Re: (TV) Cale's solo LPs

["Philip P. Obbard" <pobbard@yahoo.com>]

SLOW DAZZLE is tremendous, agreed - I like the entire LP, except perhaps "The
Jeweller", which comes across as a forceful attempt to ape the VU's "The Gift"
without the humor. But everything else is just fantastic - the psychotic
narrator of "Guts", the gorgeous "Mr. Wilson", the folksy "Darling I Need You",
the majestic "I'm Not the Loving Kind", etc. 

Cale recorded 3 LPs for Island in the mid-70s - FEAR, SLOW DAZZLE, and HELEN OF
TROY. Eno appears on all three, Manzanera appears on the first two, and
Spedding on the last two. Phil Collins makes an occasional appearance, too(!). 

I think the first two LPs are both fantastic collections of songs and
performances. HELEN OF TROY includes some good material (e.g., "I Keep a Close
Watch", the infamous "Leaving It Up To You", etc.) but overall I find it
inconsistent and have difficulty sitting through the whole thing. But taken
with PARIS 1919, you have an essential trilogy of John Cale solo albums (PARIS
1919, FEAR, SLOW DAZZLE) which IMO blow away any set of three Lou Reed albums
from the 70s (sorry, had to make an inevitable comparison). 

The Island LPs are now best heard on a 2CD set called THE ISLAND YEARS, which
collects all three LPs in their entirety (and correct running order), as well
as two decent outtakes from SLOW DAZZLE and a great b-side from FEAR called
"Sylvia Said".

Another essential Cale album is the 1992 live, 'unplugged' FRAGMENTS OF A RAINY
SEASON. It's not quite as good a show as the one I saw in 1995 (when he was
backed by BJ Cole and a string quartet!) but it's a great substitute.

--Philip

--- MICHAEL CARLUCCI <subterraneannyc@mindspring.com> wrote:
>     Okay, why is Slow Dazzle ever so briliant let me count the ways.
> Eno and Chris Spedding are both on it. There's a song that's a
> tribute to Brian Wilson "Mr. Wilson" that's simply beautiful. You
> know those types of songs that make the hair on your neck stand?
> Venus does that for me too. Then there's Phil Manzanera on guitar
> as well. He does an amazing rendition of Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel"
> where you can really feel the despair. There's the brilliant pop
> side and then the maniacal chaotic side which has a certain beauty
> as well. Yo''' not be disappointed. Do you like Cale's "Fear" LP?
> How about "Paris 1919" ? Slow Dazzle is these two LP's rolled into
> one. I recommend it. Anyone else? M T C

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