From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V6 #433 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Monday, September 10 2001 Volume 06 : Number 433 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] Roxy remastered discs [Scotty ] [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM [Avalon887@aol.com] [AVALON] SOTW: "Psalm" [Colleen Matan ] [AVALON] Question about "While My Heart Is Still Beating" ["Gunther Wandt] [AVALON] let them all talk [Colleen Matan ] Re: [AVALON] Question about "While My Heart Is Still Beating" [Aleks Koca] Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM ["Han Snijders" ] Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM ["thom.wallace" ] Re: [AVALON] SOTW: "Psalm" [Daniel Atterbom ] [AVALON] RE: Book recommendation MICK ROCK [Kamaya.Yates@police.govt.nz] [AVALON] Re: ["Keith Shockley" ] Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM [AMeyersLD@aol.com] Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM [Avalon887@aol.com] [AVALON] Sep 7, Tokyo Show [ochiai masamichi ] Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM ["Judy Kaufman" ] [AVALON] SOTW: Psalm (part 3) ["Guy Lawley" ] [AVALON] SOTW: Psalm (part1) ["Guy Lawley" ] Re: [AVALON] Sep 7, Tokyo Show ["tmoq" ] Re: [AVALON] Sep 7, Tokyo Show [EJDalseme@aol.com] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 04:04:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Scotty Subject: [AVALON] Roxy remastered discs For those of you living in or travelling to Melbourne, Australia - the complete Roxy remastered set is available at Hipper Red Hot Records (Southgate). This top little store is near the Blue Train Cafe and it's selling each Roxy CD for $10 Aust!!! What a bargain! Get in for your chop. Scotty Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 10:22:30 EDT From: Avalon887@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM Lucy Kaplansky was a guest on WFUV in New York City this morning and she talked about Bryan's invitation to join him to record "More Than This" and then she sang her version of it, acoustically. It sounded great. She said meeting Bryan and the band and playing with them was the thrill of it all. He even sent her a car which she said never happens to her. The song is on their upcoming release. Eileen in Kew Gardens, NY ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 11:25:10 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: [AVALON] SOTW: "Psalm" The song of the what/whenever is "Psalm" from _Stranded_. As before the discussion is open to anything related to the song, and these are only suggestions: love it? hate it? lyrics/music it changed my life live vs. studio version(s) (if applicable) the video (if any) that reminds me... Extra Credit: one of the October Extras? Psalm (Ferry) Try on your love Like a new dress The fit and the cut Your friends to impress Try on your smile Square on your face Showing affection Should be no disgrace Try out your God Hope He will send Kindness from strangers On whom you depend Try on His coat A mantle most fine Myriad colours His harmony thine Believe in me Once seemed a good line Now belief in Jesus Is faith more sublime Head in the clouds But I can't see the Lord Short of perfection I'll try to be good I'll stand at His gate I'll wait for His sign Then I'll walk in His garden When it's my time Drink from His cup Hush now don't you cry His quiet waters Will never, never run dry Nearing deatth's vale He's here by my side He leads me to paradise A mountain so high Don't be afraid Just treasure His word Singing His praises I know that I'll be heard He's gonna take you by the hand He's gonna make you feel so good Open up your eyes And then you'll see all that you should Forget all your troubles You will feel no pain He's all that you need He's your everything When I'm feeling all at sea Deliverance is that distant shore I will not be worried Someday His house will be my home For ever more ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 01:36:42 +1000 From: "Gunther Wandtke" Subject: [AVALON] Question about "While My Heart Is Still Beating" I wonder, why this song has been included in the currant Roxy tour. For starters I don't think it ever was one of the "hits" of the band, hasn't even been released as a single when "Avalon" came out. For myself it is a bit of a non-entity of a song and I also noticed quite a few indifferent remarks about the inclusion of this song in otherwise enthusiastic reviews. For me "Take A Chance With Me" would have been a way more obvious choice from the Avalon period. Somehow I have a feeling that maybe for personal reasons this song is a favourite of BF or Andy who is quoted as a cowriter? Any knowledge about what meaning this song has for Bryan/ Andy or anybody out there who really likes this song and can explain why? (I know that is a