During Prague's period of Communism, after John Lennon died in 1980, activists started scribbling graffiti in the form of Beatles lyrics and odes to Lennon on a wall to defy the authorities. Prior to 1989, pop music was not really allowed in Czechoslovakia, indeed some musicians were actually jailed for playing it! At first the Police and the walls owners got rather upset, but after many years had gone past, I think they realised defeat and decided if you can’t beat them, join them.
Kampa is the largest of Prague’s Islands, situated on the River Vltava. The Lennon wall is just as the side of the Kampa Island forehead the French embassy. After his death the ex-Beatles has become a fate of pacifist hero for the young Czech in years when the western music was forbidden. The secret police has never succeeded in holding it clean. They even placed cameras to monitor who was coming there to arrest them.
Why am I telling you this ?
You can see a photo of the Wall of Kampa on the back of the 'Sons Of Waterloo' LP by the enigmatic Christophe J. It's produced by Jiri Smetana, a young Czech from Prague better known for being the DJ at the legendary Gibus Club in Paris. Smetana also wrote two songs here. 'Wall Of Kampa' is the most outstanding. The backing band is none other than The Inmates. According to a strange agreement they required to record one of their own songs ('Sister Sarah') written and sung by Peter Staines.
Some weeks ago when I posted the album of Flying Color I did not suspect your enthousiasm on this record because it has been criminally overlooked at the time of its release. The LP came out a few years ago on CD on a spanish label called 'Munster' with some very cool never released bonus tracks. The last remaining copies are distributed trough Frontier or Bomp (thanks Soapy for the tip). Get it while you can, this is your last chance to pick up this classic record.
Original Flying Color member Richard Chase joined in the comments and nicely offered to post some earlier recordings including the 45 version of 'Dear Friend' wich is in my opinion far better than the more 'polished' one from the album. Richard sent personal notes on each song. This is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME and I'm proud to have Richard Chase here as guest poster. Unfortunatly 'Northwest Trip' is missing. Maybe he can help us soon.
THE FLYING COLOR OUTTAKES NOTES by Richard Chase
Dear Friend — This is the original 45, released by Cryptovision, as recorded in Eric Beckman’s basement. Eric was our manager. He now lives in NYC and runs a children’s film festival. Good guy. BTW, Dale wrote this song about Hector, when they first met.
Look My Way — Outtake from the album, recorded at Tom Mallon’s studio. This didn’t make the cut, but still a good song. Hector and I wrote this pre-Flying Color, when we were in band called The Ramblers.
Through Different Eyes — Eric’s basement again. This is the demo version of the song on the album. Hector had worn glasses all his life and had just gotten some contacts. He wrote a song about it. I’m happier with the “jet” guitar sound here, in the background of the chorus.
Farewell Song — Demo from Eric’s basement, also on the album. Dale wrote this song about leaving Love Circus, his old band.
Bring Back the Rain — Vastly different version of the album. This may have been recorded at Kevin Army’s place in Berkeley, either there or Eric’s. I sang here, but was not too good. Although I sang live, Hector sang all my songs on the album.
September Gurls — We opened for Alex Chilton at a show in San Francisco (where we were based) and decided to do a tribute. This is an outtake was recorded for the album. Note the bell sound in the background. That’s me hitting the strings of my guitar with a screwdriver!
Northwest Trip — This is ¾ Flying Color, from Hector’s album of the same name. It has everyone but Dale.This was after we broke up and Hector and Dale weren’t too friendly. It’s a song about one of our minitours. Note the reference to 28th Day, some friends of ours (Barbara Manning, et al).
I also found an old Flying Color video on Youtube, but it was done after I quit the band. It's weird seeing Chris von Sneidern playing on the vid and know that I made the music, but it's still great watching it.
Since I started Eternally Yours, Cotton Mather's 'Kontiki' in its 2002 French tour self-released edition is probaly the most popular post on the blog. And it's still one of my desert island discs. By request here is the Cotton Mather stuff again. I added external links to fellow bloggers who posted some early Cotton Mather material. To the best of my knowledge theses records are no longer available.
While vocalist Robert Harrison may share a surname with George, his nasal vocals are much more reminiscent of John. So if the Fab Four are the starting point for Cotton Mather, their music travels further afield.
Formed in Austin in 1991, the original Cotton Mather (named of course after the famous Puritan preacher and author) lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Robert Harrison, guitarist Whit Williams, bassist Matt Hovis and drummer Greg Thibeaux. This lineup recorded a demo ('The Crafty Flower Arranger EP') and the band's debut album, 1994's 'Cotton is King'.
