| Author | Message | ||
     Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 30 Registered: 03-2006 |
... saw a message on the MySpace page of UK band The Fischers(www.myspace.com/micktravis) about them being asked to record a song for a new Go-Betweens tribute album? Anyone have any idea about this? It'd be interesting to hear some (ahem) more high profile acts try their hand at the Go-Bs back catalogue. For a band as (allegedly) influential as they are, I'm aware of precious few cover versions. | ||
| Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 31 Registered: 03-2006 |
I wrote before I read. Just saw the comments re: the tribute album in the thread about the tribute shows. I should also point out that my "high profile" comment wasn't a slur on The Fischers. Hell no. Any Tompaulin side-project is fine by me. It was more a slur on the "Right Here" tribute of a decade or so ago, which is pretty average. News that The Clientele will be on this record bodes well ... they're a FANTASTIC band and will do "Orpheus Beach" proud. Anyone thought about getting either Belle & Sebastian, or Stuart Murdoch involved? I know he's a huge fan | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1010 Registered: 05-2005 |
The more I think about it the more I am groning to dislike the thought of a GoBees tribute album. I think of it as sacrds ground now, don't go there type of thing, especially as Grant is no longer with us. Tribute gigs fine, but recording their songs, mmmmm? I remember the Associates/Billy Mackenzie tribute album, bloody awful, sounded like a bunch of early Gary Numan b sides, now that's depressing!!. | ||
| Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 34 Registered: 03-2006 |
Spence, I know what you're saying, but also think you can't be too precious about these sorts of things. At the end of the day, it's only pop music, right? Grant's death was a tragedy, but I'd hate for The Go-Betweens to become come kind of pop music sacred cow. They're too good for that. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 946 Registered: 04-2005 |
For me, it's not so much that it's sacred ground, it's just that the versions on tribute albums almost never live up to the originals, so what's the point? Why would I want to listen to somebody else's lesser version of "Part Company"? The only tribute albums that really work are the ones where the songwriters are very poor performers of their own songs. That was definitely not true of the Go-Betweens. | ||
| Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 35 Registered: 03-2006 |
there are a few good tribute albums out there. The "Total Lee" Lee Hazlewood tribute is uniformly great, as is "Caroline Now!" Brian Wilson/Beach Boys tribute Marina put out back in 2000. Sure, there is a lot of dross out there, but I always like hearing bands I like playing songs by other bands I like. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1013 Registered: 05-2005 |
Lawrence whilst I agree not being too precious, I think having loved the GB's music fror over 25 years (most of my life!) I'd like to think their place in my music lovong heart is very sacred! If you sent me a comp of bands doing their songs, i wouldn't feel like listening to it. From what I've heard liek I stated above the Billy Mac comp isa nything to go by, it s a MISTAKE! I agree with Kurt. Stay away from the sacred ground. its like the bossa nove version of Sorry for laughing by Nouvelle Vague. Its a joke. Its stealth marketing, trying to be cool, coz its in vougue (vague!) You can't tell me a karaoke version of SFL is cool, its terrible and should be avoided at all costs.  | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1014 Registered: 05-2005 |
Lawrence, that comp on marina does sound good, I must admit. Only ever heard clips. | ||
| E Weidermeier Member Username: Eweidermeier Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2006 |
Well, a tribute album sounds better than what I just came accross on MySpace: "The No-Betweens I have decided to create the No-Betweens, London's premier Go-Betweens tribute band. Being overweight and possibly balding, I have decided to take on the Grant McLennan role myself, but that still leaves lots of possibilities for other band members. So if you're interested, why not drop me a line telling me which role you want to play and (in no more than 50 words) why YOU should be in a Go-Betweens tribute band." This is a real post, so it will be interestign to see the types of responses he recieves. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 957 Registered: 04-2005 |
Part of me is appalled at the No-Betweens, part of me had to laugh. Do you have a link to that page, or will I find it just by searching for No-Betweens on MySpace (which I know little about)? | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 323 Registered: 01-2005 |
I can usually find a cut or two that I like on a tribute album. I just picked up Whore, the Wire tribute album. My Bloody Valentine does a great job on Map Ref 41N 93W. | ||
| E Weidermeier Member Username: Eweidermeier Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2006 |
Here is a link to the MySpace No-Between page: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseac tion=blog.view&friendID=85097441&blogID= 198325271 | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 958 Registered: 04-2005 |
Thanks, E! You're right about that MBV cover of "Map Ref," Michael. I just found it online a couple of months ago, and it's in my top five most played songs in iTunes now. The Wire version is in my top ten, even after all these years. Just an amazing song in either version. So, what's the rest of the "Whore" tribute album like? | ||
| Guy Ewald Member Username: Guy_ewald Post Number: 188 Registered: 02-2005 |
There's already been 'a Go-Betweens Tribute' album on Hippy Knight Records featuring such luminaries as Play TV, Flat Stanley, Smudge, The Buzzards, The Meanies, The Steinbecks, The Killjoys... I think I listened through it once... I've never been a great fan of tribute albums although Robert Forster's contribution to the Leonard Cohen 'I'm your Fan' was quite nice. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 933 Registered: 05-2005 |
I quite like that Go-Betweens tribute album. I also liked that it was Australian bands who went from relatively unknown to completely unheard of before or since. They were not big names but you could tell most of them genuinely love The Go-Betweens. Most tribute albums do suck - especially if they are famous names doing obvious covers (big shout out to talentless, multiple tribute album veteran Sheryl Crowe). Someone above mentioned the excellent Brian Wilson tribute album from a few years ago; which was also mostly populated by no-names. The one reasonably good tribute album featuring bigger names that I enjoyed was a Hank Williams one called Timeless. Bob Dylan does I Can't Get You off of My Mind, Keith Richards does You Win Again. His grandson Hank III's take on I'm A Long Gone Daddy is great. Of course Sheryl is there too, ruining Long Gone Lonesome Blues. I'm a big Hank fan. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1027 Registered: 05-2005 |
Guy, I'm your fan, was tasteful. Itwas a lovely funny in places album, esp Robert F's Tower of song. It also felt like a compilation rather than a covers album too, the songs were not just recorded for the slbum, they were songs the artists had recorded prior to the project, at least 90% were. From the sleeve art to the last song on that album, it was a treat, thanks for reminding me/us. | ||
| Guy Ewald Member Username: Guy_ewald Post Number: 189 Registered: 02-2005 |
'I'm Your Fan' gathered together a lot of artists I was extremely partial-to; RF (natch) as well as REM, Pixies, That Petrol Emotion, Lilac Time (big fan here), Lloyd Cole, Nick Cave and John Cale. On the subject of the tried-and-true writer's block placebo, I do rate 'I Had A New York Girlfriend' near the top of the heap. Australians seem to be quite good at assembling them; 'Box of Birds' by The Church and 'Car Tape' by Lisa Miller are two of my other favorites of the genre. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 975 Registered: 04-2005 |
I'd rate "I'm Your Fan" as one of the better tribute albums too...and I risk alienating a few here by saying that the reason is that Mr. Cohen, though beyond reproach as a songwriter, may not be the best performer of his own material. His completely deadpan version of "Tower of Song" works in its way, but RF's nuanced vocals (you can almost hear him arching his eyebrows at some of the lines) were even better. And Lloyd Cole totally steals "Chelsea Hotel" from Lenny. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1229 Registered: 03-2006 |
I must join the chorus of huzzahs for "I'm Your Fan". It is a way better than average tribute album. That said, it still makes me yearn to hear the songs performed by the original artist, as all tribute albums inevitably do. I know LC can't...what's the word for it...sing. But I dunno, there's something about the humor and personality he imbues the songs with, particularly "Tower of Song". There's so much humor there, and that, truth be told, was what sucked me into total LC fandom. Lines like "I was born with the gift of a golden voice" and, probably my all time favorite line by Dirty Lenny, "The rich have got their channels in the bedrooms of the poor"... One exception though: I much prefer John Cale's version of "Hallelujah" to Cohen's. And, though it's cliche by now (it's cropped up in too many montages in TV shows like "The OC"), I do think Jeff Buckley's cover of it is the definitive one. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 798 Registered: 03-2005 |
Yeah, Hardin, the line about the rich and their channels blew me away the first time I paid enough attention to hear it. I don't think of anything lewd with that. Well, not sexually lewd. I think of Rupert Murdoch. I agree with you about Cohen's humor. He may be the greatest living comedian working in the English language. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1040 Registered: 05-2005 |
I like Jeff's hallelujah, but yes for me Mr Cale does have the edge, now, Jeff Buckley / Robert Plant, disucss... | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 173 Registered: 04-2005 |
As someone who has always despised Led Zep I was not that taken by much of 'Grace', but the first time I saw Jeff Buckley live (before hearing the album) was almost a religious experience! He wandered onto the stage and began vocal warm-ups that eventually drifted into a song, and it was a stunning beginning. And he never fell into horrible 'Plantisms'. Anyway Buckley Snr. was much better! I would also like to join the admiration society for 'I'm Your Fan'. Apart from RF the other highlight for me is Robert Quine's guitar on 'Chelsea Hotel'. Economic but wonderful. As for 'Hallelujah' the best version for me was the version that John Cale performed on 'Later' with a string section. Yep, time for a thesis on comedy in Laughing Len's lyrics. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 983 Registered: 04-2005 |
Disclaimer: unlike most here, I don't have the good taste to hate Led Zeppelin. I can now enjoy them in small doses even though their lyrics are stupid and their Rock God poses intolerable. I think Page was a hell of an arranger and the lumbering rhythm section of Jones and Bonham created a genre in and of itself--one that many alternative bands have mined over the years. That said, Buckley was definitely influenced by Plant and could sound like him at times, but was much, much better. Those last two songs on Grace (their titles escape me) were like the best songs Led Zeppelin never made. In his less Plant-sounding moments, I'd say Buckley has been the most influential vocalist of the past 10+ years. Radiohead and all their clones owe so much to his vocal style. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 984 Registered: 04-2005 |
And, to add to my post total, I have to mention that years ago, I was dragged with coworkers to see the movie Shrek. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd hear John Cale singing a Leonard Cohen song as the "tear-jerking musical interlude" in a major mainstream movie aimed at parents and children. I guess they used Cale's version because he was either the most affordable or the only one that would agree to license his version. But somebody told me Rufus Wainwright's version was on the soundtrack even though Cale's was used in the film. Not sure if that's true or not... | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 327 Registered: 07-2005 |
Rufus did do a versiion, but for me John Cales is the finer more low key humble, I'm nota great Jeff Buckley fan I find it a bit pompous really | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 987 Registered: 04-2005 |
Agreed, Jerry. Both Rufus and Buckley, though I like each with slight reservations, oversing like hell. Only Cale truly caught the subtle, mournful tone the song. Though of course they snipped out the double-entendre "down below" lines from the version in the movie. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 942 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yes Kurt, Cale's version in movie, Wainright's inferior version on soundtrack. I can only assume that Cale wants people to buy his own albums and not just a Shrek soundtrack to get it. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 993 Registered: 04-2005 |
I very much like the thought of someone hearing the John Cale version in the movie, loving it, and buying a Cale album like "Helen of Troy," "Sabotage Live," or "Music for a New Society" to hear more from him. What a surprise they're in for! Of course, that could never happen because even if you're a fan who wants one of those albums, you'd have a hard time finding it. I still kick myself for misplacing my original vinyl copy of "Troy." | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 944 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yeah, he should have just taken the money and ran. I saw Cale live once in a town hall in England in an audience of about 300 in those moulded plastic town hall seats. It was awesome. Just him and one other musician with him. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 945 Registered: 05-2005 |
50 behind. I'm not going to catch you now. This is like the Democrats taking both houses - except more important. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 946 Registered: 05-2005 |
No, wait, that makes me a Republican, that can't be right... | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 996 Registered: 04-2005 |
What year was it when you saw Cale, Padraig? I saw him four times from '78-'84 or so. He always had a different noisy band and was always a little demented, though I never saw him kill a chicken on stage. Every time, he did a medley of "Pablo Picasso" and one other song I forget where he would grind away at the guitar and not change chords the entire time. I've been told he was usually pretty smacked out in those days. The story I heard (probably told here before) was that he couldn't keep bands because he would pawn their instruments to buy drugs. I guess those days are long past, fortunately. Padraig, my behavior this week shows what going for 1,000 can do to a person. Please keep up your throughtful, interesting posts--don't let yourself become a slave to the numbers game like I have. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 951 Registered: 05-2005 |
I think it was 2000 when I saw him Kurt. A friend and I went over to London and stayed in my sister's apartment while she was away for the weekend. We found out John Cale was playing in a country town from some guy in a chain record store (one of the few chain record store guys I've ever met who actually knew a lot about music). So I rang the railway company to find out about trains to this town (I think it was called Orpington). The last train that could get us to Orpington in time for the gig had already left central London, but it was making one more stop before leaving the greater London area... and that one stop was at the other end of the town my sister lived in, Bromley. The train was stopping there in 20 minutes. Dave and I literally ran out the door and all the way to the train station and just made it in time! It was all very exciting and, thankfully, it was a terrific show too. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 180 Registered: 04-2005 |
Is this the same project as mentioned by the Fischers? Sorry if this has already been posted elsewhere on this board. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fus eaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=325433 65 and here (with some covers to listen to + photos from Koln in '86) http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fus eaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=128644 489 | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 181 Registered: 04-2005 |
Back on John Cale: I friend of mine saw him in the late 70s in NY and the gig ground to an early end when he slid off his piano stool and lay comatose under the piano. I saw him 3 times in the 90s and he was extremely healthy. And hell of a lot better than the Velvets reunion. |