big ask, I can't really explain why I like or dislike songs. Also I admit, that the whole Avalon album is a bit of an aquired taste for me, I was drawn to Roxy through the immediate appeal of songs like "Virginia Plain", "Do The Strand" and "Street Life") BTW, whatever happened to SOTW? Gunter ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 11:41:46 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: [AVALON] let them all talk Slowly plowing my way through this month's 722 page American _Vogue_, I see that Mr. and Mrs. Ferry are both featured. Lucy is pictured on page 287 and Bryan is name-checked in the "Nostalgia" column which this month was written by Nicolas Ghesquiere. Recounting the time Francoise Hardy invited him to tea after she'd worn his clothes on the cover of the album she released last year: "I went to her apartment, and we had a very nice chat, and after a while she asked me to come up to her room so that she cuold play me some music that she liked--Bryan Ferry and some other English bands." (p.204 for that quote) Colleen ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 09:45:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Aleks Kocan Subject: Re: [AVALON] Question about "While My Heart Is Still Beating" - --- Gunther Wandtke wrote: > I wonder, why this song has been included in the > current Roxy tour. For myself it is a > bit of a non-entity of a song Must admit I agree - I'm somewhat indifferent to this song, maybe someone has some "inside information" why it was included. I can think of better Roxy songs that could have taken it's place Aleks Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 18:54:47 +0200 From: "Han Snijders" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM > Lucy Kaplansky was a guest on WFUV in New York City this morning and she > talked about Bryan's invitation to join him to record "More Than This" and > then she sang her version of it, acoustically. It sounded great. She said > meeting Bryan and the band and playing with them was the thrill of it all. > He even sent her a car which she said never happens to her. The song is on > their upcoming release. > > Eileen in Kew Gardens, NY > "Their" means Bryan or Lucy K's upcomming release? Han ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 09 Sep 2001 19:06:35 +0000 From: "C. H. Soetemann" Subject: Re: [AVALON] SOTW: "Psalm" Psalm does not appear to be a particular favourite on this list, but I like it a lot. If this actually should be the first Ferry original, it is very remarkable that he chose the subject of religion. I am an atheist, but I appreciate the criticism of empty lip-service religion at the beginning of the song. It's interesting that for once in the Ferry world, death is not the dark end, but rather the threshold to paradise. I wonder whether he impersonates a faithful religious person, as Ferry has repeatedly compared his (then) singing to acting, hasn't he? The Musikladen version is more ironic, as, I think, Guy has pointed out before, and that's fine with me as well. I reckon whether Ferry has an ambivalent attitude to religion. Kierkegaard springs to mind: trying to believe but seeing you can not (the first four verses of Psalm begin with "Try...", BTW). Musically, the diminished fifth that appears in the piano line has a lot of impact, and once the full band enters the song, the floating arrangement gets more of an upbeat feeling, almost a bit swampy to me. The musical climax is, for me, when Bryan sings the line "a mountain so high" and his singular, fast vibrato comes to the forefront. The song fits very well on Stranded, and I couldn't imagine it on the earlier albums, especially since my proposed "Roxy Music - The Religious Works" E. P. has yet to be released... Christian - ---------- >Von: Colleen Matan >An: >Betreff: [AVALON] SOTW: "Psalm" >Datum: Son, 9. Sep 2001 15:25 Uhr > >The song of the what/whenever is "Psalm" from _Stranded_. > >As before the discussion is open to anything related to the song, and >these are only suggestions: > > love it? hate it? > lyrics/music > it changed my life > live vs. studio version(s) (if applicable) > the video (if any) > that reminds me... > Extra Credit: one of the October Extras? > >Psalm (Ferry) > >Try on your love >Like a new dress >The fit and the cut >Your friends to impress > >Try on your smile >Square on your face >Showing affection >Should be no disgrace > >Try out your God >Hope He will send >Kindness from strangers >On whom you depend > >Try on His coat >A mantle most fine >Myriad colours >His harmony thine > >Believe in me >Once seemed a good line >Now belief in Jesus >Is faith more sublime > >Head in the clouds >But I can't see the Lord >Short of perfection >I'll try to be good > >I'll stand at His gate >I'll wait for His sign >Then I'll walk in His garden >When it's my time > >Drink