On several occasions in the past, the girls in the string quartet have entertained early birds at gigs with their glorious renditions of Elbow favourites old and new. It certainly made the uncomfortable wait on the MEN floor much more bearable as we sat there under the control of the Stalinist oppressors aka the MEN security.

I hope these beautiful arrangements have been captured properly in some way for posterity: It would be nice to think that a CD of these performances could be released at some point in the future, either in it's own right or perhaps as a companion piece to some future Elbow release.

We've seen the full glory of the Abbey Road and Halle collaborations, but I think that the string quartet versions sit very fabourably measured against these, albeit with a more genteel, parlour-room vibe: The perfect accompaniment to your afternoon tea and scones.

end of 'Not a Job' to all of 'Asleep in the Back



Oh Mr Woman, I couldn't agree more!
In fact although I missed the beginning, as was getting my seated ticket, I made sure I stayed for all the rest of their exquisite set!
So left my purchase of my 'Newborn' babygro and to join a mile long queue to get a drink, whilst that support band were on.

- Not A Job
- Fallen Angel
- Snooks (Progress Report)

- Asleep In The Back
- Red
- Powder Blue

- Picky Bugger
- Puncture Repair

- Audience With The Pope (not in that order)

I believe, is what was played at the M.E.N... much longer than at Wembley Arena, and all songs that Elbow wouldn't be doing.

Although the visual I got, as it was dark, is absolute rubbish, I did capture some clips on camera, so got sound and uploaded one from Wembley and one from M.E.N arena that came out best picture to youtube.
The sound was louder at M.E.N. I was even thinking of working out how to get the audio off of a couple of the other clips I took.
Anyway, no one one else has so here are my poor clips as a reminder (sound picked up is bearable)

If anyone has got any proper recordings or even much, much, better... an official release sometime, would love to listen to!

I know there was an album released of snow patrol songs covered by a string quartet, so there must be a market! I love the elgirls versions, I'd definitely love a recording of them

Good idea.

I really like string quartets and I must say that the above recording sounds very nice. It fits a lot more to Elbow than huge orchestras and choirs (exept the Geoffs at Presuming Ed)
A real sensitive string arrangement makes me cry (in a good way). I adore the cello in "Red", I love the strings in "Fugitive Motel" and "My very best" and there are a lot other band's tracks that would be half as moving without the orchestration (Kate Bush "The man with the child in his eyes", Black Sabbath "She's gone", Peter Gabriel "Signal to noise")

I did suggest it to Richard back in April! Maybe the boys could give us all a nice little Christmas present.

I've finally got round to listening to this (thanks to the original YouTube poster in particular (is that you LWD? ), and for recording that version of Bitten!) and I wholeheartedly second the idea of an official release of these, as I've never heard them and love what I've heard from this recording.