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Stop that racket!" a woman screamed from a window as Robert Wyatt was halfway through miming to "Shipbuilding."
Not surprising really, especially as it was 4.30am, and St. Catherine's Dock had been deserted and peaceful until the video crew arrived at dawn.
Two hours later Robert and the video director Dave Robinson (Stiff Records' boss and director of the Madness movie Take It Or Leave It) had met up with the rest of the band at The Wag Club in London's Wardour Street.
The "band" isn't a permanent line-up, but it's certainly distinguished.
On keyboards are Clive Langer (Dexys, Madness producer) and Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello's backing band The Attractions), Elvis himself is on guitar, Mark Bedford (Madness) is on double-bass, and Martin Hughes (Any Trouble) plays drums.
Clive Langer wrote the music, Elvis wrote the words — and after a bit of persuasion Robert Wyatt recorded it.
"I live in Spain," Robert says between takes. Sadly, after an accident some
time ago, he's confined to a wheel-chair.
"These days I listen to Flamenco music and watch my wife paint. I got a call to come over when "Shipbuilding" was re-released. They said they needed me, so I came."
As Dave sets up the instruments against the club's window, hoping to catch the neon lights coming through the blinds, Elvis explains what inspired him to write the song.
"Clive gave me a tape of the backing track just before I went to Australia. The Falklands war was on at the time, and I just felt it was ironic that we were building ships to send young men off to be killed."
By 9pm everyone is tired, but happy with the results.
"Everyone — barring the crew — gave their services free for this video," says Clive.
"We all admire Robert very much." Elvis nods in agreement, and adds, "For every record by Modern Romance there's a place for 'Shipbuilding' — it's a sad world."
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