from His cup >Hush now don't you cry >His quiet waters >Will never, never run dry > >Nearing deatth's vale >He's here by my side >He leads me to paradise >A mountain so high > >Don't be afraid >Just treasure His word >Singing His praises >I know that I'll be heard >He's gonna take you by the hand >He's gonna make you feel so good >Open up your eyes >And then you'll see all that you should >Forget all your troubles >You will feel no pain >He's all that you need >He's your everything >When I'm feeling all at sea >Deliverance is that distant shore >I will not be worried >Someday His house will be my home >For ever more > > >___________________________________________________________________________ >The subliminable footer says: >To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: >unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 18:19:19 +0100 From: "thom.wallace" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM - ----- Original Message ----- From: Han Snijders To: Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 5:54 PM Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM > > Lucy Kaplansky was a guest on WFUV in New York City this morning and she > > talked about Bryan's invitation to join him to record "More Than This" Who is Lucy Kaplansky? > > She said meeting Bryan and the band and playing with them was the thrill of it all. > > He even sent her a car which she said never happens to her. The song is > > on their upcoming release. When did this take place? It inferrs that she recorded the song with Roxy. > "Their" means Bryan or Lucy K's upcomming release? If she was invited to record the song with Ferry/Roxy it would be reasonable to conclude that it must be a Roxy/Ferry release. I don't know if it was a "leg pull", but a few weeks back didn't somebody say that Ferry was going to re-record Slave to love". Tom. ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 19:10:53 +0100 From: "Bryan S. Richards" Subject: Re: [AVALON] SOTW: "Psalm" Coming from what can be termed a "typical Welsh, Chapel family" I committed the "ultimate sin" in my mid teens - I started to question everything I had been taught about religion!! Shock, horror, what has become of our son? I think that at that time I lost much of my belief, or faith, whatever you want to call it. Now, as I approach my 50th I find that much of what I was taught is again foremost in my mind. Whether it's due to age, seeing my daughter grow up or fear of what's in store I can't answer but I have certain beliefs and those I will keep private. With regards to Psalm, I've always felt that this was Bryan having a go at the so-called "Born Again Christian". I have absolutely no problem with people finding religion but what I cannot cope with is when they attempt to have us believe that what they have found can only be found through religion. Forgive me if I'm ranting. By the way, I think Psalm is excellent - but then again, it's been music by numbers since Manifesto!! Cheers, Bryan - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Colleen Matan" To: Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 4:25 PM Subject: [AVALON] SOTW: "Psalm" > The song of the what/whenever is "Psalm" from _Stranded_. > > As before the discussion is open to anything related to the song, and > these are only suggestions: > > love it? hate it? > lyrics/music > it changed my life > live vs. studio version(s) (if applicable) > the video (if any) > that reminds me... > Extra Credit: one of the October Extras? > > Psalm (Ferry) > > Try on your love > Like a new dress > The fit and the cut > Your friends to impress > > Try on your smile > Square on your face > Showing affection > Should be no disgrace > > Try out your God > Hope He will send > Kindness from strangers > On whom you depend > > Try on His coat > A mantle most fine > Myriad colours > His harmony thine > > Believe in me > Once seemed a good line > Now belief in Jesus > Is faith more sublime > > Head in the clouds > But I can't see the Lord > Short of perfection > I'll try to be good > > I'll stand at His gate > I'll wait for His sign > Then I'll walk in His garden > When it's my time > > Drink from His cup > Hush now don't you cry > His quiet waters > Will never, never run dry > > Nearing deatth's vale > He's here by my side > He leads me to paradise > A mountain so high > > Don't be afraid > Just treasure His word > Singing His praises > I know that I'll be heard > He's gonna take you by the hand > He's gonna make you feel so good > Open up your eyes > And then you'll see all that you should > Forget all your troubles > You will feel no pain > He's all that you need > He's your everything > When I'm feeling all at sea > Deliverance is that distant shore > I will not be worried > Someday His house will be my home > For ever more > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 