From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V5 #186 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Sunday, May 14 2000 Volume 05 : Number 186 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] RE : Brussels Gig Vid ["Johnny Reece" ] Re: [AVALON] The post Flesh & Blood factor [KB Porter ] Re: [AVALON] RE : Brussels Gig Vid ["Franck Ruffino" ] [AVALON] "Street Life" & Dave Skinner ["gareth mc ginley" Subject: [AVALON] RE : Brussels Gig Vid For those Avalonians who have requested copies of the Brussels Gig on Video, just to let you know that the first ones will be ready in about 2 - 3 weeks. Currently, I have 44 copies to make, at the last count, (so please be patient !). Big thanks to Andy in Holland for sending it to me. It was, as most of you know, broadcast twice recently on Belgian TV, with repeats to follow, I believe. A Cover for the video has been designed by myself and fellow-Avalonian Ivor Canning. I've purchased 50 blank vids and 50 videocases so far at a really good price, so the cost price of it all will only be about £5 - £6 (at the most) for UK all inclusive of postage/packing, and maybe £1 more for Europe, though i'm guessing a bit because I don't know postage costs yet. Will let you all know. If there's any tiny bits of dosh floating around at the end I'd like to make the suggestion that it goes towards the upkeep of Kickis site. As for USA/Canadian Avalonians, Ida is handling that side of it for you. Ida can make NTSC copies, so I'll send Ida one 'master' Vid copy and about 50 Covers for it shortly. No need to e-mail me if you've already requested a copy, I have all your details on file and will e-mail you when they are ready. All I'll need then is a small cheque to cover my own costs, and a note of your own address, of course ! The Video itself, not surprisingly, doesn't feature the 'Band solos', and only 4 of Bry's songs were cut, leaving a rather fantastic 19 Songs for you all to drool over. Cool, eh ? Reecey... - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 08:13:46 -0400 From: KB Porter Subject: Re: [AVALON] The post Flesh & Blood factor < And I cannot imagine that ATGB is getting good reviews because it was " a safe bet" - a huge gamble more like it which has mercifully paid off - - not least because the album is his most appealing work in 15 years. But there's nothing deliberately commercial about it is there? Rob > ATGB was not a "safe bet". Nor was ATGB a "huge gamble" in the sense that Mr. Ferry has always made known (and has frequently recorded) his affection for 20's, 30's, 40's standards. Established Ferry fans could not possibly be alienated by ATGB - if they truly are Ferry fans. These standards also have more appeal to listeners who are not traditional Ferry fans. Hence, a potentially broader audience. The "gamble" with the album was nothing more than an equivalent of risk that most releases experience today. Therefore, the pre-release expectation regarding ATGB's commercial success was marginal, depending on the promotion and touring factors, and of course, audience reception. The great plus was BF's attractive persona and abilities. ATGB is commercially successful because the songs are recognizable, familiar, and easy for a broad audience to listen to. That does not mean ATGB was deliberately produced to be a commercial success. But, comparatively speaking, ATGB is nowhere near the intricate nature of Mamouna. Mamouna is original material from start to finish, each word, phrase, note, melody, each image conceived and integrated into what we think of as a song, the songs into scheme, all original. Mamouna is the flesh and blood, sweat and tears, suspicions and fears of Bryan Ferry - this is as personal, as close as one may ever get to the real person. Compared to Mamouna, ATGB was not a huge gamble, it was "safer". How many times have I heard lamentations on the list from diehard fans that Mamouna takes some listens to get used to - to like - and that makes it less accessible, i.e.. harder to listen to than ATGB. ATGB embraces, Mamouna bewitches. Both are grand, and very Ferry. As for reviews, I don't put to much in them because the reviewer always has an agenda based upon their individual characteristics. A good review, a bad review, no review by a person who makes a living writing reviews only tells me the reviewed piece is to the reviewer's liking - at best a rough guide. Rob, as for your statement that ATGB is Bryan Ferry's most appealing work in the past fifteen years, I hope you meant it has the broadest market appeal in the past 15yrs. Because if you meant ATGB is, for you, BF's most appealing work in a decade and one-half, then I must wonder why. Best wishes from one who loves all of Ferry's work! KBP (I plead insanity as my defense.) PS. I hope the piano/concert version of The Only Face makes its appearance on a record in the near future. