From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V4 #110 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Wednesday, April 7 1999 Volume 04 : Number 110 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] Reunion ["Gregg" ] Re: [AVALON] Reunion [Colleen Matan ] Re: [AVALON] Reunion ["Martin Stockman" ] [AVALON] cover/no cover ["mark shanahan" ] Re: [AVALON] Reunion [Colleen Matan ] Re: [AVALON] Reunion [Kicki Gustafsson ] [AVALON] Reunion [off-topic warning] [Daniel Atterbom ] Re: [AVALON] Album news [Colleen Matan ] [AVALON] No Hope? [Bahi Para ] [AVALON] Re: Albums ["Richard" ] Re: [AVALON] No Hope? ["Janice O'Shea" ] [AVALON] Mamouna/Horoscope [Helchat@aol.com] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 06:54:18 -0400 From: "Gregg" Subject: [AVALON] Reunion well I just had to put my 2 cents in I believe that the reason for the cover album is because of the reunion the original material is being saved for the Roxy reunion the covers maybe to build up Bry's popularity and develop interest I don't think our hero can be considered a homebody, Bry and Lucy are invited to all the best parties and they are out almost every nightperhaps the wait is for a millennium reunion... just my thought's "littlegregg" - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 07:07:32 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] Reunion On Tue, 6 Apr 1999, Gregg wrote: > well I just had to put my 2 cents in I believe that the reason for the cover > album is because of the reunion the original material is being saved for the > Roxy reunion the covers maybe to build up Bry's popularity and develop > interest I don't think our hero can be considered a homebody, Bry and Lucy > are invited to all the best parties and they are out almost every > nightperhaps the wait is for a millennium reunion... just my thought's My thoughts: There will be no Roxy reunion. I've said it before and I continue to say it. Those rumors got inflated after we all clucked about them on this list. We know he's been dropped from his record company. The news about the proposed album of covers seems to indicate that no one wanted that album. I have my doubts that this new rumored album will come to light as well--it strikes me as more of a saving face gesture than anything else. Colleen - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 13:25:31 +0100 From: "Martin Stockman" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Reunion Colleen Matan writes > >There will be no Roxy reunion. I've said it before and I continue to say >it. Those rumors got inflated after we all clucked about them on this >list. > >We know he's been dropped from his record company. The news about the >proposed album of covers seems to indicate that no one wanted that album. > >I have my doubts that this new rumored album will come to light as >well--it strikes me as more of a saving face gesture than anything else. I understand why you, and other Avalonions, are skeptical about matters Ferryesque - God knows our loyalty to the cause has not been rewarded by output for nigh on twenty years. We should consider the following, however. 1. Stories about a reunion circulated the non-tabloid European Press last summer/autumn. 2. I spoke to a tour manager who swore that he'd been in talks with all salient Roxy members about gigs this summer. 3. Ferry continues to have a huge appeal in Europe. 4. He is certainly working. 5. He played a live gig, albeit low key, a fortnight ago. 6. The new website would be pointless without some upcoming project. 7. His visibility is high : Seemingly every day snaps of his tousled quiff are captured as he enters another fashion show/art gallery/award ceremony. 8. He strikes me as a proud yet decent man. I don't think his ego is such that he has to go to the lengths of obfuscation that Colleen impilies. Has Virgin dropped him ? Or are you referring to his US label ? Taxi was a patchy album but in Spell, Rescue Me, Taxi and one or two others he reached the heights. The prospect of a new covers album thrills me, particularly if he concentrates on 30s and 40s stuff. Finally, Colleen and others who question their faith, reflect upon these lyrics from Psalm... Drink from His cup (Hush now don't you cry) His quiet waters Will never run dry Martini - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 05:53:00 PDT From: "mark shanahan" Subject: [AVALON] cover/no cover hi all: well ... this is a bit surprising (new album news) - assuming it's correct & truthful. nothing like deja vu ... only thing is (if i remember correctly ...) - didn't he really piss off a lot of his fan base w/the whole taxi-horoscope thing? well, that and his label (assuming again), since he's no longer with them. hey - don't get me wrong - if *anyone* was set up to do standards, bryan is at least among the top ten _without a doubt_. but - *i* really hope he's not even going to do this in order to finish/delay an album of **original** material. i would be somewhat disappointed, bordering on the p.o.'d myself ... not that that *means* anything, but anyway ... i mean, i'd rather see horoscope out now vs. another 'cover' album (uh-oh, i said the nasty word!). if it's all true, i have to agree w/james - i is confused; i just don't *get* his way of thinking. on the other hand, if it's now somehow a result of not being able to get a contract/deal *otherwise* ... well, then that's OK. :^) i don't know; this is good, but frustrating news. frustrating in its lack of detail at any rate ... yeah - when's the roxy reunion taking place??? looking forward to more, positive details ... peaces/ms Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 09:47:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] Reunion Martin responded: [...] > 1. Stories about a reunion circulated the non-tabloid European Press last > summer/autumn. Stories are circulating right now in non-tabloid American papers that Hillary Clinton is going to run for the Senate in New York, but very few people believe that is actually going to happen. [other points omitted for the sake of brevity and not because I can't offer to refute them as well] > Has Virgin dropped him ? Or are you referring to his US label ? He has no record deal in the US or abroad at the moment. I know that was posted to the list but I can't remember when (I was going to pull it from the list archives). > Taxi was a patchy album but in Spell, Rescue Me, Taxi and one or two others > he reached the heights. The prospect of a new covers album thrills me, > particularly if he concentrates on 30s and 40s stuff. The prospect of any kind of album from him thrills me. But the article from dotmusic (http://www.dotmusic.co.uk/news/april99/9942news1469.asp) says, in part: > Bryan Ferry is finishing work on a compilation of Thirties and > Forties songs, including Falling In Love Again and You Do > Something To Me, at an undisclosed studio. Management IE > Music are understood to be in talks with various record labels. > A European tour is understood to be being lined up. "Understood" certainly may be a smokescreen to keep things hush-hush while negotiations are going on. Then again, this press-release kind of thing could also have been manufactured just to get people talking and asking about him so he could find someone that would agree to sign him since so many people were--hey, whaddaya know--talking about him. I can't help but be suspicious of things like this. Clearly the original material he had didn't cut it in the eyes of the various labels, so the covers album was a safe fall-back. For what it's worth, I don't think that Horoscope stuff will ever see the light of day. And that's probably for the best for those of us with sensitive dispositions. You can all shoot me for being the messenger of opinions that you don't like, but the truth is that for all his being photographed at art openings and chi-chi parties, Mr. Ferry is a minor rock star of dubious value because of his age and because he doesn't fit in with the current bottom-line-driven-youth-oriented music world. I am not saying I don't think he has any talent. And this is not to say that he can't land a deal with a major record label. But I would have to think that should he find someone who is willing to sign him, it would be a small label and any tours would be either extremely extensive in an attempt to sell the record as widely as possible (a la the early days of the Barenaked Ladies) or very small in an attempt to lose as little money as possible. Of course I'd like to be able to speculate more positive things. And I hope I am proven wrong. But I'm afraid that Dr. Pangloss has never been one of my role models. Colleen - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 15:03:47 +0200 From: Kicki Gustafsson Subject: Re: [AVALON] Reunion >You can all shoot me for being the messenger of opinions that you don't >like, but the truth is that for all his being photographed at art openings >and chi-chi parties, Mr. Ferry is a minor rock star of dubious value >because of his age and because he doesn't fit in with the current >bottom-line-driven-youth-oriented music world. I am not saying I don't >think he has any talent. And this is not to say that he can't land a deal >with a major record label. But I would have to think that should he find >someone who is willing to sign him, it would be a small label and any >tours would be either extremely extensive in an attempt to sell the record >as widely as possible (a la the early days of the Barenaked Ladies) or >very small in an attempt to lose as little money as possible. > >Of course I'd like to be able to speculate more positive things. And I >hope I am proven wrong. But I'm afraid that Dr. Pangloss has never been >one of my role models. > >Colleen Extremly well put, Colleen! I agree totally with you. /Kicki G - ------------------------ Kicki Gustafsson, Östersunds-Posten 063-16 16 51 http://www.op.se http://www.torget.se/users/k/KickiG (privat hemsida) - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 16:15:15 +0200 From: Daniel Atterbom Subject: [AVALON] Reunion [off-topic warning] At 15.47 +0200 99-04-06, Colleen Matan wrote: >Stories are circulating right now in non-tabloid American papers that >Hillary Clinton is going to run for the Senate in New York, but very few >people believe that is actually going to happen. This is a spin on the impeachment. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.) is going to retire after a rather remarkable service for presidents Kennnedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford and almost 24 years in the senate. Moynihan is an American Churchill, intelligent, a good writer and, unlike Churchill, an academic. Moynihan has, unlike Churchill, never been called to lead in a moment of danger. Since the Democrats wants to regain the Senate, they need to keep Moynihan's seat. Rep Chales Rangel (D-N.Y.) represents Harlem and he came up with the idea of Mrs Clinton running for the seat. New York has had several senators not born in the state, Robert F Kennedy is the most famous, since one only has to have a token residence there (John F Kennedy never lived in the Boston apt he stated as his address). If Hillary Clinton runs for the vacant seat in 2000, she will, like Richard Nixon in California 1962, lose. At least Nixon was born and had been elected from in the state that he ran for office in. Mrs Clinton has not been elected to anything since she was voted "Most likely to succeed" as a senior in high school. At that time she was a Goldwater Republican. Sorry for being off-topic. At 15.47 +0200 99-04-06, Colleen Matan wrote: >You can all shoot me for being the messenger of opinions that you don't >like, but the truth is that for all his being photographed at art openings >and chi-chi parties, Mr. Ferry is a minor rock star of dubious value >because of his age and because he doesn't fit in with the current >bottom-line-driven-youth-oriented music world. I am not saying I don't >think he has any talent. And this is not to say that he can't land a deal >with a major record label. But I would have to think that should he find >someone who is willing to sign him, it would be a small label and any >tours would be either extremely extensive in an attempt to sell the record >as widely as possible (a la the early days of the Barenaked Ladies) or >very small in an attempt to lose as little money as possible. Some people survive the rock business and age gracefully, some don't. The problem is that Roxy Music never cracked the U.S. market, so he can't make huge tours there a la Pink Floyd who are about Mr Ferry's age. And if Jeff Beck can release a new album, so can Bryan Ferry. Ray Davies from the Kinks did a very good concert in Stockholm last year. And I don't want to shoot you Colleen. Personaly. I hope that a reunion will take place, it's been over 15 years since I saw Roxy Music live. Daniel Daniel Atterbom *************** "God has blessed the world with Curtis Mayfield; now Mayfield has blessed us with New World Order." Danny Kelly reviewing one of the best and most positive CD's of the 90's, from a man paralysed from the neck down, in Q Magazine Detta är ett privat och personligt brev, innehållet får inte utan särskilt medgivande publiceras eller på annat sätt spridas vidare. This is a private and personal letter, the content of which is not for publication or re-distribution without my written permission. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 23:41:54 +0100 From: "Richard" Subject: [AVALON] Album news Personally I welcome any new work from Bryan. I see nothing different in this 'announcement' to the release of 'Taxi' - a means of achieving some output pending the completion of a bigger piece of work as was the case with 'Horoscope' / 'Mamouna' but I may be wrong. I think 'Taxi', whilst not an enormous seller, did Bryan a power of good in the UK and, whilst not my favourite album, I think it is one that includes some of Bryan's best work - in particular "I Put A Spell On You", and the vocal performances on "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Just One Look" and "Taxi". If this new album of 30s and 40s songs succeeds in delivering just four more outstanding performances it will be well worth it. I acknowledge that the decline in Bryan's record sales is probably largely attributable to his lack of output (and possibly age) but notwithstanding this the failure of his work to achieve greater recognition saddens me greatly. It is not that his work is any less worthy, valid, call it what you will, than his earlier output (can anyone say for example that the singles form Bete Noire deserved to do so poorly compared to earlier releases?). It seems it will always be an uphill struggle to get this music adequately promoted and played. Against this background it saddens me even more to see, in some quarters of this list, such indifference to news (albeit low on detail) of a new album. Richard - -----Original Message----- From: Daniel Atterbom To: avalon@smoe.org Date: Tuesday, April 06, 1999 3:17 PM Subject: [AVALON] Reunion [off-topic warning] At 15.47 +0200 99-04-06, Colleen Matan wrote: >Stories are circulating right now in non-tabloid American papers that >Hillary Clinton is going to run for the Senate in New York, but very few >people believe that is actually going to happen. This is a spin on the impeachment. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.) is going to retire after a rather remarkable service for presidents Kennnedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford and almost 24 years in the senate. Moynihan is an American Churchill, intelligent, a good writer and, unlike Churchill, an academic. Moynihan has, unlike Churchill, never been called to lead in a moment of danger. Since the Democrats wants to regain the Senate, they need to keep Moynihan's seat. Rep Chales Rangel (D-N.Y.) represents Harlem and he came up with the idea of Mrs Clinton running for the seat. New York has had several senators not born in the state, Robert F Kennedy is the most famous, since one only has to have a token residence there (John F Kennedy never lived in the Boston apt he stated as his address). If Hillary Clinton runs for the vacant seat in 2000, she will, like Richard Nixon in California 1962, lose. At least Nixon was born and had been elected from in the state that he ran for office in. Mrs Clinton has not been elected to anything since she was voted "Most likely to succeed" as a senior in high school. At that time she was a Goldwater Republican. Sorry for being off-topic. At 15.47 +0200 99-04-06, Colleen Matan wrote: >You can all shoot me for being the messenger of opinions that you don't >like, but the truth is that for all his being photographed at art openings >and chi-chi parties, Mr. Ferry is a minor rock star of dubious value >because of his age and because he doesn't fit in with the current >bottom-line-driven-youth-oriented music world. I am not saying I don't >think he has any talent. And this is not to say that he can't land a deal >with a major record label. But I would have to think that should he find >someone who is willing to sign him, it would be a small label and any >tours would be either extremely extensive in an attempt to sell the record >as widely as possible (a la the early days of the Barenaked Ladies) or >very small in an attempt to lose as little money as possible. Some people survive the rock business and age gracefully, some don't. The problem is that Roxy Music never cracked the U.S. market, so he can't make huge tours there a la Pink Floyd who are about Mr Ferry's age. And if Jeff Beck can release a new album, so can Bryan Ferry. Ray Davies from the Kinks did a very good concert in Stockholm last year. And I don't want to shoot you Colleen. Personaly. I hope that a reunion will take place, it's been over 15 years since I saw Roxy Music live. Daniel Daniel Atterbom *************** "God has blessed the world with Curtis Mayfield; now Mayfield has blessed us with New World Order." Danny Kelly reviewing one of the best and most positive CD's of the 90's, from a man paralysed from the neck down, in Q Magazine Detta är ett privat och personligt brev, innehållet får inte utan särskilt medgivande publiceras eller på annat sätt spridas vidare. This is a private and personal letter, the content of which is not for publication or re-distribution without my written permission. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 18:59:36 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] Album news On Tue, 6 Apr 1999, Richard wrote: [...] > adequately promoted and played. Against this background it saddens me even > more to see, in some quarters of this list, such indifference to news > (albeit low on detail) of a new album. It's not indifference--that would mean people wouldn't write anything at all. Perhaps my enthusiasm is a bit too tempered for your liking, but I can't get all excited over an album which is merely a rumor at this point. Since I've been on this list--which dates back to just after _Mamouna_ was released--we've been treated to a steady series of rumors about new albums, possible collaborations, new websites, a Roxy reunion, and the like; none of which has borne any fruit whatsoever. In fact, because of this I will be very enthusiastic once a record or some facts--as opposed to rumors, because the dotmusic story is hardly hard facts--are released. But until then all I can say is that I've been seduced and then abandoned by the news of Mr. Ferry's possible endeavors too many times. Colleen - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 01:42:51 +0200 From: Bahi Para Subject: [AVALON] No Hope? Colleen wrote, rather sombrely: >I have my doubts that this new rumored album will come to light as >well--it strikes me as more of a saving face gesture than anything else. Maybe, but it was announced to the BBC (albeit in a low-key way) in early 1995 - about 4 months after Mamouna's release - as a piano-based album of 30s and 40s covers. A journalist posted it on a Teletext page at the time and someone excitedly posted it to this list. The subsequent trickle of information we've been fed since then, carrying names like Bernard Butler, the Radiohead guy, Edwyn Collins, Dave Stewart, C/Edison, Kelli Dayton, one of those Squeeze guys et al suggested that Bryan was working on at least two projects at once or had abandoned the former. There was the rumour about an album having a slightly harder edge and including a song called "Love War" or "Love Wars", which may or may not be a cover of the Womack & Womack track. Since Taxi, the last album of old songs, sold well in Europe - top 5 in the UK, with 2 top 30 singles and acres of glossy and smudgy press coverage - expect Bryan to use a covers album and the associated tour to fund and help promote whatever has been written and recorded recently. He has claimed that not doing an album of covers after Avalon was a big mistake - clearly, he's now happy with the idea of remakes collection between every release of original material. >For what it's worth, I don't think that Horoscope stuff will >ever see the light of day. Probably not as a Ferry-controlled release, unless tracks make the forthcoming box set. That would be uncharacteristic, however welcome. More than half of Mamouna is Horoscope-based or sourced. There were some 5 or so songs left over at the end. Perhaps some will be included in the next album of originals. >And this is not to say that he can't land a deal >with a major record label. But I would have to think that should he find >someone who is willing to sign him, it would be a small label Maybe in the US but in Europe, a label would be less likely to turn down an album of Ferry covers. The last few Ferry hits in Europe have been (working backwards) Will You Love Me Tomorrow, I Put a Spell on You, and Let's Stick Together (88 Remix). Not one thing from Bete Noire, though two came very close. Ferry covers sell - not in huge numbers, but well enough to propel their albums into the top 10, at the very least. Not sure if a company would deal for just one album but unless Bryan was asking for a huge advance, something like this would be a low cost, fairly big seller for them. Easy money. Taxi was quick and recorded on 24 track. > and any tours would be either extremely extensive in an attempt > to sell the record as widely as possible (a la the early days > of the Barenaked Ladies) or very small in an attempt to lose as > little money as possible. I'd have thought that tickets for Bryan's tours routinely sell out but tour finances are a mystery to me - maybe Bryan's don't make much money. Whatever happens happens. Something tells me that this one will surface, albeit a month or two behind schedule. Bahi - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 01:18:24 +0100 From: "Richard" Subject: [AVALON] Re: Albums Bahi - I agree. and Colleen - I do understand your frustrations. I share them too but do allow myself to get excited by news which suggests (yes just suggests) that a release is imminent. Let's hope most of the speculation is put to rest soon! Regards, - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 21:16:55 -0400 From: "Janice O'Shea" Subject: Re: [AVALON] No Hope? Bahi Para wrote: > Maybe, but it was announced to the BBC (albeit in a low-key way) in > early 1995 - about 4 months after Mamouna's release - as a piano- > based album of 30s and 40s covers. A journalist posted it on a > Teletext page at the time and someone excitedly posted it to this > list. The subsequent trickle of information we've been fed since > then, carrying names like Bernard Butler, the Radiohead guy, Edwyn > Collins, Dave Stewart, C/Edison, Kelli Dayton, one of those Squeeze > guys et al suggested that Bryan was working on at least two projects > at once or had abandoned the former. There was the rumour about an > album having a slightly harder edge and including a song called > "Love War" or "Love Wars", which may or may not be a cover of the > Womack & Womack track. In 1996, Chris Spedding worked on 4 tracks with BF, possibly for the above mentioned album with the "slightly harder edge". > Whatever happens happens. Something tells me that this one will surface, > albeit a month or two behind schedule. I live in hope. Janice - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 22:00:59 EDT From: Helchat@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] Mamouna/Horoscope According to the program I recently acquired off eBay: "The album was called "Horoscope" in its first phase. There were two phases in the recording - they were interrupted by the Taxi record which took up to a year in the middle of it all and which was a very welcome break for me. It was very good for to me take a pause. When I came back to Horoscope, it was great because it was all very clear what to do to it and the writer's block that I seemed to have developed had disappeared, Thank God, and it worked in a sort of easy flow. Sometimes I think you got to go through a pain barrier, sometimes great things come out of you know. One thing that we'd perfected during themaking of the Taxi record was the rhythm section we were working with which we then used on the Horoscope tapes and changed a lot of the songs that I had been woring on at that time. I also wrote these new songs, one of them was Mamouna; it seemed such a resonant piece I thought that would be a much better title for the album. It had changed so much it was now a different record so the curse of Horoscope was no more!" I read that to mean that Mamouna was the illustrious Horoscope that I had heard of in the early 90's? Helene - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V4 #110 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest