibe. The sounds are actually the original drum sounds from submarines that Thomas gave me, so completely authentic. As you can see from the video I also trigger the initial fill via my spd-30 sample pad. Again these are actual samples from the original track.
Kevin Armstrong (guitar):
I love hitting the first ringing chord of this song (0:33) It's just a 3 note chord on the top strings D, F# and G on top. I put a capo on the 3rd fret to catch the G note and make it easy to play so it's like a Dsus4 but with the third still played. Again a signature Dolby voicing. Other people just don't do this often so the harmony sounds simple but has a unique flavour. Add some delay and a little compression and drive and just makes audiences whoop when they hear it slam out. The middle of the song has a great riff too that is fun to mash into.
Thank you dad for taking me to see Thomas when I was a kid. What an amazing memory I think about when I hear Dolbys music
Thank you, Thomas, for creating one of the most beautiful songs of my lifetime. I've loved this tune for four decades.
And when the Russians lost the Kursk and wouldn’t rescue their sailors, I cried when this song came on. Wikipedia reported it wrong, but I remember. Russia let their boys die down there
Peach of a tune. Holds meaning. Forever deep.
I remember requesting this on the radio when the Kursk sank.
RIP boys.
Love this song! Sad song. A very personal song to him. It’s about his uncles navy submarine that ran aground during WW2 know one survived. This guy is a genius. He created the chip for the music earpiece I believe (something like that)
My god this man's a genius!
The salute at the end...
As a military veteran, I found that very respectful and honorable. RIP to all those who've died in the line of duty.
I believe it's a tribute to his uncle who inspired Thomas to write this song. His uncle was lost aboard Submarine P48 in WW2. The lyrics say that it ran aground but it was never recovered. There is now evidence it may have been sunk by Italian depth charges. The sub went missing around Christmas day 1942.
@@MickLoud999 I believe that's the story, or something very close to it.
Back when musicians had actual talent! I miss those days. Dolby is a genius!
Such a great song even now! Much respect to Thomas Dolby!!
what about now in 2022?
R.I.P. Titan crew. 6/22/23
A wonderfully talented and underrated artist ❤
Not in the least bit underrated.
Always has been my personal favorite of his. I’m underwater each time I listen to it.
This song is a goddamn rocker
The first time I heard this song was on the King Biscuit Flower Hour on a local radio station way back in 1982. I fell head over heels in love with it, and it's still one of my very favorite songs of the 80s.
I used to listen to this tape driving to junior college to play baseball.
This was the flip side to blinded with science... i always preferred this... great memories!
It's 1982 and I am waking up to my radio alarm. This tune came on and changed my life. One of my all time favorite songs. So well crafted. LOVE IT!
39 years of listening to this man and I still love his work! Thanks Thomas!
This always makes me think of the Sapphire and Steel story with the trapped submariners. Haunting and beautiful and tragic music.
Never thought of that before but totally agree now you mention it. Thomas Dolby has been assigned.
Love this song. It's been stuck in my head lately for some reason....
There was so much talent in the 80's unlike today. miss the 80's so much.
One of the all time best singer - songwriters! and a great musician!
82', i was 18.
fascinating times
and it was the music that made it so
Kraftwerk was much the first!!!!
We grew up in the best time musically ever. As kids we heard all the great stuff from the 60s and 70s Forged new ground in the 80s and 90s -when music became stale I went back and discovered the 40s and 50s- Charlie Parker you da man- and finally worked my way back to Satchmo-most influential folk musician ever!!! What a musical journey...
Never knew this song. Will never forget it! Masterful in every way
I'd heard it for the very first time only 3 days ago, too! Thanks to a friend sharing this video on fb 😊 I'd always only known his 'She Blinded Me With Science' and 'Hyperactive', and since they'd been released, too!
its badass, discovered this song about 3 years ago and its epic
Awesome live performance. Wish I could've been there...
This has to be an intimidating gig for anyone to play with Thomas Dolby. Knowing that he can replace you with his depth of electronic musical knowledge in an instant. He was well beyond his years in the early 80’s. The Live Wireless show in ‘83 was incredible. His vocals were stunning.
I love this song, it has a pop feel, and yet still so interesting and full of harmony.
The man’s a keyboard genius 💫
A fantastic, mesmerizing version of a great tune. I recall waiting to hear this tune played on the radio back in early 80's.
Incredible song. His use of every imaginable electronic/mixing device to achieve the final product is brilliant. Wow!!
Haunting...simply, haunting and beautiful...knowing the story behind it too, makes it even more so.
In the day, I thought this was all just studio mechanics...built in layers over weeks, maybe even months, and when you realize it can be performed like this...there is a continuity in it, that means this is a tangible audio art form. A real talent. Thanks for posting.
My favorite from him and an all time classic.
The signature drum fill at 0:30 is my favorite thing about this song.
He seems to have improved with age... Excellent!
Like a fine wine 🍷
What a story teller. Such an evocative song. ❤️
I found this song by accident 35 years ago and it's still amazing. What a unique piece of Music.
This song was 10x better than "Science". I loved it then and now.....but I always thought it was about the Russian sub that sank and was lost back then.
Absolutely a gem 💎 ❤😢 one of our submarines is missing...
Always liked this song, Dolby is amazing.
One of my favorite Dolby songs!
Beautiful. I will forever love this creation.
Great memories of '83..
My favorite Dolby Song🎹🎹🎹🎹🎶🎶🎵🎵!
Mine would have to be Europa 🙏👉👈
My MOST " DEEP " favored DOLBY's song
Great performance. I like the extended chorus the second time around. A captivating song.
Thomas Dolby is cold blooded
bring back the 80s analog synths and energy. damn the time and gravity.one of the 80s most brilliant and gifted musician.