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 08:28:19 -0400 From: KB Porter Subject: Re: [AVALON] Bryan on the Tely Hi Anne: Welcome to Avalon! Hang tight, there should be a VCR copy made from TV broadcast of the Brussels's concert. We are all waiting details. Best wishes. KBP - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 14:25:36 +0200 From: "Franck Ruffino" Subject: Re: [AVALON] RE : Brussels Gig Vid Hi johnny, Im interested by a copy of this concert. But I don't know where I can send you a "small cheque" :-) 6 or 7£ ? or more (I'm french) Thanks for your work. Amitiés from France Franck - ----- Original Message ----- From: Johnny Reece To: Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2000 12:00 PM Subject: [AVALON] RE : Brussels Gig Vid > For those Avalonians who have requested copies of the Brussels Gig on Video, > just to let you know that the first ones will be ready in about 2 - 3 weeks. > Currently, I have 44 copies to make, at the last count, (so please be > patient !). > Big thanks to Andy in Holland for sending it to me. It was, as most of you > know, broadcast twice recently on Belgian TV, with repeats to follow, I > believe. > A Cover for the video has been designed by myself and fellow-Avalonian Ivor > Canning. I've purchased 50 blank vids and 50 videocases so far at a really > good price, so the cost price of it all will only be about £5 - £6 (at the > most) for UK all inclusive of postage/packing, and maybe £1 more for Europe, > though i'm guessing a bit because I don't know postage costs yet. Will let > you all know. If there's any tiny bits of dosh floating around at the end > I'd like to make the suggestion that it goes towards the upkeep of Kickis > site. > As for USA/Canadian Avalonians, Ida is handling that side of it for you. > Ida can make NTSC copies, so I'll send Ida one 'master' Vid copy and about > 50 Covers for it shortly. > No need to e-mail me if you've already requested a copy, I have all your > details on file and will e-mail you when they are ready. All I'll need then > is a small cheque to cover my own costs, and a note of your own address, of > course ! > The Video itself, not surprisingly, doesn't feature the 'Band solos', and > only 4 of Bry's songs were cut, leaving a rather fantastic 19 Songs for you > all to drool over. Cool, eh ? > Reecey... > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > > Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New > Jersey." > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 16:19:35 IST From: "gareth mc ginley" Subject: [AVALON] Another Irish review Hot Press is an Irish music magaine, equivalent to NME and Melody Maker. In August of last year they did a fantastic article on Roxy's first album, placing it 12th in a series called "The essential 21 album for the 21st century" (sadly I don't have it, nor do I have that News of the World interview that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago). In the latest addition another review of the Dublin show appears complete with colour picture of Ferry. Of the numerous gigs reviewed from the Heineken Green Energy Festival, Ferry's was the most positive. Elsewhere in the issue there's a photo of Ferry with the Hot Press marketing manager Sharon Connelly. The slogan reads "Who's that guy? Ah yes, the world's coolest, sexiest, most sophisticated human being - and Bryan Ferry". Anyway here's the review, complete with mistakes: "The boy can't help it. You can take the man out of the sleaze - but you cannot take the easy, cheesy, sleazy brilliance out of the man. And thank God for that. Tonight Ferry leads a besuited ensemble (tuxes for the men, and - you can just imagine Bryan choosing the outfits - black strappy tops and leather trews for the ladies) through a poisoner's handbook of favourites, from his beloved 1930's era of Porter and Weil to his own dark hits. And if the arrangements are occasionally too polished and predictable, or some of the performances too forcedly rock n' roll (violinists should never punch the air, especially not with the bow), Ferry's sordid, lecherous charm seeps agreeably through it all. The set runs from the marginally saccharine ('Where Or When') to the seedily enticing in a Glen-Campbell-hitting-the bottle sort of way ('Smoke Gets In Your Eyes') - but