Conference mr1pst::music

    The band name is actually "The Durutti Column".  The band consists of
    Vini Reilly on guitar and whoever he happens to pull into the studio 
    with him (occasionally Bruce Mitchell on drums).
    
    They've been around since about 1980.  I first heard them on a
    compilation tape called "From Brussels with Love" around 1981 and saw
    them in Amsterdam shortly afterwards in a club called Melkweg.
    
    Vini Reilly is extremely prolific.  (Whether it all actually should
    have been released is another question).  I've got about eight albums
    from them and haven't scratched the surface.  Plus, he's participated
    in a slew of other projects by other musicians.
    
    For those of us in the US, the big problem is that only one of their
    records has been released domestically on CD.  (I think some of their
    early records may have had a domestic release on vinyl at some point.)
    This makes them very expensive.
    
    I would strongly recommend "The Guitar and Other Machines" as a
    starting point for anyone interested in the band.
    
    Trivia fun fact:  Their first album. "The Return of the Durutti Column"
    was named after a famous Situationist artwork.  (The Durutti Column
    itself was the name of a band of anarchists in the Spanish Civil War as
    I recall.)  I think the album was originally released with a sandpaper
    jacket or sleeve.
    
    - Dave

    So, BAHTAT::FRANZ, which records have you got/heard?
    
    I could recommend some others by them based on what you like or haven't
    yet heard.
    
    - Dave

    A friend of mine has a video which he recorded from MTV. This jus
    comprises of the group in a dimly lit studio playing instrumentals.
    The only one which seemed to have any words had a chorus which went
    something like "another day is over", quite a good track. The same
    video also has a really freaky looking drummer who really goes for
    it on the drums.
    	I've been meaning to buy an album but just haven't got round to it
    yet. My friend bought a cd last week. I forget the title but remember
    the cover being purple & yellow with very compressed, unreadable
    writing on it. This too is quite good stuff. 
    	I'm going to buy a cd next, so that we can swap them between us,
    Which would you recommend ? 
    	I'd be grateful if you could tell me the name of the above
    mentioned track (if you know it) as I'd like to buy the album with that
    on.
    
    Cheers.
    
    Chris.
    
    

    Durutti Column on MTV?  I never thought I'd see the day.
    
    As mentioned previously, "The Guitar and Other Machines" is a very good
    recent release.  I've only heard the extended piece "Without Mercy"
    from the album of the same name, but that is worthwhile as well.
    
    The first two records "The Return of the Durutti Column" and "LC" are
    okay, the first entirely instrumental, the second featuring a weak
    foray into vocals.   The third record "Another Setting" is far more
    successful all the way around.
    
    The album "Bread and Circuses" is good, as is "Valuable Passges" - a
    compilation.
    
    A partial listing...
    
    "The Return of the Durutti Column"
    "LC"
    "Another Setting"
    "Two Triangles[?]"
    "Amigos en Portugal"
    "Live at the Venue[?]"
    "Without Mercy"
    "Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say[?]"
    "Bread and Circuses"
    "Valuable Passages"
    "The Guitar and Other Machines"
    "Vini Reilly"
    "The Sporadic Recordings" - Vini Reilly
    "Dry"
    "Domo Arigato"
    "Madeleine[?]" - compilation of miscellaneous recordings
    
    There are a bunch more, plus collaborations, and guest appearances.
    
    - Dave

    MMMmmmmm.....
    
    
    I'll check one of those albums out at the weekend and let you know
    what I think of it.........