So, after being rudely interrupted by Real Life, I was finally able to listen to the Moody Blues' last two albums of the 80s, The Other Side of Life and Sur La Mer.
I enjoyed them both. They are very similar, what with Superproducer Tony Visconti as the thread linking them. I think Visconti deserves a great deal of credit for smoothly integrating the organic signature sound of the Moodies with the hi-tech studio approach of the 80s. Both albums are cohesive, pleasing to the ear, and just plain fun.
And though TOSOL was the more commercially successful of the two, I find I actually prefer the lighter and softer SLM.
RIP record producer Peter Collins, best known for his work with Queensryche at their creative and commercial peak, and with Rush during their controversial "glossy" phase.
This was a PC game back sometime in the 90s. It was interesting and definitely for the hardcore fan. You basically had to search a world for the totem pieces and when you completed the game, the band came out and performed a special song for the game.
Peter Gabriel had a similar venture around the time of the Us album.
Interested in the Post-Zero Hour Reboot Legion? Check out:
Been rediscovering mid 90s Julian Cope. It's like panning for gold, because the overall output is very inconsistent, but there are several pure nuggets such as this song, "Torch" (thrown away as a B side!)
Emerald City Council's debut album has really grown on me over the course of this year. It features Jake Livgren, nephew of Kerry Livgren, and the fact that the fact that the band name is kind of a subtle Kansas allusion amuses me every time I think of it.
I got sufficiently tipsy last Saturday to go on a Disney / Broadway / other anthem karaoke binge. My dear husband supported me. These were the songs I was listening to growing up, when I was dreaming of, and working towards, a better life
Part of Your World (Little Mermaid) A Whole New World (Aladdin) Let It Go (Frozen) Defyin' Gravity (Wicked) Don't Stop Believin' (Journey, and Glee cast) Go the Distance (Hercules) Reflection (Mulan)
Hello, ooh-oh, Vienna calling Hello, ooh-oh, Vienna calling Talkin' about
Stella sitzt in Rio, Stella liegt in Tokyo Männer fragen sie nach Feuer, nach dem andern sowieso Sugar Chris dich sehr vermisst, dein Bein und dein Gesicht Du kannst auf mich verzichten, nur auf Luxus nicht Womit spielen kleine Mädchen heute, hier und dort und da Ob in Tucson, Arizona, Toronto, Canada
Wien, nur Wien du kennst mich up, kennst mich down Du kennst mich Nur Wien, nur Wien, du nur allein Wohin sind deine Frauen?
Ohoho, operator (so alone am I) Ohoho, operator (need you to) come tonight
Two, one, zero, er Alarm ist rot Wien in Not, cha, cha, cha Vienna calling, ooh-oh, Vienna calling, ooh-oh
Und plötzlich heißt Maria Marilyn Und Eva heißt Yvonne Ein junger Bogart hängt dir an den Lippen Kleines, und sagt komm Die Lockenpracht wird abgemacht Die Tänzer sind gestoppt Es ist vier Uhr fünfundvierzig, nun wird Position geprobt Womit spielen kleine Mädchen heute, hier und dort und da Ob in Tucson, Arizona, ob Toronto, Canada
Wien, nur Wien du kennst mich up, kennst mich down Du kennst mich Nur Wien, nur Wien, du nur allein Wohin sind deine Frauen?
So, Richard MacPhail passed away this week. That's not a name that's going to be known outside the circles of pretty hardcore Genesis fans, but he was their tour manager, roadie, cook, many other things in the early days. He kept them going after their first album by letting them rehearse and write at his parents' cottage, which is where their second album Trespass was mainly conceived and recorded, as well as a whole bunch of ideas that would still be making their way onto Genesis albums at least as late as The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. He had also been the lead singer in The Anon, one of the two Charterhouse school bands that featured later members of Genesis, in its case Anthony Phillips and Mike Rutherford. I was looking on Youtube for the single recording by The Anon, the Rolling Stones-esque Phillips tune "Pennsylvania Flickhouse", but it's apparently no longer there (it's available on streaming sites from one of Ant's compilations, however).
What I did come across that I had never heard before was this demo by the band Legion, an extremely minor player in the 80s neo-prog scene that also featured McPhail on vocals. Nothing mind-blowing, but a pretty solid example of that particular era. And MacPhail's vocals are good. One can imagine a slightly different world in which he was the one who took over from Peter Gabriel in 1976.
"Very upset to learn of Richard Macphail‘s death last night. We had sixty years of history together, from when we were at school, and he was the cool singer in the band called the Anon, to when I spoke to him last week after he had had a nasty fall. Rich was the person who time after time bailed us out of difficult situations. When we couldn’t afford a rehearsal space he persuaded his parents to let us have their family’s country cottage in Abinger Hammer for a year and when we couldn’t afford a van he persuaded his father to let us have an old Hovis bread van that we drove around the country. When some of the band were having doubts about our future, he would inspire all of us and convince us to carry on. He went from friend and champion to become Genesis’s tour manager and then my own tour manager when I started working again. His determination, good humour and enthusiasm got us all through so many difficult moments. Richard, I can’t believe you are no longer here. Ours wasn’t always an easy relationship but it was built on love, respect and shared experience and there’s now a huge hole in my life. Going to miss you Rich."
--Peter Gabriel
"I was so sad to hear of the death of my dear friend Richard Macphail. Genesis owes him so much, he was a crucial part of those early years, and without his support and encouragement the band would have struggled to survive. However more importantly, for over fifty years, he was a wonderful, kind and loyal friend, our families shared so many happy times together. We will always remember his larger-than-life personality and uncontrollable enthusiasm, no one could shout or clap louder than Rich when the situation demanded it. He called only last week, and it is unbelievable to think that is the last time we will hear from him. We will all miss him so much."
— Tony Banks
"During the mid-later 60’s (a time of incredible innovation and change) as a young teenager caught up in this giddy whirl, my most constant, loyal, kind, generous and inspirational companion on this intoxicating journey was Rich. When the road occasionally seemed rocky and seemingly impassable, he was a pillar and rock to me, especially during romantic trauma! Indefatigably positive, encouraging and with a wonderful sense of humour, we had the time of our lives. He introduced me to SO much I would otherwise have never discovered and for which I will forever be grateful. Our paths in life, as so often, later diverged, and my thoughts now are with his wife Maggie, losing him so suddenly after he survived prostate cancer with typical bravery and aplomb."
--Anthony Phillips
"I was so sad to hear about the passing of Richard Macphail. He was one of the most special people I’ve ever known… Incredibly kind to me in those early Genesis days, helping me to build confidence. He had a big heart. He started out looking after a band and later showed his compassion for the whole world, creating companies that cared for both people and the environment. He was a wonderful friend for everyone in Genesis and he brought out the best in us all. He was warmth personified. He has remained a close friend throughout the years and it has always been a great joy to see him. My thoughts are very much with his wife Maggie at this really hard time."
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