Ferry is, as always, at his best when he is bringing maximum filth, lechery and ruin into the equation. Throughout, he reels round the stage, posing and beadily eyeballing the women (including those in the string section) like a trellis-climbing suitor who has crashed the nunnery Christmas party. And he isn't even trying: it's just him. "I'd rather be lonely than sleeping with somebody else", he sings distractedly, as an Olympia full of Somebody Elses swoon as one. "And what am I to do?", muses Ferry during 'Falling In Love Again', in a broken, dark hearted murmur that would defrost Dietrich herself. And then of course, at the end, we get 'Jealous Guy', 'Let's Stick Together', and, not least, 'Love Is The Drug', wherein the air is pierced by female screams and the balcony shakes palpably with the stamping. Shut the lights - you can guess the rest". Kim Porcelli Best wishes, Gareth p.s. Mark, Rob and KBP - great responses on the Mamouna thread. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 16:20:42 IST From: "gareth mc ginley" Subject: [AVALON] "Street Life" & Dave Skinner Richard Swift wrote: > >The Roxy early years release is still scheduled for an August release tying >in with the BBC Drama series "Street Life". > Question 1. Is this "Street Life" thing a Roxy retrospective or a drama mini-series with Roxy songs used on the soundtrack. >he played on the recorded version but the rest of the line up outside >of the Roxy trio was Dave Skinner on piano and Gary Tibbs on bass. > Question 2. Why has David Skinner never been credited on any of the Roxy albums? Did he only tour with them? Regards, Gareth ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 11:45:58 -0700 From: Russell Schaffer Subject: Re: [AVALON] The post Flesh & Blood factor "Mamouna is original material from start to finish, each word, phrase, note, melody, each image conceived and integrated into what we think of as a song, the songs into scheme, all original. Mamouna is the flesh and blood, sweat and tears, suspicions and fears of Bryan Ferry - this is as personal, as close as one may ever get to the real person." this part made me weep openly. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 20:03:01 +0100 From: "Robert Whiteford" Subject: Re: [AVALON] The post Flesh & Blood factor "Better now babe than never - no way out of this place- we never close babe- you and me were just like night and day, the here and now , the ghost of yesterday (one of his best lines that I think), the only face out of place, an empty shell, don't ask me why when my heart is breaking, walk on ice feel my fingers burn, dead end street,dog eat dog, easing out of time, chained and bound, tick tick time, no sympathy just dedicate it to memory,running out of time , we'll soon be out of time, running out of time." Well brilliant he might be but if this is the real person a bundle of laughs he isn't ! Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: Russell Schaffer To: Sent: 13 May 2000 19:45 Subject: Re: [AVALON] The post Flesh & Blood factor > "Mamouna is original material (SNIP)this is as personal, as close as one may ever get to > the real person." - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 00:34:37 +0100 From: "Richard Swift" Subject: Re: [AVALON] "Street Life" & Dave Skinner Answers (well, sort of) Q1 As I understand it the BBC series is a drama with Roxy's "Street Life" as the main theme tune. I'm not aware that other Roxy material will be included elsewhere on the soundtrack but that's just a guess. Q2 I'm sure Dave Skinner played on more of Roxy's output c. 1979 / 1980 but like you Gareth I can't readily see any credits. Does anyone else have more on this? Richard - ----- Original Message ----- From: gareth mc ginley Subject: [AVALON] "Street Life" & Dave Skinner > Richard Swift wrote: > >The Roxy early years release is still scheduled for an August release tying > >in with the BBC Drama series "Street Life". Question 1. Is this "Street Life" thing a Roxy retrospective or a drama > mini-series with Roxy songs used on the soundtrack. > >he played on the recorded version but the rest of the line up outside > >of the Roxy trio was Dave Skinner on piano and Gary Tibbs on bass. Question 2. Why has David Skinner never been credited on any of the Roxy > albums? Did he only tour with them? > Regards, > Gareth - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon Name the source: "I've got enough attitude to kill everyone in New Jersey." ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V5 #186 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest