Hector Zazou

4-30-08 Hector Zazou

CD 12 (LAS VEGAS IS CURSED) (with Sandy Dillon) CRAMMED BEL CRAM 097

CD BARRICADE 3 (ZNR) ReR US ReRZNR1

LP BARRICADE 3 (ZNR) ISADORA FR ISA 9002

LP GEOGRAPHIES CRAMMED BEL MTM 5LP

LP GEOLOGIES CRAMMED BEL MTM 20LP

LP GUILTY (as “Zazou-Bikaye”) CRAMMED BEL CRAM 062LP

LP LA PERVERSITA INVISIBLE FR SCOPA 10005

CD LIVE AT THE CROC (as “Slow Music”) SLOW MUSIC MQD 0236

LP NOIR ET BLANC (as “Zazou-Bikaye”) CRAMMED BEL CRAM 025LP

LP REIVAX AU BONGO (O.S.T.) CRAMMED BEL MTM 2 LP

CD SONGS FROM THE COLD SEAS COLUMBIA US CK 67068

I first encountered Hector Zazou after his debut with Joseph Racaille with ZNR “Barricade 3” on Isadora Records, from France, towards the end of the 70’s. To be honest, it was impossible to tell which things on that fine LP that Mr. Zazou was responsible for and which things Mr. Racaille did. I just liked the overall sound.

Zazou is a reasonably difficult guy to categorize. I had the opportunity to see him perform on a stage not that long ago, with “Slow Music” in Los Angeles. This group also contained King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp. It was very difficult to tell who was making what sound from where we were sitting; Zazou was seated behind a keyboard. I guess he has always thrived on collaborations.

Apart from the aforementioned “Barricade 3”, my favorite album listed above is “La Perversita”, a delightful post-wave LP that I do not believe has made it to the CD format. With it’s garish Kiki Picasso artwork on the cover (and some truly perverse artwork contained within), this LP boasts the strangest possible cover version of Les Rolling Stones’ hit single “Satisfaction” as well as lots of other astonishing music; it reminds me a little bit of the New York group Material (but it was released before the first Material 12” singles were).

Mr. Zazou has had a long association with Crammed Disques, the Belgian avant-pop label. There are some records / CD’s on Crammed that I really love, like Aksak Maboul “Onze Danses…” for example. However, I’m not sure if Mr. Zazou has ever worked with Marc Hollander ( = Mr. Aksak Maboul ) or not.

I’ve been into Mr. Zazou’s various works for about 30 years – but I really do not know a hell of a lot about him. I’ve bought nearly every LP / CD I’ve ever seen with his name present, and I’ve never been disappointed with any of them. “Barricade 3” and “La Perversita” are the two I recommend the most, the latter likely being not too easy to locate, in the new century.

So, thanks for the music, Mr. Zazou. I wish you many more successful collaborations.

Records That Aren’t Necessarily Music

4-29-08 Records That Aren’t Necessarily Music

Particularly in the 50’s – 70’s, LP’s were made on a variety of subjects – sound effects, documentaries, actualities etc. Here’s a list of a few that I own…

LP ADVENTURE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SOUND, AN AUDIO FIDELITY AFSD 6237

LP AIRMAN! - U. S. A. F. BASIC TRAINING IN SOUND! DOCUMENTARY 803

LP AUSCULTATION OF THE HEART (Medical) LONDON US 5873 W

LP BBC WILDLIFE SERIES #2 - BRITISH MAMMALS & AMPHIBIANS BBC UK RED 42M

LP BBC WILDLIFE SERIES #7 - EAST ANGLIA BBC UK RED 83M

LP BBC: OFF BEAT SOUND EFFECTS BBC UK REC 198

LP BBC: RELAXING SOUNDS Vol. 23 BBC UK REC 360

LPx2 BBC: WOODLAND & GARDEN BIRDS BBC UK REF 235

LP BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT A RECORDING SESSION WARNER US B 1348