'April's Fool' video featuring model Alicia Corbett
When the record company went bankrupt, Cotton Mather disbanded and Harrison got a job teaching school in Texas. He kept in touch with Whit Williams and decided to record something 'with friends for our own kicks in my garage'. Dana Mizer joined as the new drummer. Everyone who listened to the recording thought it was really good, so Harrison and Williams developed a DYI attitude, created their own record label and released it independently.
I fucking wish it was ours. I play it all day at home. Liam Gallagher (Oasis)
Limited distribution kept 'Kontiki' from breaking through in any meaningful way. Add the fact that Mizer left the group before the album was even released, and it seemed like Cotton Mather were destined to fade into obscurity. And they might have done just that, except for a fortuitous set of circumstances. Oasis guitarist / songwriter Noel Gallagher somehow got his hands on a copy of 'Kontiki' and began talking up the American band to the British press, with the eventual result that the British power pop label Rainbow Quartz reissued 'Kontiki' in the U.K. in late 1998.
Better known for fans as 'the french tour edition', my 'Kontiki' version was specially made for selling at shows when Cotton Mather did a month-long tour in France. The band had the CD's burned at a local reproduction house, labels made by a local designer. Josh, Cotton Mather's bassist, stamped them himself on the CD's while listening to Guided By Voices 'Bee Thousand' the night before the band left for France. The CD includes all of 'Kontiki', as well as a bunch of outtakes, alternate versions and a previously-unheard song. The packaging is very basic, but still effective. According to Josh, there's only ten CD's total. I saw the band live in Montbronn (March 30th, 2002), this is where I got my copy.
Harrison and Williams quickly redrafted Mizer into the band and added new bassist Josh Gravelin for a successful U.K. tour after which the band recorded 1999's EP 'Hotel Baltimore'. A chronic Back problem Robert Harrison had for some time due to injuries from a car accident turned acute. Cotton Mather was put on hold while he underwent months of rest and rehabilitation. The wait has tested everyone's patience. Shortly after their final release 'The Big Picture' in 2001, the group ended. Although well loved by critics and other artits, they never broke through to mainstream success.
Robert Harrison recorded a solo album, rumoured to be a double CD that was never released, then teamed up with Paul Collins from The Beat as a songwriting duo. He recently released a double CD with his new group, Future Clouds & Radars wich features Josh Gravelin. Dana Myzer and Whit Williams contributed to Buzzie on their second release 'Are You Feeling Anything Yet?' produced by Ron Flynt (ex 20/20). Buzzie is basically John McElhenney, the former lead vocalist of Blue Cartoon. Dana and Whit are now playing with Ron Flynt in a band called Stockton.
There are common myths and legends about records from the punk area such as 'Raw Power' or 'Young, Loud and Snotty' that should have been better if… I recently read this interesting post (and comments too) on 'L.A.M.F.' by The Heartbreakers over at Power Pop Criminals. Go and get the original Track LP, get the outracks here, make your opinion and let us know about it.
The facts
It's generally said that the song are good enough to make this album a landmark record but somehow between the recording sessions in '77 and the release in '78 'L.A.M.F' got remixed (by Johnny Thunders if we can believe Jerry Nolan) and in the process lost a lot of it’s sonic energy. What was finally released in '78 was a neutered 'L.A.M.F.'.
In 1982, Jungle records acquired the original tapes and issued a remixed, remastered and reorganized version ('L.A.M.F. Revisited') done by Thunders and former Generation X bassist Tony James in just three nights. The differences between this album and the original are more clarity, more… Johnny Thunders guitars, but… less Rock'n'Roll! The main difference lays in the changed song order. One song ('All By Myself') was dropped and two songs ('Do You Love Me' and 'Can't Keep My Eyes On You') were added.
In 1994, Jungle released a new version known as 'L.A.M.F. The Lost '77 Mixes'. This is a version with different mixes of all the tracks and not new ones like on the '…Revisited' version. The mixes used here (250 mixes are available) were primarily what the label considered to be the 'rockier, punchier' versions. The final version came out in 2003 with a bonus disc comprising a 'Chinese Rocks' video, demos and alternate mixes. 'Can't Keep My Eyes On You', one of these extras, features, previously unheard, Jerry Nolan on lead vocals.
Wich one should you listen to ?
