Marianne Faithfull

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy"

2013 USA

autoprodotto

Tutti i brani sono composti da Will Oldham

Lato A: 1. I Heard Of A Source 2. Lessons From Stony 3. Triumph Of Will 4. I Will Be Born Again 5. Make It Not An Evil Mark 

Lato B: 1. The Spotted Pig 2. This Is My Cocktail 3. Bad Man 4. Ending It All (As I Do) 5. Royal Quiet Deluxe

Musicisti: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - voce, chitarra

Recensione:

Un nuovo album di Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, strano! Avrà un calo di ispirazione stavolta... e invece no.

Il nostro, che ha all'attivo un nutrito numero di dischi e di EP e gareggia per la discografia più complessa della musica, non sbaglia il colpo neanche stavolta e con quest' omonimo album, totalmente acustico, autoregistrato, autoprodotto e autodistribuito in pochi negozi degli Stati Uniti (quasi introvabile quindi), sforna, a mio avviso, il suo lavoro più bello ed ispirato, forse anche superiore ai già superbi "The Letting Go" (2006), "Lie Down In The Light" (2008) e "Beware" (2009).

 Stile personalissimo e voce tra le più emozionanti degli ultimi anni, pur rimanendo in territori folk non certo nuovi o sperimentali, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy mette in scaletta una sequenza di pezzi da brividi, soprattutto nel secondo lato.

I testi sono in prima persona, pessimisti e strazianti come di consueto (in contrasto con l'autoironia del personaggio e dei suoi video): Il disco è breve, intenso e, se possibile, forse per la nudità dei brani, ancora più intimista del solito. Un disco destinato a durare. 

Tra le tracce spiccano la quasi sussurrata "I will be born again", "The spotted pig", cupa e solare al tempo stesso, "Ending it all (as I do)", da brividi, e la conclusiva "Royal quiet deluxe", divisa in due parti. 

Non perdetelo in concerto; credetemi, uno spettacolo, per pochi forse, ma fortunati.

Grande musica!

T. Rex "Dandy In The Underworld" - 1977
Testo e musica: Marc Bolan

Prince of Players, Pawn of none
Born with steel reins on the heart of the Sun
Gypsy explorer of the New Jersey Heights
Exalted companion of cocaine nights 

'Cos he's a Dandy in the Underworld
Dandy in the Underworld
When will he come up for air,
Will anybody ever care 

At an old eighteen exiled he was
To the deserted kingdoms of a mythical Oz
Distraction he wanted, to destruction he fell
Now he forever stalks the ancient
Mansions of hell

'Cos he's a Dandy in the Underworld
Dandy in the Underworld
When will he come up for air,
Will anybody ever care

Now his lovers have left him
And his youth's ill spent
He cries in the dungeons and tries to repent
But change is a monster and changing is hard
But he'll freeze away his summers in his
Underground yard
'Cos he's a Dandy in the Underworld
Dandy in the Underworld
When will he come up for air,
Will anybody ever care

Roxy Music "Virginia Plain/The Numberer" - 45 giri - 1972

Testo e musica: Bryan Ferry

Make me a deal and make it straight 
All signed and sealed, i´ll take it 
To robert e. lee i´ll show it 
I hope and pray he don´t blow it ´cause 
We´ve been around a long time just try try try tryin´ to 
Make the big time... 
Take me on a roller coaster 
Take me for an airplane ride 
Take me for a six days wonder but don´t you 
Don´t you throw my pride aside besides 
What´s real and make believe 
Baby jane´s in acapulco we are flyin´ down to rio 

Throw me a line i´m sinking fast 
Clutching at straws can´t make it 
Havana sound we´re trying hard edge the hipster jiving 
Last picture shows down the drive-in 
You´re so sheer you´re so chic 
Teenage rebel of the week 
Flavours of the mountain steamline 
Midnight blue casino floors 
Dance the cha-cha through till sunrise 
Open up exclusive doors oh wow! 
Just like flamingos look the same 
So me and you, just we two got to search for something new 
Far beyond the pale horizon 
Some place near the desert strand 
Where my studebaker takes me 
That´s where i´ll make my stand but wait 
Can´t you see that holzer mane? 
What´s her name virginia plain

