Hey guys,

 

I hope this is okay to post here – if not, moderators please move or delete as appropriate. 

 

I’m part of a team at the University of Sheffield, led by Dr Chris 

Stride. We've published a number of academic papers and magazine 

articles relating to football history, on subjects such as statues and 

replica shirts (see, for example sportingstatues.com, and 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17460263.2019.1578255).

 

Our current project is investigating the music that football teams have 

run or walked out of the tunnel to over the years.

 

We are looking for the music that Chelsea have run out to, for as 

many seasons in the past as you can recall. We are simply interested in 

the title of the song, the artist who recorded it, and for which seasons 

Chelsea ran out to this. Any help you can give us to 

piece together the different songs that your club has run out to would 

be hugely appreciated.

 

If you have any personal anecdotes around the reasons for the songs 

being used, or the changes between them, that would also be fantastic. If anyone is aware of what came before The Liquidator, we would love to know!

 

I should also add that we are not interested in goal music, or a song 

that is played at the final whistle, but just the song that is on the 

tannoy system as the players enter the field.

 

If you think someone else may be able to help, or you have any 

questions, please let us know!  We would be very happy to discuss the 

project.

 

Thanks for your time guys,

 

Joe Headland

 

Think its allways been the liquidiator ,but saying that its not AS thou i have been to untold Home games 

It was always liquidator in my first few seasons in the early 70s, but wasn't played for a fair few years after. I remember the team running out to Rhapsody in Blue, a Gershwin tune, in the early Bates years, and later on Jump by Van Halen in the Hoddle period. I can only really remember Liquidator being played again at the play off game against Boro, and I think it's been played ever since.

Did they not ever run out to blue is the colour ? or was that my memory playing up with me again 

Blue is the colour was used. Rhapsody in blue was used when I started going 77/78. I remember for a period that Tina Turners simply the best being used!

I only remember "Blue is the colour" and Liquidator thats real Chelsea. Being a late 70s early 80s Skinhead Madness one step beyond at the end of games and also "Blue day"by Suggs.

Some Northern Soul would go down well for us oldies .

1 hour ago, Richard P said:

Blue is the colour was used. Rhapsody in blue was used when I started going 77/78. I remember for a period that Tina Turners simply the best being used!

I hated that - who the f**k thought that was a good idea. Some suit with NO idea obviously.

Whoever made the decision to restore The Liquidator to its rightful place deserves huge credit and knows a bit more about our history. 

4 hours ago, Nibs said:

I hated that - who the f**k thought that was a good idea. Some suit with NO idea obviously.

Whoever made the decision to restore The Liquidator to its rightful place deserves huge credit and knows a bit more about our history. 

Shame it's not played in its entirety anymore though, but then again the "We hate Tottenham" bit has killed it for me, too many songs about the mob from New 3PL, I'd rather most of our song just be about supporting our team.

I started going early 80s and it was the liquidator. There was no ‘we hate Tottenham’ part. Everyone would clap at that point of the song and then shout Chelsea.

My son likes to shout the we hate ... part but for me it kind of spoils the song.

I remember Bates criticising the liquidator saying it was from another age and not in keeping with the modern image of the club.

From memory attempts were made to replace it but fans moaned.

My main issue with the liquidator is that at SB it is not played loud enough or long enough. I am quite sure back in the day we played the whole song ( which is only a couple of minutes anyway).

The song is driven by the fans and I get the impression there is a lack of conviction from the board towards some Chelsea traditions but I could be wrong.

Thanks for your comments everyone, much appreciated.

A quick final question - IF the club were to replace The Liquidator now, how much uproar would there be among fans do you think? Would it even be possible for those 'higher ups' to consider it?

Times change........us dinosaurs will stilll turn up for the special games. Liquidator is fantastic. Though for the right song will go ,us ex Chelsea Skins will moarn the day..

 

BLUE IS THE COLOUR...,...........Always has been  always will be. Ossie and co will never die thats our song.

Edited February 19, 20205 yr by Londons Finest

Don’t think we run out to it, but remember Queens We are the Champions being played prematch, with everyone singing along to the “ We’ll keep on fighting to the end” in 77.

Also recall Marvin Gayes homage to a West London District “ Sexual Ealing” coming out of the Shed Tannoy in September 82 which pleased us Soul Boys.

Ps How did you request a prematch song- was there a postal address in the programme? Think the DJ was at the back of the West Stand. 

“ This one’s for Jimmy whose celebrating his 10th Birthday today....We’ve had a request for Brothers Johnson Stomp for all the Croydon boys.....” etc etc

 

 

Didn't we very briefly use a Russian sounding song too when Roman first took over?

13 hours ago, Joeheadland said:

Thanks for your comments everyone, much appreciated.

A quick final question - IF the club were to replace The Liquidator now, how much uproar would there be among fans do you think? Would it even be possible for those 'higher ups' to consider it?

I think there would be a lot of uproar. But the type of new fan Chelsea are trying to attract maybe oblivious to the heritage of the traditional fan base. Think half and half scarves but in answer to your question people would moan a lot but as it is I’m pretty sure we get a watered down version already. At Wolves their song is played right up until the ball is kicked from the centre spot which is how it should be.

My fav has to be liquidator....back in the day when we had it played v the filth....spurs....there was nothing like the proper shed,r.i.p going at it trying to get the words out before spuds did.....it was done with plenty of oomph...sadly not ike it is now which makes me cringe

On 20/02/2020 at 02:01, drjonesy1994 said:

Didn't we very briefly use a Russian sounding song too when Roman first took over?

Malinka I think that’s called. 

One that might be worth looking into is Strolling, the Flanagan and Allen song. It was apparently the club song in earlier times. But I don’t know if it was played as we ran out or if it was just something the supporters sang. Someone older than me might know.

5 hours ago, Cobham said:

One that might be worth looking into is Strolling, the Flanagan and Allen song. It was apparently the club song in earlier times. But I don’t know if it was played as we ran out or if it was just something the supporters sang. Someone older than me might know.

Coincidentally watched Dads Army last night and remarked that Bud Flanagan who sang the theme tune died shortly after it was recorded.

Used to like their big tune “ Underneath the Armpits..”

7 hours ago, Cobham said:

One that might be worth looking into is Strolling, the Flanagan and Allen song. It was apparently the club song in earlier times. But I don’t know if it was played as we ran out or if it was just something the supporters sang. Someone older than me might know.

It was definitely sung think it's referenced in this game the Chelsea fans start singing it after one of Tambling's goals. They also sing a song to the tune of Yellow Submarine I can't make out the words though.

 

7 hours ago, Cobham said:

Malinka I think that’s called. 

Kalinka

 

5 minutes ago, Backbiter said:

Kalinka

 

That's the one. Blimey that's unlocked a memory haha. Think we only used it for that first year of Roman's ownership? Or not even the full year. Think it may have been binned around Xmas time of that first season. 

9 hours ago, Backbiter said:

Kalinka

 

Haha yeah, that’s the one. Close. 😂

On 08/03/2023 at 05:09, Cobham said:

One that might be worth looking into is Strolling, the Flanagan and Allen song. It was apparently the club song in earlier times. But I don’t know if it was played as we ran out or if it was just something the supporters sang. Someone older than me might know.

Strolling was just a song sung by us eons ago...we use to substitute the particular part of lyric to...A MOTOR CAR IS PHONEY ID RATHER SXXG A PONY....