Thursday 27 September 2012

Episode 24

a tribute to Alan Gowen (1947—1981)

Listen Here

1. Kevin Ayers — "Lady Rachel" (live at Paris Theatre, London, January 1972, from BBC Live in Concert, 1992)

2. Gilgamesh — "Notwithstanding" (recorded at BBC Studios, London, 1975-09-03, from Arriving Twice, 2000)

3. National Health — "Agrippa" (recorded BBC Maida Vale Studio, 1976, from Missing Pieces, 1996)

4. Hugh Hopper and Alan Gowen — "Waltz for Nobby" (from Two Rainbows Daily, 1980)

5. Gong — "Magdalene" (live at Canterbury Sound Festival, Mount Ephraim Gardens, Kent, 2000-07-30)

6. National Health — "Borogroves (excerpt from part two)" (from National Health, 1977)

7. Soft Heap — "Sleeping House" (live at Phoenix Club, London 1978-11-22, from Al Dente, 2008)

8. Gilgamesh — "Extract" (recorded BBC Studios London, 1974-10-02, from Arriving Twice, 2000)

9. Hugh Hopper and Alan Gowen - "A l'Ouest" [extract] (recorded Bresse-sur-Grosne, France, May, 1978, from Bracknell-Bresse Improvisations, 1980)

10. Soft Machine — "You Don't Remember" → jam → "10.30 Returns to Bedroom" (live Columbia, MD, 1968-08-16)

11. Soft Heap — "Shorthand" (from Soft Heap, 1979)

12. Robert Wyatt — "The Duchess" (from Shleep, 1997)

13. Robert Wyatt talking about "The Duchess" (from The Wire Salon, Café Oto, London, 2012-04-12)

14. Hugh Hopper and Alan Gowen — "Six Cream Bombs from Beaune" (recorded Bresse-sur-Grosne, France, May, 1978, from Bracknell-Bresse Improvisations, 1980)

15. Caravan — "Green Bottles for Marjorie" (recorded BBC Studios, London, 1968-12-31, from Green Bottles for Marjorie: The Lost BBC Sessions, 2002)

16. Alan Gowen, Phil Miller, Richard Sinclair, Trevor Tomkins — "Nowadays a Silhouette" (from Before a Word is Said, 1981)

17. Gilgamesh — "Island of Rhodes/Paper Boat/As If Your Eyes Were Open" (recorded BBC Studios, London 1975-09-03, from Arriving Twice, 2000)

18. Soft Head — "Seven Drones" (recorded Bresse-sur-Grosne, France, May 1978, from Rogue Element, 1978)

19. Gilgamesh — "Just C" (from Gilgamesh, 1975)

20. Gilgamesh — "Darker Brighter" (from Another Fine Tune You've Got Me Into, 1979)

21. Hugh Hopper, Alan Gowen and Nigel Morris — "Soon to Fly" (recorded Bracknell Jazz Festival, May 1978, from Bracknell-Bresse Improvisations, 1996)

22. Alan Gowen, Phil Miller, Richard Sinclair, Trevor Tomkins — "Before a Word is Said" (from Before a Word is Said, 1981)

23. Hatfield and the North — "Song for all our Mums" → "Extract" (live in the Netherlands, June 1974, from Hattitude (1973–75), 2006)

24. Henry Cow — "Came to See You" (recorded 1972-02-28, from Beginnings [Vol. 1 of The 40th Anniversary Henry Cow Box Set])

25. Lapis Lazuli — "Doppleganger" (from Reality Is..., 2012)

26. National Health — "Tales of a Damson Knight" [excerpt] (from D.S. Al Coda, 1982)

[voiceover ambience: Robert Wyatt — excerpt from The Animals Film soundtrack (1982)]


Errata/clarifications: "Borogroves (excerpt from part two)" from the first National Health album was written by Dave Stewart, not Alan Gowen. Gowen did write "Brujo" and co-write "Elephants" from that album, though.

Edmund in Estonia adds: A coupla more corrections: the Gilgamesh/Hatfield double quartet gigs took place not in 1975, but in November 1973. It's interesting to note that there is one element "double" in Gilgamesh's single group version: keyboards. Peter Lemer was Gilgamesh's second keyboardist and he plays a solo on what sounds like RMI Electra-Piano. He's also on the BBC version of "Island of Rhodes", which should date from 1974, not '75.


Gong 2012 tour dates




2 Comments:

Blogger Edmund said...

A coupla more corrections: the Gilgamesh/Hatfield double quartet gigs took place not in 1975, but in November 1973. It's interesting to note that there is one element "double" in Gilgamesh's single group version: keyboards. Peter Lemer was Gilgamesh's second keyboardist and he plays a solo on what sounds like RMI Electra-Piano. He's also on the BBC version of "Island of Rhodes", which should date from 1974, not '75.

5 October 2012 at 08:40  
Blogger Rob said...

Thank you for this tribute to the music of Alan Gowen (and the other Soft Heapers so far). I've had a 'soft' spot for Alan's keyboard work and compositions for many years (I remember traveling to London specifically to buy 'Another Fine Tune' when it came out on Charly in 1979) and that album still resonates very strongly, as does 'Before a word is said'.
I've never seen or heard of 'Al Dente'. I shall have to get on to that one.
I noticed that nothing was played from National Health's post Dave Stewart live album 'Playtime' It's fab! I heartily recommend it for(and look forward to) the Pip Pyle special when it arrives.
cheers.
Rob Laurie
Australia

7 October 2012 at 05:11  

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