"Virginia Plain" è stato il primo singolo dei Roxy Music (sul lato B si trovava "The Numberer", uno strumentale composto da Andy Mackay). Entrò nella Top 10 nel Regno Unito raggiungendo il numero 4.
Il brano non era incluso nella prima versione del disco di debutto, Roxy Music, e non era stata ancora realizzata quando l'album uscì. Dopo il successo del disco in Gran Bretagna, "Virginia Plain" fu inclusa nelle successive ristampe.
 Nel 1977, fu ri-realizzata come singolo, insieme a "Pyjamarama", originiaramente il secondo singolo dei Roxy Music, per promuovere il loro album "Greatest Hits", e raggiunse la posizione numero #11.
"Virginia Plain" vede al basso Rik Kenton, che si unì alla band dopo la dipartita di Graham Simpson. E' da evidenziare nella canzona la mancanza del ritornello e per il sintetizzatore di Brian Eno.
Il titolo "Virginia Plain" prende il nome da un quadro di Brian Ferry, che era stato studente alla scuola d'arte. Il dipinto rappresentava delle immagini del marchio di sigarette omonimo e la superstar Baby Jane Holzer di Andy Wahrol. Holzer è infatti citata nel testo: "Baby Jane's in Acapulco / We are flying down to Rio".

Talking Heads "More Songs About Buildings And Food"

Sire 1978 USA

Prodotto da Brian Eno & Talking Heads

Copertina: 529 polaroids di Jimmy de Sana - Concept: David Byrne

Lato A: 1. Thank you for sending me an angel (David Byrne) 2. With our love (David Byrne) 3. The good thing (David Byrne) 4. Warning sign (David Byrne, Chris Frantz) 5. The girls want to be with the girls (David Byrne) 6. Found a job (David Byrne)

Lato B: 1. Artists only (David Byrne, Wayne Zieve) 2. I'm not in love (David Byrne) 3. Stay hungry (David Byrne, Chris Frantz) 4. Take me to the river (Al Green, Mabon Hodges) 5. The big country (David Byrne)

Musicisti: David Byrne - voce, chitarra, percussioni sintetizzate; Chris Frantz - batteria e percussioni; Jerry Harrison - piano, organo, sintetizzatore, chitarra, cori; Tina Weymouth - basso; Brian Eno - sintetizzatore, piano, chitarra, percussioni, cori.

Kat Onoma "La Chambre" - 1995

Dans ma chambre vous croqueriez une pomme petite vous tremperiez
Dans le thé des langues de chat
En silence
Et après le débat comme dit Casanova
Fronçant les sourcils vous diriez
C'est bizarre

Car vous n'auriez qu'un mot à dire
Dans la rue la journée
Pour vous servir d'acolyte j'aurais mon parapluie qui sait?

Dans ma chambre vous croqueriez une pomme petite vous tremperiez
Dans le thé des langues de chat
En silence
Et après le débat comme dit Casanova
Fronçant les sourcils vous diriez
Ç'a été?

Car vous n'auriez qu'un mot à dire
Dans la rue la journée
Si seulement il vous en disait

Simon & Garfunkel "Bookends"

Columbia 1968 USA

prodotto da Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel e Roy Halee

fotografia di copertina: Richard Avedon

Lato A: 1. Bookends Theme (strumentale) (Paul Simon) 2. Save the Life of My Child (Paul Simon) 3. America (Paul Simon) 4. Overs (Paul Simon) 5. Voices of Old People (Art Garfunkel) 6. Old Friends (Paul Simon) 7. Bookends (Paul Simon) 

Lato B: Fakin' It (Paul Simon) 2. Punky's Dilemma (Paul Simon) 3. Mrs. Robinson (Paul Simon) 4. A Hazy Shade Of Winter (Paul Simon) 5. At The Zoo (Paul Simon)

Musicisti:  Paul Simon - voce, chitarra; Art Garfunkel - voce; Hal Blaine - percussioni; Joe Osborn - basso elettrico; Larry Knetchel - pianoforte, tastiere; Jimmie Haskell - arrangiatore

Eric Clapton "Sign Language" - 1976
Testo e musica: Bob Dylan

You speak to me in sign languageAs I'm eating a sandwich in a small cafeAt a quarter to threeBut I can't respond to your sign languageYou're taking advantage, bringing me downCan't you make any sound?It was there by the bakery, surrounded by fakeryThis is my story, still I'm still thereDoes she know I still care?Link Wray was playing on a jukebox, I was payingFor the words I was saying, so misunderstoodHe didn't do me no goodYou speak to me in sign languageAs I'm eating a sandwich in a small cafeAt a quarter to threeBut I can't respond to your sign languageYou're taking advantage, bringing me downCan't you make any sound?

