John Cale - TS: "Fragments.." versions -vs- Original versions

Worse:
Guts
Ship of Fools
Thoughtless Kind
Buffalo Ballet
Chinese Envoy
Style It Takes
(I Keep A) Close Watch

About as good:
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Darling I Need You
Paris 1919
Fear Is a Man's Best Friend
Heartbreak Hotel
Hallelujah

Original version is better: Darling I Need You, Fear Is A Man's Best Friend, Ship Of Fools (way better singing), Cable Hogue

I chose those original songs specifically because I didn't like the Fragments vocals, I think the screamy thing is more suited to performing with a full band. The three off Words For The Dying are so different I hate to try and compare. The only other version of Hallelujah I've heard was in Shrek, it sounded just as great as the Fragments one.

New Society version wins - just piano and vocals but, touch of genius, has bagpipes at end! Hooray!

But unless the DVD has additional songs, I wouldn't be too interested in looking at moving pictures of the CD. He's basically just sitting there performing. No costumes or dance numbers, so I'm not sure the visuals are worth a whole lot. I'd rather have a video of a 1970's performance.

Okay, just kinda digging into this one. Haven't heard all of it yet, but most of it. I think that Fragments doesn't really make songs I don't already like any more interesting to me, but I think it does wonders for songs I already do like. That said, there are some songs here that aren't familiar to me, either, so I guess that's a separate category. I think I need to spend more time with this.

The State sketch "Fragments" was funny.

Don't know what you mean, sorry.

I do think the version of "On A Wedding Anniversary" here is far superior to the Words For The Dying version, though, which I wrote off as too much...orchestration for me to feel comfortable with.

Okay woah...I've just figured out that "Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed" is from the same album which I almost wrote the whole thing off...wow. This is a much better setting for these songs. And "Do Not Go Gentle..." too! Wow! What an improvement!

Too bad about that DVD though. (not the same show as the live CD, to answer a 5 year old question) I know someone who was at that Brussels show and they had the same impression you get from watching the DVD: he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. Result: feels rushed and he just pummels all subtlety out of everything.

Can't believe I didn't post this upthread:

"Dying on the Vine" is not only revealed as a great song here -- it's revealed as one of Cale's best songs. Just amazing.

I love this whole thing to pieces. Yes, a few tracks don't "improve" upon the original. But several do -- and as a piece, it works wonderfully.

being reminded this morning how amazing Fragments is. holy shit!

Why on earth hasn't it been reissued and expanded?!

Well hallelujah here it is: http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/albums/26-10-16/fragments-of-a-rainy-season

not sure how i feel about the different running order, but i'm just so used to the original that it can't help but look wrong. seems like they should include the DVD w/ this? oh well -- I will probably get it. $26 for a 3LP is pretty decent in these wacky vinyl times.

as for the original post 12 years ago in this thread, strongly disagree that "ship of fools" is better on Fragments.

as for the original post 12 years ago in this thread, strongly disagree that "ship of fools" is better on Fragments.

LOL I was just about to (reiterate) my disagreement with the original poster over this.

haha! the solo acoustic version is *good*, but the Fear version has slowly become one of my favorite Cale recordings.

The remaster sounds pretty amazing + somehow it feels better having the original playing order (with the three Dylan Thomas poems first). The crowd is maybe a tiny bit too loud, don't know. Bonus CD (outtakes & strings versions) is interesting (in a good way)

yeah, i was a little skeptical about the shifted running order (which I assume is closer to the actual setlist of the show?), but it works. man, what a great album.

By the way, there was a free 4-track live EP with the French Les Inrockuptibles magazine in 1992, called More Fragments, with tracks and versions not on the album - this blog uploaded it: http://blog.fragmentsofcale.net/2007/05/checklist-live-albums.html (scroll down to the comments - first, there's a wrong link, but later on there's a good one)

info: https://www.discogs.com/John-Cale-More-Fragments/release/1833664

the 3 LP version is out of stock :(

How do you know? I can add it to my cart here and it doesn't say anything about not being in stock?
http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/albums/26-10-16/fragments-of-a-rainy-season

huh, I went to the Domino USA site
http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/albums/01-11-16/fragments-of-a-rainy-season

How the hell can the Domino lyrics booklet suddenly have "Sebastopol, INdianapolis" ? Did somebody manually type them and not pay attention?

Hey Stan, thanks for the link to "More Fragments". It's weird that none of those tracks showed up on the reissue - and they had plenty of space!

how's the sound quality on the reissue? Steve Hoffman forumites are freaking out about loudness wars/brickwalling shenanigans but I haven't heard it myself so idk