14:20:53 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM On Sun, 9 Sep 2001, thom.wallace wrote: > > > Lucy Kaplansky was a guest on WFUV in New York City this morning > > > and she talked about Bryan's invitation to join him to record "More > > > Than This" > > Who is Lucy Kaplansky? From google.com: Searched the web for "Lucy Kaplansky". Results 1 - 10 of about 5,890. Search took 0.17 seconds. Category: Arts > Music > Styles > Folk > Bands and Artists > W > Williams, Dar Lucy Kaplansky Homepage ... Welcome to the Official Lucy Kaplansky Web Site! Here's the Latest News: Lucy's new CD is titled Every Single Day, and it will be released on September 11 ... Description: Site includes Bio, Pictures, Tour Information, CD Information Category: Arts > Music > Styles > Folk > Bands and Artists > K www.lucykaplansky.com/ - 18k - Cached - Similar pages The World Wide Web--one day it's going to catch on. In addition, she has been discussed on the list previously. Zev Katz played on her last album, so I'm guessing that is the connection. > > > He even sent her a car which she said never happens to her. The song > > > is on their upcoming release. > > When did this take place? It inferrs that she recorded the song with Roxy. Actually, people infer[r]; that statement implies. From her online notes section at http://www.lucykaplansky.com/notes.html. February 15, 2001 [...] A number of people have emailed asking if the Bryan Ferry song I've been performing live, "More Than This," is going to be on my album, and it's not, at least not on this album (maybe one down the road?) Apparently, the album of his that I sang on is due to be released in September. Speaking of Bryan Ferry, I've been recounting on stage and in interviews that Bryan gave me some Ricola cough drops when I sang with him because I had a cold, and when he gave them to me I announced to him and his crew that I could never use them because I had to have them bronzed (I might have been the only one in the room who thought that was funny). Anyway, someone who works at Ricola saw this in an article in New Jersey and is sending me a Ricola care package! How cool is that! March 27, 2001 [...] I sang harmony on John Gorka's beautiful new album, The Company You Keep, which was just released a couple of weeks ago. Also, I've been told that the Bryan Ferry album I sang on will be released in September. Colleen ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 21:03:44 +0200 From: Daniel Atterbom Subject: Re: [AVALON] SOTW: "Psalm" At 11.25 -0400 1-09-09, Colleen Matan wrote: >The song of the what/whenever is "Psalm" from _Stranded_. > >As before the discussion is open to anything related to the song, and >these are only suggestions: > > love it? hate it? Neither actually. > lyrics/music It is very spirtual for being Ferry and full of Biblical referenses. > it changed my life No but Ferry's I presume. > live vs. studio version(s) (if applicable) Has it been done live that often, apart from Psalm then? > the video (if any) I have not seen any, I'll have to try the DVD-player. > that reminds me... ... I have left the church and is now a neo-pagan according to a survey at http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html > Extra Credit: one of the October Extras? Sorry no extra credits... NP Daniel Lemma, If I used to love you (one of the best songs of the year, he even quotes Otis Redding) Daniel ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 08:51:07 +1200 From: Kamaya.Yates@police.govt.nz Subject: [AVALON] RE: Book recommendation MICK ROCK Oopsie... Duh me! I knew I had got it wrong My brain was obviously in another place & must have been contemplating the Texan thing...(after reading a big article about JH in the Sunday paper) Please forgive me. K =============================================================== WARNING This message may contain information that is confidential and may be subject to the provisions of section 61A of the Police Act 1958, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police documents. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, pass or copy this message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 19:52:41 -0700 From: "Keith Shockley" Subject: [AVALON] Re: - ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter Buckett To: Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2001 5:25 AM that's easy for you to say, Keith > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 22:48:34 EDT From: AMeyersLD@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM In a message dated 9/9/01 1:22:09 PM, cjem@his.com writes: << I've been told that the Bryan Ferry album I sang on will be released in September. >> I'll bet he says that to all the backing singers.... Andrew In Chicago ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 23:19:16 EDT From: Avalon887@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM "their" means Roxy Music - due out this month (I think) ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 20:36:08 -0700 (PDT) From: ochiai masamichi Subject: [AVALON] Sep 7, Tokyo Show I just went to first day of Tokyo show, Sep 7th, Friday. First time to see RM for me.It was wonderfull night. I taped this show by my DAT recorder. Please send me a mail privately if you wish to trade. masa _______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 23:24:48 -0500 From: "Judy Kaufman" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re: Lucy Kaplansky & RM Colleen Matan wrote: > From her online notes section at http://www.lucykaplansky.com/notes.html. > March 27, 2001 > > [...] > Also, > I've been told that the Bryan Ferry album I sang on will be > released in September. > What Year? ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 07:08:55 +0100 From: "Guy Lawley" Subject: [AVALON] SOTW: Psalm (part 2) More of the July discussions: - ---------------------------------------- Christian S: I consider it a great and moving track, even though I'm an atheist. It's obviously serious, though I'd agree the Musikladen version comes across a bit differently (but excellent nonetheless). It also shows that Bryan's tambourine shaking had not reached professional heights. In a Q qwuestionnaire in 1993 Ferry answered the question "Do you believe in God?" with "I wish I knew." He seemed to be more certain in his early days, and remember there's a line or two about heaven in Dream Home too though maybe with some irony, who knows. I wish I knew. - ---------------------------------------------------------- Eman97: >>Although on balance (just) my favourite album of the first five is >>Stranded", I have always considered "Psalm" to be the weakest track. I never really liked that Welsh Male Choir bit, and consider it far to dour. To me the song never "fitted in" on the album. Right, it doesn't fit that LP, and for a long time I considered it the one truly bum Roxy track. Then I heard a studio outtake on a bootleg, where BF went a smidge over the top, and the mix was wilder...and the track really worked. - ------------------------------------------------------------ Ole-Petter: The only thing I miss from Psalm at Musikladen is the original intro. The quote below is how I remember it.It might not be 100% correct: Bryan says: here's a new song from the album Eddie start playing the piano, but hits a wrong note and stops playing. Bryan laughs and says again: here's another new song from the album.. Eddie starts again. That's where the video starts on Penthouse perfection. - -------------------------------------------------------------- Gene: From: the bogus man To: avalon@smoe.org Date: Friday, July 13, 2001 8:04 AM Subject: [AVALON] no more "Psalm" please !!!! i can see the LORD now !!!! >Just an old electrified blues good for the rock'n'roll funeral down in >New Orleans I also like Psalm, particularly the '73 Air Studios version. I don`t think it was at all out of place and when viewed in the context of it`s time, there were many blues/gospel/spiritual type/based songs that came out of the time. Just to name a few: Bad Company- Don`t Let Me Down Jesus Is Just Alright- Doobie Brothers Burn Down The Mission- Elton John Spirit In the Sky- Norman Greenblaum(sp) Somebody Up There (Likes Me)- David Bowie .....anyone else......? - ------------------------------------------------------------------ Kari Solberg: Andrew, I agree with you... I don't think Bryan ever wanted to be blasphemous... In YOU magazine,1994, August 21: "I've always liked the idea of religion because I like the ceremony. It's a mysterious thing and they should keep the ritual, it's part of the beauty of it. I would like to believe, buy I don't think I have faith. Not yet. But I like to think that my parents are around me and I certainly feel very strong memories of them when I'm in my house or garden. I can see the spirit of my father in my children". - ---------------------------------------------- Guy: Thanks, Kari. This quote pretty much nails where BF was, faith-wise, in 1994 at least. (He seems to be saying he has faith in memory and DNA!) Since he was talking to a Daily Mail journalist, he probably didn't want to say anything that would alienate their conservative readership! In that well-known long pause before a Ferry answer, his mind may have been ticking over something like this: "Admit to not being a Christian... album sales among Mail readers down a good 30 per cent..." Maybe we need to approach Psalm from a David Byrne-esque point of view. Byrne was always reminding us that a song can be written from the POV of another person, not always a "confessional" or statement of belief from the author. So, Ferry imagines himself into the role