Junior Wells

Junior Wells

Junior Wells

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy "I See A Darkness" - 2012

Well, you're my friend, (that's what you told me)
And can you see (what's inside of me)
Many times we've been out drinking
And many times we've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice, the kind of thoughts I got
Well you know I have a love, a love for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive to live I won't let go
But could you see its opposition comes arising up sometimes
That its dreadful antiposition comes blacking in my mind

And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And did you know how much I love you
Is a hope that somehow you, you
Can save me from this darkness

Well I hope that someday buddy
We have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
And we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see

Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
And did you know how much I love you
Is a hope that somehow you, you
Can save me from this darkness

The Gun Club "Miami"

Animal Records 1982 USA

Prodotto da Chris Stein

Foto di copertina: The Gun Club

Lato A: 1. Carry Home (Jeffrey Lee Pierce) 2. Like Calling Up Thunder (Jeffrey Lee Pierce) 3. Brother and Sister (Jeffrey Lee Pierce) 4. Run Through The Jungle (John Fogerty) 5. A Devil In The Woods (Jeffrey Lee Pierce) 6. Texas Serenade (Jeffrey Lee Pierce) 

Lato B: 1.  Watermelon Man (Ward Dotson, Pierce) 2. Bad Indian (Jeffrey Lee Pierce) 3. John Hardy  (traditional, arranged Pierce) 4. The Fire of Love (Jody Reynolds, Stordivant Sonya) 5. Sleeping in Blood City (Jeffrey Lee Pierce) 6. Mother of Earth (Jeffrey Lee Pierce)

Musicisti: Jeffrey Lee Pierce voce, chitarra, piano, seconda voce in "Watermelon Man", chitarra solista in "Run Through the Jungle" & "John Hardy"; Ward Dotson - chitarra solista, cori in "Watermelon Man; Terry Graham - batteria; Rob Ritter - basso; D.H. Laurence Jr. - seconda voce; Walter Steding - violino in "Watermelon Man"; Chris Stein - bonghi in "Watermelon Man"; Mark Tomeo - chitarra steel in "Texas Serenade" & "Mother of Earth" 

Primal Scream "Country Girl" - 2006



You never get too big
You never get too heavy
you never get too cool
That you stop payin' your dues
Oh yeah!
What can a poor boy do?
You better go back to you mama
She'll take care of you

Lost your wife
Lost your son
Stay out drinkin'
'till the morning comes
Oh yeah!
What can a poor boy do?
You better go back to you mama
She'll take care of you

Country girl take my hand
Lead me through this diseased land
I am tired i am weak i am worn
I have stole i have sinned
Oh my soul is unclean
Country girl got to keep on keeping on
Crazy women
Mess your head
Wake up drunk & bleeding
In some strange bed
Oh yeah!
What can a poor boy do?

You better go back to your mama
She'll take care of you

Country girl take my hand
Lead me through this diseased land
I am tired i am weak i am worn
I have stole i have sinned
Oh my soul is unclean
Country girl got to keep on keeping on
You gotta keep on keepin' on
You gotta keep on keepin' strong
You gotta keep on keepin' on
When you
Got the riot city blues

One thing i have to say
Before i have to go
Be careful with your seed
You will reap just what you sow
Oh yeah!
What can a poor boy do?
You better go back to your mama
She'll take care of you

Country girl take my hand
Lead me through this diseased land
I am tired i am weak i am worn
I have stole i have sinned
Oh my soul is unclean
Country girl got to keep on keeping on

foto di Guy Bourdin

(Parigi, 2 dicembre 1928 - Parigi, 29 marzo 1991)

foto di Guy Bourdin - 1974

foto di Guy Bourdin

Guy Bourdin "Med Chairs"

foto di Guy Bourdin

Rod Stewart And The Faces "You can make me dance, sing or anything (even take the dog for a walk, mend a fuse, fold away the ironing board, or any other domestic short comings)" - 1974 

(Rod Stewart/Ron Wood/Kenney Jones/Tetsu Yamauchi/Ian McLagan)

Fu l'ultimo singolo ufficiale del gruppo inglese Faces. Apparse successivamente sulla raccolta "Snakes And Ladders - The Best Of The Faces" del 1976 .

La canzone conserva tutt'ora il primato del titolo più lungo nelle classifiche degli hit inglesi.

Hey baby, i wanna say something to ya', listen

Sometimes when i get out of my head

And i say all the wrong things

Sometimes i know i stay out late at night

And i get back fighting, hey babe

Somehow all my plans keep slippin' through my hands

And i end up crying, but listen

I can be a millionaire

Honey when you're standing there you're so exciting

You can make me dance, you can make me sing

You can make me do just any old thing and i love it

Sometimes i wanna get up so early

And get away from here girl

Summer's gone and before long

North winds blow, that bring the snow

I'll keep us warm girl

My schemes it seems are merely dreams

Fading with each morning, hey babe

But this old heart of mine

Is far too proud not to keep on trying

You can make me dance, you can make me sing

You can make me do just any old thing, yeah baby

So little bird don't fly away

Want you here every day

Don't ever leave me

I'd rather lose both my eyes

Than never see your smiling face again girl

You can make me dance, you can make me sing

You can make me do just any old thing

You can make me dance, you can make me sing

You can make me do just any old thing

Hey babe, keep on loving me babe

Yeah, keep on loving me babe

Just keep on loving me babe ...

Just keep on loving me darling ...

Woww, alright, hey baby, oh darling

Keep on loving me darling

Just keep on loving me darling ...

The Faces - da sinistra a destra: Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, Kenny Jones, Ron Wood, Rod Stewart

The Faces - foto di copertina del singolo "You can make me dance, sing or anything (..) del 1974

Adam Green "Dance with me" - 2002

Heart and soul Baby 
There's no goal
Turn the lights on bright
You're a rock and roll star

Feel my love
Coming from the heavens above
When my eyes meet your eyes
You know it's true

Chorus:

Baby come dance with me
Baby come dance with me-ee
On tv at the tv station

Baby come dance with me
Baby come dance with me-ee
On tv at the tv station

You are lost
and I'm at home
And nobody wants to be here alone

Ooo baby's in mint condition
Man I'm doin' some dirty wishin'
Let's both get on that rocket to the stars

Baby come dance with me
Baby come dance with me-ee
On tv at the tv station

Baby come dance with me
Baby come dance with me-ee
On tv at the tv station

(repeat until fade)

Joel Peter Witkin "La giovanissima" - 2007

Joel Peter Witkin "L'image indélébile" - 1994

Joel Peter Witkin

Joel Peter Witkin 

Joel Peter Witkin "Bad student" - 2007

"Joel Peter Witkin And Son" - fotografia di Herb Ritts - 1988

Joel Peter Witkin (Brooklin, 13 settembre 1939) - autoritratto

Edoardo Bennato "Ma che bella città" - 1974

The Jam "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight" - 1978
"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" è il secondo singolo estratto dall'album All Mod Cons, realizzato il 21 Ottobre 1978. Sul lato B la cover di "So Sad About Us" degli Who e "The Night", scritta da Bruce Foxton. Il retro della copertina del singolo mostra un'immagine del batterista degli Who, Keith Moon, morto il mese prima dell'uscita del 45 giri, per un'overdose di un medicinale prescritto dai medici per aiutare il suo alcoolismo.

The distant echo - Of faraway voices boarding faraway trains To take them home to The ones that they love and who love them forever The glazed, dirty steps - repeat my own and reflect my thoughts Cold and uninviting, partially naked Except for toffee wrapers and this morning's papers Mr. Jones got run down Headlines of death and sorrow - they tell of tomorrow Madmen on the rampage And I'm down in the tube station at midnight I fumble for change - and pull out the Queen Smiling, beguiling I put in the money and pull out a plum Behind me Whispers in the shadows - gruff blazing voices Hating, waiting "Hey boy" they shout - "have you got any money?" And I said - "I've a little money and a take away curry, I'm on my way home to my wife. She'll be lining up the cutlery, You know she's expecting me Polishing the glasses and pulling out the cork" And I'm down in the tube station at midnight I first felt a fist, and then a kick I could now smell their breath They smelt of pubs and Wormwood Scrubs And too many right wing meetings My life swam around me It took a look and drowned me in it's own existence The smell of brown leather It blended in with the weather It filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth It blocked all my senses Couldn't see, hear, speak any longer And I'm down in the tube station at midnight I said I was down in the tube station at midnight The last thing that I saw As I lay there on the floor Was "Jesus Saves" painted by an atheist nutter And a British Rail poster read "Have an Awayday - a cheap holiday - Do it today!" I glanced back on my life And thought about my wife 'cause they took the keys and she'll think it's me And I'm down in the tube station at midnight The wine will be flat and the curry's gone cold I'm down in the tube station at midnight Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight