The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Peter, you spoil us

by 28 Comments

30 years ago, I first returned an album to a shop as unsatisfactory. That album was “Us”, by Peter Gabriel, which I thought pretty useless. I had loved his albums up to the “Birdy” soundtrack, and “Passion” suggested there might be more juice in the orange, so, not for the first or last time, was disappointed by someone who I thought “had the touch” (See what i did?)

Here we are again; all that time, talent, and heavy friends. But, IMHO, could try harder. I can’t but imagine this being done by Brian Pern. I have a seat at the Birmingham show, but feel it may be sad occasion, that ship having sailed.

https://planetradio.co.uk/planet-rock/news/rock-news/peter-gabriel-panopticom-single/

Robert Fripp’s Extracurricular Activities

by 101 Comments

Robert Fripp dresses like a building society manager and is as smutty as a navvy. He is King Crimson and he has kept himself busy in The League Of Gentlemen and a series of collaborative projects, most notably with Brian Eno. However, he also ‘guests’ his coruscating guitar on other people’s work, sometimes uncredited. The majority of this extracurricular activity was between 1974 and 1981 when he broke up his band but he has continued to indulge throughout his career. The most famous, of course, is his contribution to Bowie albums but there are loads.

Inspired by sarah’s inclusion of The Roches singing The Hammond Song, I’m putting together a playlist in an attempt to prove to a relative civilian that Fripp is one of the greatest dirty, filthy guitarists of all time.

Any notable examples? I’ve provided a gentle example in Blondie’s Fade Away And Radiate.

Steve Lillywhite – where is he now?

by 14 Comments

You know Steve Lillywhite, we all know Steve Lillywhite, I’d even put a fair amount of cash down now and bet that every single person here has a record produced by Steve Lillywhite somewhere in their collection. I first came across his name when I started seriously buying records in the late ’70s, on records by Siouxsie, XTC, Ultravox, The Members, Psychedelic Furs, you name it. Later on he moved into the big leagues with Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, Talking Heads, Morrissey, even the Stones, and though his workrate has declined over the years, he still managed to contribute to U2’s last album…

… but where do you think he is now, selling over 7 million albums a year? If it was April 1st I wouldn’t believe this story, but click the link and maybe you’ll be as impressed as I am.

Here’s a clue: Chicken.

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2018/05/12/steve-lillywhite-at-cmw/

The vinyl quality – rip off?

by 25 Comments

Just taken delivery of the latest Peter Gabriel vinyl reissues of his albums ‘So’, ‘Us’ and ‘Up’. They are genuine things of beauty; I don’t pretend to know what a half-speed remaster on 180gram vinyl can truly offer. However it did get me thinking, if this level of sound quality can be achieved on vinyl, then is a great deal of the stuff we are spending our hard-earned on sub-standard? The albums were about the same price as any new vinyl release, but are very clearly superior in sound quality (at least on my system). Surely every record we buy now should be at this level?

Rock Paper Scissors

by 8 Comments

Let’s have some good news for a change. Perhaps we should start 2016 all over again.

“We are pleased to announce that Peter Gabriel and Sting will tour together in the USA and Canada during June & July 2016.

The tour will be entitled Rock Paper Scissors.”