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| Title: | MUSIC V4 |
| Notice: | New Noters please read Note 1.*, Mod = someone else |
| Moderator: | KDX200::COOPER |
|
| Created: | Wed Oct 09 1991 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Mar 12 1996 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 762 |
| Total number of notes: | 18706 |
604.0. "Bill Nelson / BeBop Deluxe" by NWD002::TUTAK_PE (Rickenbackerhacker) Fri Jan 28 1994 19:46
I'm currently working on a project about 300 miles from the office, and
to which I drive back and forth once per week (got to keep those costs
down, doncha know). Since there's a lot of drive time involved, I'm
using it to get acquainted with a lot of my taped music
collection...which has not been extensively listened to in a long time.
This has led to re-discovering some exceptional stuff that I'd all but
forgotten about. The next few topics I put in will most likely be a
result of this rediscovery.
This last week I rediscovered BeBop Deluxe. Although my collection of
their catalog is somewhat limited (three albums out of the six (I
think) they released), it does include the incredible "Live! In the Air
Age". I happened to pop this first into the deck. And I wound up
replaying it twice, back-to-back.
This must have been one exciting group in performance. I can't remember all
four players except for Bill Nelson (gtr, vcls) and Andrew Clark (kbd,
vcls). The bassist and drummer I'm not sure.
Tight band, good writing, and sounds like they both, played their asses
off and had fun to boot. The lyrric content was imaginative, and could
be raunchy or touching in an odd sort of way.
But Bill Nelson was really something else. Hell of a player. The
man could solo slow and lyrically (Adventures in a Yorkshire
Landscape, Sister Seagull), or just plain furious, which seemed to be his
favorite speed (Fair Exchange, Blazing Apostles, Maid In Heaven, etc.).
The tone he got on stage reminds me of nobody else but Eric Johnson,
except a lot dirtier, and there are some stylstic similarities
as well--so much so that I wouldn't doubt if Johnson was influenced by
Bill Nelson. And (sounds strange, but) you can also hear some
embellishment tools in his playing that folks like Peter Frampton made
entire careers on.
This man liked to play LOUD. At the beginning of every tune,
you can hear him crank up the volume immediately before hitting the
first chords, and chopping them real short to get this filthy, powerful
sound...yet when he went soloing, he didn't crank it any further (I don't
know if he could). Monodynamic...is that a word ? He'd let some of the
slower lead lines stretch out and depend as much on contolled feedback,
as on fretted notes.
Anyway, I'm blabbing here. I was knocked out all over again by this
group. I'd wished I'd seen them, but I never recalled having the
chance.
I know Nelson still records, but he really changed his direction,
getting heavily into atmospheres and effects. I heard 'The Love That
Whirls' when it came out about 10-11 years ago, and things like 'The
October Man' (not about Reggie Jackson), and 'The Bride of Christ in
Autumn'. There was also some tribute to Jean Cocteau that he produced and
performed on, but again...the music was totally different. I couldn't get
through it.
But, so what. I wanted to put a note in on these guys. There have to be
other folks besides me who liked them. I heard they performed a couple
of times at Boston University around 1974 or so. True ?
Peter
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 604.1 | | STAR::BENSON | Musical Weapons Research | Mon Jan 31 1994 12:50 | 18 |
| I have to agree with you that "Live in the Air Age" is a great album.
(And not just because it has photos from the movie "Metropolis" on the
cover, tho that helps...) I saw them in NY at about the time that was
recorded, and it was as good as it sounds...
Unfortunately, their studio stuff never grabbed me as much. It may be
because I heard the live versions first, then worked my way back - and
the studio versions were much more tame. "Modern Music", which was one
of the later ones, I think, is probably my favorite studio album.
BTW, the bassist was Charlie Tumahai, but I wouldn't bet on that spelling.
I can see the similarity you mention with Eric Johnson. I bet EJ fans
would love the live "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape." Haven't seen
this album on CD, have you? I have "Raiding the Divine Archive", which
is a 'best of' from the studio albums. I'd trade it for "Live" in a
minute.