CD BRAZILIAN RAINFOREST - EVENING ECHOES RYKODISC US RCD 30183

LPx2 CHICAGO CONSPIRACY TRIAL, THE (Drama, Documentary) CAPITOL US SABB-12020

LP CHILDREN OF TANE VIKING NZ VP 429

LP COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF BROADCASTING #1 CSB US PHASE 1

LP DEEP VOICES - THE 2nd WHALE RECORD CAPITOL US ST-11598

LPx2 EAGLE HAS LANDED, THE INTREPID US IT-2-7401

LP ELEKTRA STORY, THE (from Elektra, England) ELEKTRA UK EK STORY 1

LP ENGLISH WITH A DIALECT BBC UK REC 173

LP ENGLISH WITH AN ACCENT BBC UK REC 166

CDx3 HANNA-BARBERA: CARTOON CLASSICS (3CD boxed set) RHINO US R2 79808

LP HISTORY OF SUPERMAN (THE RADIO SPECIAL) promo WARNER US PRO-A-964

CDx2 I CAN HEAR IT NOW - THE SIXTIES COLUMBIA US C2K 65906

LP IF YOU TURN ON… (Drugs) CBS US XT 112

LP INSIDE THE BEATLES AMERICAN TOUR WITH ED RUDY RPN USA 2

LP INSIGHTS & ILLUSIONS (Drugs) SCHOLASTIC US FS 12010

LP JAPAN: ITS SOUNDS AND PEOPLE CAPITOL US ST-10230

LP KENNEDY ASSASSINATION, BOBBY – Y? SOLAR USA SLP-331

LP LISTEN TO THE WILD Vol.3 - WITH THE INSECTS EMI STH AFRICA LTW(W) 3

LP LSD (Drugs) CAPITOL US TAO-2574

LP LSD, BATTLE FOR THE MIND (Drugs) SUPREME M-113

LP MAN ON THE MOON CBS NEWS SM-1

LP MAN ON THE MOON WARNER US WS 1773

LP MUSIC OF THE CAROUSEL FOLKWAYS US FX 6128

LPx2 NEW APPROACH TO SEXUAL COMMUNICATION FOR LOVERS MUSIC WORLD NZ MUFP 516

CD NIGHTMARISH NOISE FOR HALLOWEEN RHINO US R2 71776

LP PICKING UP GIRLS MADE EASY MUSIC WORLD NZ MUFP 523

CD PROJECT '99 - UNDER THE FLIGHT PATH EAGLE CANYON 7444

LP REPONDEZ S'IL VOUS PLAIT (French lessons for Britons) BBC UK OP 139

LP RITE OF EXORCISM, THE CRUNCH CRS-045000

LP SEX EXPLAINED FOR CHILDREN CARAPAN US CLP-1

LP SEX IN TEENS CARAPAN US CPN-2

LP SEXUAL I.Q. TEST GM PRODUCT GM-1001

LP SOUNDS OF MEDICINE, THE FOLKWAYS US FPX 127

LP SOUNDS OF NORTH AMERICAN FROGS FOLKWAYS US FX 6166

LP SOUNDS OF THE JUNGLE, PLAIN & BUSH NONESUCH US H-72056

LP SOUNDS OF THE JUNK YARD, THE FOLKWAYS US FX 6143

LP STORM & THE SEA - SOUNDS FOR LOVE WARNER US BS 2788

CD TEST SAMPLE 3 PHILIPS DE 410055.2

LP TIMES OF OUR LIVES - 20th CENTURY ACTUALITIES TELMAK AUS TMAK 137

LP TV SOUND EFFECTS (LAUGHTER & APPLAUSE) TOTAL CANADA TRC 921

LP USAF F-15 EAGLE / SUPER FIGHTER KING JPN K25P-129

LP WAY TO BECOME THE SENSUOUS WOMAN BY "J", THE ATLANTIC US SD 7209

LP WEST OF EXETER (Steam train recordings) ARGO UK DA 9

LP X-15 & OTHER SOUNDS OF ROCKETS, MISSILES & JETS REPRISE US R9-6003

B.A. Robertson

4-28-08 B.A. Robertson

LP WRINGING APPLAUSE ARDENT US ADS 2804 1973

LP SHADOW OF A THIN MAN ARISTA UK SPARTY 1000 1976

7" GOOSEBUMPS ASYLUM UK K 13146 1979.01

7" BANG BANG ASYLUM UK K 13152 1979.06

7" KNOCKED IT OFF ASYLUM UK K 12396 1979.10

7" KOOL IN THE KAFTAN ASYLUM UK K 12427 1980

