This single was purchased at a used bookstore in Rome, Italy, less than 10 minutes' walking distance from Vatican City. From the sacred to the profane, eh?
The hope was that this was some late glam stomper or a "Space Oddity"-type cosmic rock ballad. No such luck; side A is a synthy instrumental probably meant to be played as a disco dance tune, and the flip is a less interesting instrumental synth ballad that at times reminds me of the theme from Last Tango in Paris. I'm not even sure how I recall that, never having seen the movie but having seen the trailer once or twice. I suppose the melody made an impression as images of a chubby, aging Marlon Brando were burned into my brain.
The faster side is interesting enough to merit inclusion on the blog, and might appeal to fans of the less funky tracks of Kraftwerk, or maybe even Depeche Mode. The pic sleeve is a winner, and one wonders which part of speech "Fly" is in this context. Just three posts in and I've already introduced a genre beyond the bounds I laid out for the blog, although in fairness I bought the record hoping for a rock gem and now maybe you won't make the same error if this doesn't float your boat. Once I started playing a side on the wrong speed and it sounded equally interesting and slightly menacing.
This was likely a producer's studio project. No musicians are listed and the composition is by "Ecama", no first name listed. Between that name, the Vogue label apparently being Italian, most of the language on the label and sleeve being Italian and finding the record in Italy I conclude, using my advanced cognitive powers, that this was probably of Italian origin. If someone knows otherwise, do tell.
This is one of a number of singles I picked up at this store at 4-for-10 euros, most of which will eventually end up here.
Blast off to '70s Euro-electronic-discoland here.
Showing posts with label space. Show all posts
Showing posts with label space. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Space - "Magic Fly" b/w "Ballad for Space Lovers" - Italy 1977
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Chris Spedding - "Time Warp" b/w "Bored Bored" - UK 1978
Sorry folks, no pic sleeve for this one.
I am not very familiar with the solo work of Chris Spedding, who appears to have played with a wide array of rock royalty as a '60s/'70s session musician.
Judging by his YouTube videos, as a solo artist he had a foot in glam, the pop/New Wave end of punk and that range of guitar music in the UK in the mid- to late-1970s.
I was attracted to this single, scored for just $1, at a garage sale because it's on the glam label Rak and was produced by '60s/'70s ace producer Mickie Most, who owned the label. This didn't disappoint.
"Bored Bored" is a nice mid-tempo pop-rocker with an obviously '70s punk-inspired lyric, but the flip is the star here. "Time Warp" features everything but the kitchen sink, a slow burner with loud backward guitar, synthy "robot" vocal effects and an echo-laden space lyric. It has nothing to do with the song of the same title from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Both sides of the single actually do end this abruptly, there are no technical difficulties, which I take it was also punk-inspired immediacy.
Do I sound enough like a music snob in my first "real" post?
Listen (two zipped mp3s, photo) right here.
I am not very familiar with the solo work of Chris Spedding, who appears to have played with a wide array of rock royalty as a '60s/'70s session musician.
Judging by his YouTube videos, as a solo artist he had a foot in glam, the pop/New Wave end of punk and that range of guitar music in the UK in the mid- to late-1970s.
I was attracted to this single, scored for just $1, at a garage sale because it's on the glam label Rak and was produced by '60s/'70s ace producer Mickie Most, who owned the label. This didn't disappoint.
"Bored Bored" is a nice mid-tempo pop-rocker with an obviously '70s punk-inspired lyric, but the flip is the star here. "Time Warp" features everything but the kitchen sink, a slow burner with loud backward guitar, synthy "robot" vocal effects and an echo-laden space lyric. It has nothing to do with the song of the same title from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Both sides of the single actually do end this abruptly, there are no technical difficulties, which I take it was also punk-inspired immediacy.
Do I sound enough like a music snob in my first "real" post?
Listen (two zipped mp3s, photo) right here.
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