He founded and mastered digital music, and no one has ever came close to him since then unless it's in the studio for a month. He does it live.
+Augie C ....Giorgio ! ;)
'founded digital ...' ? see Tangerine Dream. They created everything 80s electronic musicians used i.e. linking keybds computers etc including an early version of MIDI.
ya he did ! lolol
i think you'll find that was kraftwerk
Augie C don't forget about Nick roads from Duran Duran
Brilliant.
One of my all time favorite songs and artists, Mr Dolby, I salute you! :)
His mastery of the synthesizer-creating amazing melodies that still stand up today; reminds me of a guitarist in the '60's, so ahead of his time and had no peer(JimiH),
An Amazing Artist, a timeless song……to the poster of this vid, thanks, it brings me back, so much talent here, thanks again
Very excellent song. I love it live too. Love you dolby !😍
More synth, Baby. One of my favorite songs by him & he up & murdered it live. I GOTTA have MORE synth!
Great song! I remember the rock stations playing this.
I got this so well and true back when first released, thought there was so much meaning in this
"is missing".... nuf said....genius
When I first heard this on rock radio in late-1982, I thought it was about a future society where people lived underwater because the earth's surface had been rendered uninhabitable (leave it to my sci-fi imagination). Regardless of my interpretation, I always thought it was a powerful and imaginative work of music. I didn't even know it was Dolby until I did a "memory lane" internet search around 2008, and found out he was the writer and performer. I remember thinking "so the 'Blinded Me With Science' guy did this?" I've never liked that song, and I thought what a disservice the radio and music industry did him and us for not making it more apparent who the artist of "One of Our Submarines" was. Subsequently I learned of "Airwaves" and "Wreck of the Fairchild" and bought the 2009 special music and vid reissue of "The Golden Age of Wireless."
Will always be one of my favorite songs from days gone by. Dolby was such a genius with sound and making them flow together. And I regret never getting to see him live.
Love this song.. Thanks Mr. Dolby, for giving us in Houston a great show! One of the highlites of my musical life!!!!
Owesome! Luckly having Amazon HD service I could spot entire album I remember I've been listened to in mid 80s when my dad send his tape from US to Poland.. wow! So different than most of musicians!
Nice ! Great song bought this Album in 80'$
I had been OCD'ing on this song/video a while ago and for a number of days, after hearing it for the first time thanks to a friend, and then also not knowing it was already 40 years old! 😅
And today I'm hearing the news about that missing Titanic exploration submarine. Which also has the same name as a yacht in the book I'm currently reading 😳
Bring back the 80s! I miss you, Thomas Dolby!! Such a good song!! xox
Damn....just when i thought this jam could not get any fucking better.......Thomas throws this down!!!!!
Thats brilliant, what a great performance and still has a very distinctive voice.
Mr Robertson is as much a "geek" as he is a musician (good at both I should add). He knows how to make his instruments fit his purpose like a glove. But don't forget the message of this song since it was about his uncle who went out and never came back. Mentioned to my kid that "Thomas Dolby" teaches at his school (Johns Hopkins). Though he never heard of him before, I found a couple of his songs. He seemed impressed LOL.. Good video.
Beautiful and soo soo sad...
a genius...
Genius from my youth
AMAZING VERSION > IMPORTANT SONG / great arrangement for this live brilliant live config! Strong vox / great drummer! Wicked! XOXO
Amazing artist
dude you still sounds so good in this this is definitely one of my favorites from the day thanks for sharing thomas
'course I had to watch this tonight, and it remains an amazing song, and so cool to watch TD sequencing it.
I saw this same line-up at the Sellersville Theater a few years ago. What an amazing show. In my top 5 shows, ever. Thomas is absolutely brilliant. his textures and chord changes give me chills.
Love this song so much. Chilling story.
Beautifully played and arranged. Stunning song. Imagine being stuck in that spam tin for 6 months at a time...................
GREAT SONG! I STILL LOVE IT! Thank You, Mr. Dolby!
My inner self filled with gratitude ,motivation and love...for you dearest Thomas, thank you...Sylvia
This is my favorite Thomas Dolby song. I love it so much. The moment that breaks me is late in the song when there is a single note that is different than the other iterations of the same phrase that totally changes the tone of the phrase, like the moment hope is given up. That moment would have been at 4:47 but for some reason they went with the higher note like usual. So curious about that choice. Every time I listen to the recording of this song, it is all a build up to that one crushing moment.
A Keyboard genius and this is live ! Brilliant loved TD for over 40 years
Love this version!
Happy 62th birthday Mr. Dolby! You inspired me so much to buy the many synthesizers I still own today. Thank you!!!
Another one of my favorites
Been a Dolby fan since TGAW; lucky to see this tour. Thanks Tom!
as the years go by, this song just gets better!!!!
Thomas is a WIZARD of sounds
Wow... Amazing... Awesome... But then again what can I expect from the genius talent that is Thomas Dolby.... Even now.. Well ahead of his time...
Yes Thomas Dolby is great! I love ya! Always have!
I love his blinded me with science video!!!! I would like to see what an updated version of his videos will look like
as a musician i love that you.ve all put descriptions of whats going on fo r your parts in thr songs... i'm available if you need one more.. :-)
Timeless song. Thomas creates the perfect mood for what is portrayed, both lyrically and musically. It all comes together. Nicely done!
A brilliant song!
Mr Dolby, You are a Genius!!
I saw this show in Orlando. Small venue was packed. Was an amazing experience and I hope Dolby tours again.
One of my all time favorites!🥰
A staggeringly fine performance of an excellent song. Thank you.
Written near 40 years ago. Nothing like it today.
mesmerising version ... genius!!
your sound is spot on....
Enorme. Un des plus grands. Thank you Mister Thomas Dolby. You're still the best.
My favorite Dolby sound!