LP INITIAL SUCCESS ASYLUM UK K 52216 1980

7" TO BE OR NOT TO BE ASYLUM UK K 12449 1980.03

7" FLIGHT 19 ASYLUM UK K 12482 1980.10

LP BULLY FOR YOU ASYLUM UK K 52275 1981

7" SAINT SAENS ASYLUM UK K 12523 1981.01

7" HOLD ME (with Maggie Bell) SWAN SONG UK BAM 1 1981.10

LP R & B.A. ASYLUM UK K 52383 1982

7" ONE PLUS ONE ASYLUM UK K 12595 1982.02

7" READY OR NOT ASYLUM UK K 12602 1982.02

7" DOT DOT DOT ASYLUM UK K 13190 1982.07

7" NOW AND THEN ASYLUM UK AFT 10 1983.03

7" TIME (with Frida) EPIC UK EPC A 3983 1983.12

All of the above compiled without the help of the internet!

I was sold the 45 of “Kool In The Kaftan” in early 1980. It had a pop-up picture sleeve and was a ‘cute’ song – perfect for a “UK Special Collection” cassette. I never thought any more about it. Never saw an LP…until last weekend. And it’s an LP not in any of my printed discographies: “Shadow Of A Thin Man” (Arista UK 1976), as ‘Alexander Robertson’. The LP is a big budget slick production work, typical of England in the mid-70’s.

After the internet (mainly Wikipedia), I learned that he’s from Glasgow. He has also written for Cliff Richard and Mike & The Mechanics (Mike Rutherford of Genesis). Gee! He was also listed as a “co-producer” for “Simply Mad About The Mouse” – the project of Disney cover versions. Hmmm. And I can also find some other singles listed on the ‘net.

His voice on that Arista LP I found isn’t exactly easy to listen to – is it the sound of someone Scottish demonstrating that he couild sing with an American accent?; I like the “Kool In The Kaftan” 45 much better (he sounds more comfortable) – how could you not like a 1980 single poking fun at hippies? I’d compare him to Brian Protheroe – but Protheroe’s voice is much easier on the ears. Still, Robertson is clearly capable of some very well-written material.

So, this British / Scottish artists sat in my “to get to” bin for 28 years. It took finding a $15 copy of an LP I’d never even heard of…to re-awaken my interest. How much trouble am I going to have finding his other LP’s?

Scaffold

The very next day after posting about Neil Innes, Scaffold etc., I found this Scaffold CD in Los Angeles! Great album, I just listened to it. The album is from '75 and the japanese CD of it is from 2004. It is a paper (kami) sleeve CD.

Neil Innes etc.

4-25-08 Neil Innes, Grimms, Scaffold etc.

Recent, there has been some activity over on my Flickr page, regarding Neil Innes. I have been scanning in CD and 45 covers and sending them to a Neil Innes ‘group’.

At the time, I was never a huge Bonzo Dog Band fan, but I like them just fine these days. I was always more fond of Innes’ solo works – starting with The World “Lucky Planet” (’70 Liberty UK originally, now re-issued on CD).

LP HOW SWEET TO BE AN IDIOT U.A. UK UAS 29492

LP INNES BOOK OF RECORDS, THE POLYDOR UK 2383 556

CD INNES BOOK OF RECORDS, THE kami sleeve MSI JPN MSIG 0102

7" LIE DOWN AND BE COUNTED / BANDWAGON U.A. UK UP 35745

LP TAKING OFF ARISTA UK SPARTY 1004

CD TAKING OFF kami sleeve MSI JPN MSIG 0101

With Eric Idle

LP RUTLAND WEEKEND SONGBOOK BBC UK REB 233

And, of course, Mr. Innes played with Grimms:

7" BACKBREAKER (Acetate) PYE UK ACETATE

LP GRIMMS ISLAND UK HELP 11

LP ROCKIN' DUCK ISLAND UK ILPS 9248

LP SLEEPERS DJM UK DJLPS 470

CD SLEEPERS kami sleeve HUX UK HULXEY 3

…and The Rutles:

CD ARCHAEOLOGY VIRGIN US 42200.2

7" I MUST BE IN LOVE / CHEESE & ONIONS / A GIRL LIKE YOU WARNER UK K 17125

12" I MUST BE IN LOVE promo WARNER US PRO E723

LP RUTLES, THE WARNER JPN P-10534W

LP RUTLES, THE WARNER US HS 3151

CD RUTLES, THE kami MSI JPN MSIG 0342

As Dirk & Stig:

7" GING GANG GOOLIE / MR. SHEENE EMI UK EMI 2852

I have had the good fortune to see Mr. Innes perform live at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, CA. He was very amusing and was polite enough to autograph many of the records I brought with me.

So, I am always happy to discuss his work with other fans. It’s not something I get to do everyday.

And all of this is related to Scaffold:

LP FRESH LIVER ISLAND UK ILPS 9234

7" HOW D'YOU DO / PAPER UNDERPANTS BRONZE UK BRO 39

LP L. THE P. PARLOPHONE NZ PCSM 7077

7" LILY THE PINK / BUTTONS OF YOUR MIND PARLOPHONE UK R 5734

7" LIVERPOOL LOU WARNER UK K 16400

LP SCAFFOLD (LIVE at the QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL) PARLOPHONE UK PCS 7051

LP SINGLES A's & B's SEE FOR MILES UK CM 114

LP SOLD OUT WARNER UK K 56097

CD THANK U VERY MUCH - VERY BEST OF EMI UK 538474.2

7" WOULDN'T IT BE FUNNY… / MR. NOSELIGHTER BRONZE UK BRO 33

Vanessa Daou / The Daou

4-24-08 Vanessa Daou / The Daou

This is a wild one. My friend Joe & I used to sift through record label and director’s reels on ¾” U-Matic videotape; either a label’s monthly offering, 12 – 15 clips per month or maybe it was a video reel of a music video director looking for work. There was usually something ‘famous’ on an hour long video reel – to get the attention of the viewer. But I bet lots of those hour long reels got shut off as soon as the ‘famous thing’ video was screened.

So, we’re sitting there in my living room, watching all those anonymous Columbia Records artists of the day (approx. ’92) – and the video for The Daou “Surrender Yourself” music video comes on. Wow.

The Daou:

CD5 GIVE MYSELF TO YOU IRS US X25G-58085

CD HEAD MUSIC COLUMBIA US CK 48683

CD5 SYMPATHY BOUQUET COLUMBIA US CSK 4773 promo

Vanessa solo:

CD DEAR JOHN COLTRANE OXYGEN MUSIC OMWCD 15

CD5 LITTLE BIT OF PAIN, A TWISTED US TWS-50030

CD MAKE YOU LOVE EQ8R US EQ 80001

CD5 NEAR THE BLACK FOREST KRASNOW / MCA KR5P-3485

CD PLUTONIUM GLOW DAOU MUSIC 1101

CD SLOW TO BURN KRASNOW / MCA KRD-11496

12" TWO TO TANGO KRASNOW / MCA KR12-55241

CD5 TWO TO TANGO (3 trks) KRASNOW / MCA KR5P-3853

CD5 TWO TO TANGO (5 trks) KRASNOW / MCA KRDM-55241

CD ZIPLESS KRASNOW / MCA KRD-11278

CD ZIPLESS LOTUS L 1101 (indie vers.)

