Have You Fed the Fish?


Have You Fed the Fish? is an album released by Badly Drawn Boy in 2002. The album's title originates from the question which Gough asks his daughter each day "to the point where it got to sound like one of those words you say too many times and it sounds silly."
Also included with the album's release was a competition. Placed within certain copies of the album, the "5 Golden Fish" would win the owner a song writing session with Gough. However, the prizes remain unclaimed. The fish, it seems, have remained hidden.
In 2003 Damon presented the Manchester 24 photographic gallery with a picture of his children's goldfish after being asked to take photos of his life during a 24-hour period.
"It's either me or my girlfriend or my daughter. I let her feed them but she tends to overfeed them which can kill them and if you don't feed them enough that can kill them, so it's real poignant subject. You've got to be careful with fish."
Have You Fed The Fish? contained Badly Drawn Boy's highest charting single "You Were Right", which received heavy airplay on BBC Radio 2 and got to number 9 in the charts—his only top ten single. "You Were Right" also earned him a performance on BBC Television's Top of the Pops.

Cover art

The album art and sleeves feature some famous names.
The photo of Damon alongside the album credits was taken in his house.

Track listing

All tracks written by Damon Michael Gough
  1. "Coming in to Land" – 1:37
  2. *Synth, Piano, Guitars & Percussion – Badly Drawn Boy
  3. *Drums – Joey Waronker
  4. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  5. *Strings Arranged & Conducted by Matt Dunkley
  6. "Have You Fed the Fish?" – 4:18
  7. *Synth, Piano, Guitars & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  8. *Drums – Joey Waronker
  9. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  10. *Additional Guitar – John "Gumby" Goodwin
  11. "Born Again" – 4:40
  12. *Guitars, Piano & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  13. *Drums – Joey Waronker
  14. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  15. *Additional Guitar – John "Gumby" Goodwin
  16. *Background Vocals – Sharon Celani, Gia Ciambotti, Drew Arrison & Gemma Gough
  17. "40 Days, 40 Fights" – 3:55
  18. *Piano, Guitars, Tambourine & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  19. *Drums – Danny Heifetz
  20. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  21. *Background Vocals – Sharon Celani, Gia Ciambotti
  22. *Shaker – Tom Rothrock
  23. "All Possibilities" – 3:54
  24. *Guitars, Piano, Tambourine & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  25. *Drums – Danny Heifetz
  26. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  27. *Horns – Probyn Gregory
  28. *Synth – Tom Rothrock
  29. *Strings Arranged & Conducted by Matt Dunkley
  30. "I Was Wrong" – 1:10
  31. "You Were Right" – 4:52
  32. *Guitars, Piano, Synth & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  33. *Drums – Joey Waronker
  34. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  35. *Steel Guitar – John "Gumby" Goodwin
  36. *Strings Arranged & Conducted by Matt Dunkley
  37. "Centrepeace" – 1:49
  38. *Strings Arranged & Conducted by Matt Dunkley
  39. "How?" – 5:17
  40. *Guitars, Piano & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  41. *Drums – Danny Heifetz
  42. *Bass, Chamberlain Strings, Fuzz Guitar, Electric Guitar – Jon Brion
  43. *Strings Arranged & Conducted by Matt Dunkley & Jon Brion
  44. *Horns – Probyn Gregory
  45. "The Further I Slide" – 3:47
  46. *Guitars, Clavier, Flute & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  47. *Drums, Percussion – Pete Thomas
  48. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  49. *Background Vocals – Sharon Celani, Gia Ciambotti
  50. *Horns – Probyn Gregory
  51. *Casio Solo, Chamberlin – Jon Brion
  52. "Imaginary Lines" – 0:45
  53. *Guitars & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  54. *Drums – Joey Waronker
  55. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  56. "Using Our Feet" – 4:10
  57. *Guitars, Piano & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  58. *Drums, Percussion – Joey Waronker
  59. *Drum Programming – Tom Rothrock
  60. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  61. *Background Vocals – Sharon Celani & Gia Ciambotti
  62. *Chorus Background Vocals – Charlotte Gainsbourg
  63. "Tickets to What You Need" – 2:48
  64. *Piano, Guitars, Synth, Chamberlain Strings & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  65. *Drums – Joey Waronker
  66. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  67. *Slide Guitar – John "Gumby" Goodwin
  68. "What Is It Now?" – 2:42
  69. *Guitars, Piano & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  70. *Drums, Percussion – Pete Thomas
  71. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  72. *Horns – Danny Heifetz
  73. *Background Vocals – Charlotte Gainsbourg
  74. "Bedside Story" – 4:53
  75. *Piano, Guitars, Synth & Vocals – Badly Drawn Boy
  76. *Drum Programming & Skateboard – Tom Rothrock
  77. *Drums – Danny Heifetz
  78. *Bass – Sasha Kristov
  79. *Strings Arranged & Conducted by Matt Dunkley
  80. *Background Vocals – Clare Hewitt

    Personnel