Released on:
The Mello Hippo Disco Show
Runtime: 5:22
Opening the ‘Mello Hippo’ single, ‘Yo-Yo’ is effectively an alternate take on the original. Much higher mellotron notes, looser drums, growling synth bass and filtered guitar and voices in the background make the track feel more laid back. The middle section features a guitar solo. The chorus lyrics are reversed: “Mello hippo disco show” is sung three times, with “mumbo jumbo slow fellatio” only once. The track works brilliantly as an opener to the single, a significantly different take to the album mix, yet believable as an alternate ‘original’ version, much like ‘My Kingdom (Part 1)‘ and ‘Cascade (Part 1)‘ differed from their album counterparts.
Credits
Written by Cobain, Dougans, Rowe.
Produced by The Future Sound of London.
Engineered by Yage and Stone Freshwaters at The Galaxial Pharmaceutical.
From initial recordings ‘Trying to Make Impermanent Things Permanent’ and ‘Yo-Yo’ at Earthbeat Studio, engineered by Yage.
Mellotron, Farfisa and keyboards – Mikey Rowe.
Reprise synth – Daniel Pemberton.
Brass arrangement – Dominic Glover trumpet, Fayaz Virgi trombone
Flute – Chris Margary.
End female voice – Anjali Saga.
Reprise orchestration – The Mike McEvoy Orchestra composed and orchestrated by Mike McEvoy, recorded at Stepping Stone, engineered by Stik (July ’96).
Cellos – Helena Binney, Jane Fenton, Christene Jackson.
Horn – Philip Eastop.
Oboe/cor anglais – Kate St. John.
Violins – Morven Bryce, Joanna Archard, Sarah Tilley, Mark McEvoy.
Trombone – Mark Eades.
Additional la-la’s – The Electric Gospel Choir (Gloria Gee, Rechenda Elmhurst, John-Llewelyn Evans, Christine Settle, Jacqueline Goddard, Adrian Osmond, Jon English).
Harp – Thelma Owen.
Fractional Difference 