It was easy enough to find the CD of “Head Music”, the debut album by The Daou. It was in every 99 cent CD bin in town. And it’s really good! I believe Vanessa and Peter Daou are from New York. Certainly never noticed any live shows in L.A.

I guess The Daou have some dance music singles recorded under another name; never could find out what they were for certain. It amuses me no end that Vanessa Daou has worked with Etienne Daho (both Daou and Daho are pronounced essentially the same, as “dow”). Joe & I eventually found a few more music videos by these folks – but never very many. And they’re apparently pretty thin on the ground with the vinyl releases – that I know about, anyway!

I particularly love her solo album “Slow To Burn” – just a great 90’s pop record. I wrote to them, and she wrote back, signing a groovy B&W photo for me! I mail-ordered one CD directly from them (“Make You Love”), then found another one in a Tower Records (“Dear John Coltrane”)…are they releasing stuff in 2008? Last thing I found was a CD single called “A Little Bit Of Pain”, about 2004 or so.

Come back, Vanessa! We miss you! Release some more music!

Kim Wilde

4-23-08 Kim Wilde

I was onto her right at the beginning, but never made it to the “MCA years”. She is the daughter of British rock ‘n’ roller Marty Wilde.

7" BITTER IS BETTER / BOYS TOSHIBA/RAK JPN ERS-17225

7" CAMBODIA / WATCHING FOR SHAPES EMI/RAK UK RAK 336

LP CATCH AS CATCH CAN EMI/RAK UK SRAK 165408.1

7" CHEQUERED LOVE / SHANE EMI/RAK UK RAK 330

7" CHILD COME AWAY / JUST ANOTHER GUY EMI/RAK UK RAK 352

7" DANCING IN THE DARK / BACK STREET DRIVER TOSHIBA/RAK JPN ERS-17391

7" KIDS IN AMERICA / TUNING IN EMI/RAK DE 1C 008-64249

CD KIM WILDE EMI/FAME UK CDFA 3214

LP KIM WILDE EMI AMERICA US ST-17065

7" LOVE BLONDE / CAN YOU HEAR IT EMI/RAK AUS RAK 1024

LP SELECT EMI/RAK UK SRAK 548

7" TAKE ME TONIGHT / VIEW FROM A BRIDGE TOSHIBA/RAK JPN ERS-17349

CD VERY BEST OF TOSHIBA JPN CP21-6066

7" VIEW FROM A BRIDGE / TAKE ME TONIGHT EMI/RAK UK RAK 342

7" WATER ON GLASS / BOYS EMI/RAK UK RAK 334

EMI England certainly had the female pop vocalists going for a while there – Kate Bush, Kim Wilde, Sheena Easton…Kate Bush was almost exactly my age, and Kim Wilde was just a little younger than me. And she was a blonde!

You’re shaking your head – “Why is Ron even talking about Kim Wilde?” – wait for it – the backing band on her debut album (and presumably the singles from the debut album) is none other than The Enid – a famous progressive rock band of the day. They’re even pictured standing behind her on the cover of her debut album! And, yes, I like the singles “Kids In America”, “Water On Glass” and “Chequered Love”. And some of the album cuts on the debut are good…OK, I’ll just go ahead and say that I really like her debut LP / CD.

The honeymoon was short, but sweet – at the time, I continued buying her 45’s, but didn’t really go for the 2^nd or 3^rd albums. I have all her RAK / EMI albums now, but, I’ve bought them recently. I wish I could find a British LP of her debut album. At least I have a proper CD of it! When are the Japanese going to make little paper album cover CD’s of her EMI albums?