Tom
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| 604.2 | | RICKS::CALCAGNI | kant sheck dees bluze | Mon Jan 31 1994 18:42 | 10 |
| The early BBD albums I recall were Axe Victim, Sunburst Finish, and
Modern Music (in that order of release, I think). Funny, I never
picked up "Live in the Air Age" because I already had most of the
tracks on the studio albums. Guess I missed out!
As I recall, Nelson played a Gibson semi-solid in those days; either
an ES-335 or ES-345. A great forgotten band!
/rick
|
| 604.3 | | TECRUS::ROST | Fuzzbox Voodoo | Tue Feb 01 1994 10:13 | 16 |
| I saw BBD back in the late seventies on their last US tour. Actually
as a guest of Dave Wiegleb (you out there, buddy?) at Clark Univeristy
in Worcester. I have numerous photos of the event. Also a tape from
the same tour that was a King Biscuit broadcast. Never got around to
buying any vinyl, though.
After breaking up BeBop, Nelson's music became even more interesting to
me, although like many experimenters, not everything he did I liked.
The first note mentioned "October Man" which is a great track,
beautiful extended guitar solo, one of the few he has recorded since
starting his solo career.
Seeing a few Cocteau movies will help you understand Bill's fascination
with the man.
Brian
|
| 604.4 | Never did find the cut-out CDs :^( | KOLFAX::WIEGLEB | CB Radio, but with more typing | Tue Feb 01 1994 17:46 | 15 |
| Hi Brian -- I'm still here, mostly. I don't think I ever did get a
chance to see the photos. ;^)
I'll try to enter some BeBop Deluxe info at a later date. I think the
drummer's name was Simon Fox. Andy Clarke joined the band for
"Sunburst Finish". The band on the first album, "Axe Victim", was
entirely different (except of course for Nelson).
Most of their catalog is still available as imports - all with bonus
tracks. I haven't pulled out any of the group albums in a while. It
may be time once again...
There's a topic dedicated to Bill Nelson in RADIO_RADIO (67.*).
- Dave
|
| 604.5 | This is all very vague but..... | KURMA::DMILLER | Hello...it's me. | Fri Feb 04 1994 18:42 | 24 |
|
I ssem to remember the band on "Axe Victim" went on to form part
of another well known group but can't for the life of me remember who.
"Futurama" was the next BBD album. Charlie, and (I think) Simon Fox
came in on this one.
"Sunburst Finish" featured the best remembered BBD lineup, along with
the one and only hit single (in the UK anyway) "Ships in the Night".
"Live in the Air Age" came with a bonus EP along with a couple of
tracks not featured on any of the albums ("Mill Street....?").
"Modern Music" was followed by the final BBD album "Drastic Plastic".
There was something about that last LP that I can't recall. It was a
double but was one side all the best of and one side new material?
I owned them all at various times and now only have "Axe Victim" and
"Sunburst Finish".
I'd like to know if anyone has seen them on CD (apart from a couple of
best of compilations on the go).
Bill Nelson released a couple of moderate hits immediately following
the demise of BBD "Do you Dream in Colour?" and "Living in my
Limousine".
Thats as far as my memory stretches right now.
Derek.
|
| 604.6 | ...Nelsons still at it... | STKHLM::STENSTROM | Still Crazy After All These Beers... | Fri Aug 26 1994 10:07 | 12 |
| Just popped into this notes-conf...
For all you Nelson freaks I can really recommend his latest solo album,
"Blue Moons and Ancient Guitars". It' a collection of really great songs
recorded more or less as first takes on a home tape deck. I used to love
Nelson and still have most of hir records i my collection. My personal
favourite is the "Sound on Sound" album he did with his group Red Noise
right after BBD split up. Also some of his latter solo albums contain great
stuff, but I agree that "Live in the Air Age" is a true classic.
/tOM
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