'L.A.M.F.' was an eye-opener for me and I bought the original LP three times. The problem - if there is a problem - with this record is more the mastering and in some cases the manufacturing than the mixes. I must say the French release manufactered by Barclay sounds even muddier ! The Heartbreakers reduced twenty years of rock and pop and rhythm and blues into 3 minute rave-ups with all the requisite elements. These songs depict how the urban jungle could eat you alive. The vocals are desperate and the guitars are dirty. To my ears this is the best sound for it.
I have the 'L.A.M.F. Revisited' version on a nice picture disc. What can I say… I rather look at the picture than listen to it! And I'm disturbed by the tracklisting change. The 'Lost '77 Mixes' is a good one. The drums in particular sound better and this really gives justice to the great Jerry Nolan. I think it is the main reason why it sounds punchier. Surprisingly I don't really like the loud guitars here and from time to time the bass disappears. Sounds like a different record to me.
Thought #1: I can't believe there is no CD release from the original mixes with a proper mastering because this is the REAL THING. Thought #2: The original LP is credited to The Heartbreakers. Why do we have Johnny Thunders AND The Heartbreakers printed on CD versions ?
And now today's pick. While talking about this gem with Angelo, a Skydog Records release comes to my mind. This limited edition CD contains outracks (what does it mean ? Different mixes ? Alternate takes ?) from the 'L.A.M.F.' sessions. It comes in a cardboard sleeve not a jewel case.
Sometimes I feel lost with that 'L.A.M.F.' thing !
Tracklisting: All By Myself / Get Off The Phone / I Wanna Be Loved / I Love You
The first album by this band from Grenoble should have been produced by Peter Zaremba (of Fleshtones fame) but for some obscure reasons he desisted three days before the begining of the recording sessions, and in the end it was Lucas Fox (ex Motorhead drummer) behind the board.
Don't be fooled by the crappy front cover, click on the hyperlink and have an ear on it. Lucas Fox missed the production, but the trio is sharp and creative. This is a good exemple of a debut album, filled with the material and the energy build up during gigs. From pub-rock to pop with a rythm & blues sensibility. Included here you can find 'You should Be Rockin'' the b-side of the 'Do The Swamp Rock' single. See my previous Batmen post and get 'Bubble Skies' the second album.
The Batmen released three singles,two LP's before and broke up shortly after. Singer / guitarist / songwriter Roberto was involved in another project in the early '90's but I have no information on it.
'The Beat' is a cover song originally recorded by a Dutch band named The Scene for a single that was only available at gigs. I'm after it since many years. So if someone have it let me know.
tracklisting: Do The Swamp Rock / Love Drugs / Taste Of Blood / Man On The Black List / Cold Drinks / The Beat / Never Again / Silly Boys / You Should be Rockin' (Bonus Track)
There's a close connection between Skydog Records and Stiff Records. The Damned had their first single released on both labels, the same was planned for Motorhead but it never happened on Stiff. The version here of 'White Line Fever' is a different take from the first album sessions. The Stranglers tracks are 1977 demos, 'Cycle Annie' is a pre-Velvet Underground song written and perfomed by Lou Reed, and The MC5 songs were originally released on an early single from 1966.
You may notice Henri Paul (French Johnny Thunders clone) as second guitarist on some live bootlegs by his heroe. The Phantoms is one of his early bands (featuring Paul Gray and Steve Nichols on rythm section), a cross between The Hot Rods and The Heartbreakers. Other French bands on this compilation are Shakin' Street (hard rock, by the time featuring Ross Funicello from The Dictators on second guitar), 1984 (punk rock) and Rockin' rebels (rockabilly).
tracklisting:The Damned Help / The Damned New Rose / Motorhead Leavin' here / Motorhead White Line Fever / MC5 Looking At You / MC5 Borderline / The StranglersPeaches The Stranglers Walk On By / The Stranglers Bitching / The Phantoms Out Of My Way Nothing To Say / Beachnuts Cycle Annie / Titus Williams Message Of Love / Titus Williams Talkin' About You / Titus Williams Burning Desire / Titus WilliamsBye Bye Johnny he Gorillas Gatecrasher / The Gorillas Gorilla Got Me / Shakin' Street Solid As A Rock / Shakin' Street Soul Dealer / 1984 Salted city / 1984 D. Section / Rockin' Rebels Western / Rockin' Rebels Ravin' Sound
Some weeks ago when I posted 