RAK Records – Mickie Most; Donovan; Chris Spedding; Suzi Quatro etc. A very good place for a British female pop singer to be in 1981.

The video age (the mid-80’s) was kind to our Kim – there are lots of videos that were shown on MTV and MuchMusic for her MCA singles, but I had no real use for anybody’s cover version of “You Keep Me Hanging On” etc.

So, the verdict – get the debut album. Great stuff – pure British Girl Pop, circa ’81.

John Cale

4-22-08 John Cale

CD ACADEMY IN PERIL, THE REPRISE US 2079.2

12" ANIMAL JUSTICE ILLEGAL UK IL 003

CD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BEGGARS B UK BBL 68CD

CD BLACK ACETATE EMI UK 334378.2

CD CALE STREET pirate GREAT DANE GDRCD 9217

LP CARIBBEAN SUNSET ISLAND/ZE UK ILPS 7024

CD DOWN AT THE END OF LONELY STREET pirate ARCHIVIO IT ARCCD 006

LP DRIFT STUDY pirate PIRATE 13485

CD EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES DANCETERIA DANCD 113

CD FEAR ISLAND UK CID 9301

CD FRAGMENTS OF A RAINY SEASON HANNIBAL US HNCD 1372

LP GUTS (Collection) ISLAND UK ILPS 9459

7" HALLELUJAH / (Leonard Cohen Version) COLUMBIA NL 657664.7

LP HEAR "FEAR" - AN INTERVIEW with JOHN CALE promo ISLAND US IXP 2

CD HELEN OF TROY ISLAND UK IMCD 177

CD HOBO SAPIENS EMI UK 93909.2

CD HONI SOIT A&M UK 394849.2

LP JOHN CALE COMES ALIVE ISLAND/ZE UK ILPS 7026

CD MUSIC FOR A NEW SOCIETY RHINO US R2 71743

CD PARIS 1919 re RHINO UK 74060.2

CD PARIS S'EVEILLE CREPUSCULE TWI 952.2

CD SABOTAGE A&M/SPY CAN CD 004

CDx2 SEDUCING DOWN THE DOOR (Collection) RHINO US R2 71685

CD SLOW DAZZLE ISLAND UK CID 9317

CD SOLO PERFORMANCE, BELGIUM '83 pirate FIRE POWER FP-036

CDx2 ST. VALENTINE'S NIGHT pirate FIRE POWER FP-035

LP VERY DEAD CHICKEN pirate PIRATE EU 763215

CD VINTAGE VIOLENCE re COLUMBIA US CK 65935

CD WALKING ON LOCUSTS HANNIBAL US HNCD 1395

With Eno

CD WORDS FOR THE DYING OPAL US 26024.2

With LCS Soundsystem

7" ALL MY FRIENDS EMI UK 394934.7

With Lou Reed

CD SONGS FOR DRELLA SIRE US 26140.2

I had to cut this list down a bit, only leaving in absolutely essential singles. I’ve seen Mr. Cale lots of times – I still maintain that he was the loudest act I’ve ever seen. Lots of fun, too. I met him once, and many of my original LP’s are autographed.

I really liked his recent studio album “Black Acetate”; I wish his single with LCD Soundsystem “All My Friends” was available on CD, but it doesn’t look like it is. And the recently re-mastered “Paris 1919” is illuminating, and it’s one of my favorite albums, all around.

Still very partial to his “Island Years” – “Fear”, “Slow Dazzle”, “Helen of Troy” and “Guts” (for good measure). “Sabotage” is really great, too – try putting the LP on, turn out the lights, turn it up – and have a beer, standing there is the dark. Magic!

Again, I offer up the scan of some of my many John Cale concert tickets. Yes, I went to all of these shows. Can’t remember which shows were better than others, but…mostly, he was real loud. And good.