of a true Christian believer facing his own death, and Psalm is the result. By extension: on Stranded the song is taken, and performed, at face value; on Musikladen, a somewhat different angle is taken; a playful, ironic reading of the song is given, and Ferry reveals quite openly that it is not to be taken seriously as a statement of any deep conviction of his own. By extension of that, it is an ironic and playful act to have given the song such a straight reading on Stranded! He must have known it would confound expectations among many of his listeners. On the other hand, since Stranded was the album when the band was shooting for a more commercial level of success (a more mainstream, less avant garde approach) the pop-ambitious Ferry may have felt projecting a religious-believer image couldn't hurt with his projected new mainstream audience. These notions are not mutually exclusive, especially given the multi-levelled enigma that is Bryan Ferry. Of course, it could also have had something to do with the chemical environment in which his brain cells were swimming on any given day! Yours in the Lord Guy - ------------------------------------------------------------- continued ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 07:08:58 +0100 From: "Guy Lawley" Subject: [AVALON] SOTW: Psalm (part 3) July 2001 continued: - ---------------------------------- Kari: # 305 - Guy Lawley wrote: ...his mind may have been ticking over something like this: "Admit to not being a Christian... album sales among Mail readers down a good 30 per cent..." Hi Guy, If you are in need of help, you are allowed to have hope...if there is something! BF, in Febr. 1993: "I'm not Mr. Together at all; I'm totally the opposite. I need to be helped getting through the day, for God's sake..." ........so there:-) ...and I still don't think Bryan ever wanted to be blasphemous........! - ------------------------------------------------------------------ Guy: Kari, I never said he did want to be blasphemous. "If you are in need of help, you are allowed to have hope...if there is something!" Well put. Which is probably why Ferry thought it was worth trying out a song from the point of view of a true believer. After all, it does start out with the word "try"; try on your love; try out your God. The song is as written by a true believer, but the writer might be trying out that position to see how well it fits. This not a blasphemous idea. After the first few lines, Psalm is not at all tentative. It's not someone who thinks there *might* be something in the faith thing, who's *hoping* there might be "something". It's full-on Christian belief. Which is not the personal position of BF, at least not the 1994 BF as indicated by the quote you found. The song could be seen as a committed Christian believer talking to Bryan Ferry. "Bryan, you try on the idea of Jesus as your personal saviour. This is how I see it." Which would not be a surprising thing for a waverer to write. It could also be seen as someone whose belief starts off uncertain, but firms up through time, especially as they find themself "nearing death's vale." Either way, Psalm is less of a mystery to me now than it used to be. And I still like it very much. It's a rich brew, like the Latin mass and all the ritual that is part of both High Anglicanism and Catholicism (not to mention the Orthodox Church). It can be enjoyed form the outside as well as enhancing the experience of a believer "on the inside". - ------------------------------------------------------------ Kari: Guy wrote: >Kari, I never said he did want to be blasphemous. >"If you are in need of help, you are allowed to have hope... if there is >something! Well put. Which is probaly why Ferry thought it was worth trying out >a song from the point of view of a true believer. After all it does start out with >the word "try"; try on your love; try out your God. ........ I'm all with you now, Guy! Actually I have never thought BF to be the great believer, although, who knows what he may think after the miraculous saving last December? THAT particular day, *I* thanked the Lord, I just HAD TO thank someone! ...and you don't know how many times I have prayed for a cab to come, when I am, as usual, late for something! ...and believe me, the cab will almost certain come,... sooner or later!...(Maybe..it's a sin what I am sayin', but it's the truth...) I much prefer the video version of Psalm, it is great! I do not find Bryan's voice fit for the gospel way of doing it on Stranded. I have decided, once and for all, I will no more try to choose my favourite album, it's simply too difficult!! Yours, Kari, still in doubt........ - ---------------------------------------------------- >>> "terrypaulrigz8c" 07/15 4:41 pm >>> Bowies "The Cygnet Committee" always reminded me of "Psalm", in the way it's strutured and builds and although does not directly come across as a religeous song, it has many religeous references. Anyone up to a bit of throat slitting!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------- SimonG: Cygnet Committee was more Bowie's attempt at being Bob Dylan, something along the epic proportions of Desolation Row (Bowie quotes the title in the lyrics). CC actually started life as Lover To The Dawn, more of a Simon and Garfunekl type love song. It's actually a less than veiled attack on the hippy movement, and in particular Bowie's experience with the Beckenham Arts Lab - "we used him, we let him use his powers, we let him fill our needs, now we are strong" - Bowie admits that as much as the Kent hippies used him, Bowie used them to further his career. Cygnet Committee is a song of despair and bleakness, Psalm a song of hope. And both were listened to yesterday without even realising that this reference had been made. Spooky. Kinda. - ---------------------------------------- We now return you to our regular schedule..... ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 07:08:52 +0100 From: "Guy Lawley" Subject: [AVALON] SOTW: Psalm (part1) I revisted the july discussions about Psalm and found them worth repeating now: - --------------------------------------------------------------- Guy (responding to seeing the Musikladen performance of Psalm on Penthouse Perfection): I like Psalm on record, but it seems very serious on Stranded and puzzling in its religiosity. Is the glam idol, Mr Irony, the master of hedonism, revealing a deeply Christian core? It was an enigma in 1974 when I first heard it and remains one. The version on the video seems very playful to me, which is even more intriguing. The mystery deepens. Is Ferry being serious? taking the piss? bit of both? It's certainly one I'll be watching again and again, & one of the highlights of the vid set for me. - --------------------------------------------------------------- Nigel Hollis: Although on balance (just) my favourite album of the first five is Stranded", I have always considered "Psalm" to be the weakest track. I never really liked that Welsh Male Choir bit, and consider it far to dour. To me the song never "fitted in" on the album. However, having seen Mr Ferry`s superb live delivery on the compilation vids I have rediscovered it, (but only this live version) and as stated by Guy and others quite the highlight. I also find it very humorous. The whole performance complete with tambourine bashing etc, reminds me of an extended advert for your local Temperance Society. Does anyone know the background/context of the original? - -------------------------------------------------------------- SimonG: In the recent "Uncut" article Ferry claims it was the first song he ever wrote. Could you imagine it on the first album? - -------------------------------------------------------------- David Squires: I think we learned recently that it was the first song Ferry wrote. To enjoy it, you have to sing it straight, as if you really believe it. After four minutes I can guarantee pentecost, a tongue of flame, the whole bit. And you can't beat a Welsh male voice choir. They won't let you. >Could you imagine it on the first album? Done in the manner of Sea Breezes, say? Yes, I can. I wonder if there are perhaps rehearsal tapes somewhere out there... - ---------------------------------------------------------- Richard Evans: There was a recent quote where BF said it was the first song he wrote! I actually love it. The drumming is typically TGPT and Andy alto just fits superbly. The Musikladen version is very 'New Orleans' IMHO - ---------------------------------------------------------- continued in part 2 ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 03:12:54 -0400 From: "tmoq" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Sep 7, Tokyo Show That`s great news. Can you give us your thoughts on the show. What was the set list? Gene - ----- Original Message ----- From: "ochiai masamichi" To: Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 11:36 PM Subject: [AVALON] Sep 7, Tokyo Show > I just went to first day of Tokyo show, Sep 7th, Friday. > First time to see RM for me.It was wonderfull night. > > I taped this show by my DAT recorder. > Please send me a mail privately if you wish to trade. > > masa > > > > > > _______________________________________________________ > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 03:30:25 EDT From: EJDalseme@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Sep 7, Tokyo Show Gene, The three Tokyo set lists are included on the complete tour set list on vivaroxymusic.com http://vivaroxymusic.com/reviews_2001+Tour+Set+Lists_24.shtml Emma ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V6 #433 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest