At least that's the way it looks to me.
Does Gavin Friday and his former band, the Virgin Prunes, have any redeeming features?
― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 17:55 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:03 (twenty-one years ago) link
The rest of the Virgin Prunes output is pretty patchy (as they were really more of a 'performance art' troop than a real band.) Gavin Friday's solo material (well, with Maurice Seezer) is pretty brilliant, if you ask me, the best probably being his debut, EACH MAN KILLS THE THING HE LOVES, which dips handily into the darl cabaret bag ala Edith Piaf/Jacques Brel (whom he covers here), but often ends up sounding like a slightly campier Nick Cave. Some great moments overall, though.
ADAM & EVE (his second) had some worrying Europop moments (notably the dancey single, "I Want to Live," later covered worryingly by irritating supermodel and one-time Adam Clayton wife, Naomi Campbell). There are some nice tracks, but not his finest hour.
SHAG TOBACCO (the third and last, not counting Friday & Seezer's score to "The Boxer") is a deft meshing of his histrionic cabaret stylings mixed with elements of glam stomp and svelte pop. Not quite as cohesive as EACH MAN..., but a fine album.
Onstage, Gavin Friday is both compelling and hilarious (sometimes unintentionally). He is also guilty of encouraging his ol' buddy Bono into all that cringe-worthy MacPhisto shtick (which Friday probably could've pulled off with style and aplomb, but at Bono's hands just turned into an embarassing display of ludicrousness).
Anyone who picks up either a Virgin Prunes disc or a Gavin Friday disc hoping to hear something simillar to U2 will be sorely mistaken and surprised.....and probably not pleasantly.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:14 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:15 (twenty-one years ago) link
Also, for anyone who is already a Gavin fan, I would recommend you seek out The Boxer for the opening track, which is one of two vocal tracks on the soundtrack. It's really great.
I always loved the title track from the In The Name Of the Father soundtrack (duet with Bono), but only for Gavin's part.
― Jonathan, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:33 (twenty-one years ago) link
Never heard "the Boxer." Must seek that out.
He's not been up to too much lately, has he.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
http://www.gavinfriday.com/
seems pretty up to date on his career. I don't know that there is a new solo album in the works, but the recent news mentions, among other things, a collaboration with Bono on a song for the movie In America, and something about Gavin covering Coldplay's Yellow.
― Jonathan, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:54 (twenty-one years ago) link
― kate, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:13 (twenty-one years ago) link
Yeah, Googie (Guggi?) was the other one. He's a painter now.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
In theory I should hate this...ex performance trouper does campier Nick Cave with Wilde pretensions...but its a record I played over and over when it came out and still really like (first side especially) I think the reason is: Its. got. tunes. Nagging memorable ones at that.
― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 22:08 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 22:08 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Gav & Guggi (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 23:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD?
This sad monstrosity aside, an absolute genius in and out of the Prunes. Recently saw a videotape of the VPs -- Sons Find Devils -- and I was happy indeed.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 00:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
― stirmonster, Wednesday, 15 January 2003 01:51 (twenty-one years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 18:47 (twenty-one years ago) link
It´s pretty OK now, a lot better than most of the music i listened too.
― Jens (brighter), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 19:34 (twenty-one years ago) link
Mute records report: in Mute News that Virgin Prunes reissues are on the way, in September.
<em>The Grey Area of Mute is pleased to announce the release of 5 remastered CD albums by the truly inspirational and often controversial Virgin Prunes on September 27th. This will be the first time most of the Virgin Prunes catalogue has been officially available on CD.</em>
The official Virgin Prunes website will be previewing the new front cover artwork over the next few weeks.
― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:19 (nineteen years ago) link
― shookout (shookout), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:49 (nineteen years ago) link
― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:52 (nineteen years ago) link
― chuck, Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:25 (nineteen years ago) link
-- shookout (shookou...), June 21st, 2004.
heh. i was at that show.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:32 (nineteen years ago) link
So, I was forced out of the apartment today for the very last visit from our nanny (she got a full-time job). I ran out of practical errands, so found myself needlessly visiting disc shops (though I'm currently on a self-imposed quasi-moratorium, being that I'm trying to get rid of discs instead of acquiring more. Despite this, I spotted the Virgin Prunes re-releases (overseen by Gavin Friday this time). While I surprisingly wasn't tempted to buy If I Die I Die for the third time (I have both the Rough Trade edition and the New Rose edition...do I really need a third?), I was sorely tempted to pick up the 2-disc unreleased/rareity compilation, Over the Rainbow. Then I thought, do I need more music from this band? I mean, there are a clutch of intensely great tracks on If I Die.., but a lot of grating chaff as well (by design, I'd imagine). Do I need to purchase yet another disc that I'll only give the odd cursory spin?
I left it there, but someone convince me that I made the right/wrong choice. And cite reasons.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 January 2005 00:12 (nineteen years ago) link
― shookout (shookout), Thursday, 13 January 2005 01:26 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 January 2005 04:04 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 13 January 2005 04:06 (nineteen years ago) link
As far as the CD, I don't know what to tell you. Usually when I'm in this situation I end up going back to the store the next day. But I think you made the right decision because you can already forsee ahead of time that it's basically going to just sit there once you have it. I tend to see that as a good (and unusual!) omen that you're (I'm) on the right track in avoiding it.
But I also think it's likely that if anyone tries to talk you into going one way, you'll naturally want to go the other!
― Bimble... (Bimble...), Thursday, 13 January 2005 05:59 (nineteen years ago) link
― shookout (shookout), Thursday, 13 January 2005 14:18 (nineteen years ago) link
― thomas, Thursday, 13 January 2005 15:36 (nineteen years ago) link
Probably won't be going back for the `Prunes reissues. There's just no need, really. I dialed up "Pagan Love Song" and "Baby Turns Blue" and was satiated. By the time I got to the purposely cloying "Down Memory Lane," both my ears and my wallet thanked me profusely for not buying them.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 January 2005 17:57 (nineteen years ago) link
― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 13 January 2005 18:01 (nineteen years ago) link
― Scott McFarland (Scott McFarland), Thursday, 13 January 2005 20:27 (nineteen years ago) link
― Paul (scifisoul), Thursday, 13 January 2005 20:47 (nineteen years ago) link
I succumbed. I caved in and bought the above `Prunes "rareities" compilation (after reading interviews with Gavin at www.virginprunes.com, I couldn't resist). Am happily not disapointed. Instant indication of quality: whilst blasting "Moments'n'Mine" here at work -- and mistakenly thinking everyone else had left -- a researcher from down the hall came in with a look of abject disgust and said: "What on earth are you listening to?" Heh!
Supposedly, all the re-issues have been sonically "baked," and the sound quality is light years better than the New Rose releases of a few years back. I was even tempted to buy If I Die, I Die.. for a third time. But wisely demured. Over the Rainbow is also appended with some archival photos, which is nice (if you care about such things). Hard to believe from listening to these recordings that they were so buddy-buddy with U2.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 4 February 2005 07:16 (nineteen years ago) link
― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 4 February 2005 09:27 (nineteen years ago) link
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 4 February 2005 09:32 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 4 February 2005 15:33 (nineteen years ago) link
Hadn't realized Gavin had spinal surgery a couple of years back! My slight petulance over his seeming musical disappearance is now disspelled.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 1 May 2005 16:44 (eighteen years ago) link
NED: Where the hell have you been? Sorry, but I need new music, and I need it now. I'm tired of waiting.
GAVIN: I can't feel me legs.
NED: Fair enough.
FADE TO BLACK.
― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 1 May 2005 17:43 (eighteen years ago) link
Wow. I didn't know that either. Certainly explains a lot.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 1 May 2005 20:36 (eighteen years ago) link
― todd (todd), Sunday, 1 May 2005 21:41 (eighteen years ago) link
Well, yes and no:
http://www.virginprunes.com/archives/20040929sisterrayfans01.html
Yes, that's Gavin with the massive muttonchops -- and yes, that's Guggi next to him.
The three part interview on the virginprunes.com site starting here, which talks about the remastering/rerelease deal and so forth, is well worth a read.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 1 May 2005 22:00 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 1 May 2005 22:01 (eighteen years ago) link
He looks like a Rock Star out of a movie.
The way rock Stars should look.
― David N (David N.), Sunday, 1 May 2005 23:18 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 1 May 2005 23:23 (eighteen years ago) link
Also, much to my amusement, trawling around the main fan site turned up this news item from last June:
http://www.virginprunes.com/news/prunes_at_i_love_music.html
!
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 22 May 2005 00:40 (eighteen years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 3 June 2005 21:43 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 3 June 2005 21:47 (eighteen years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 6 June 2005 18:52 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 6 June 2005 18:54 (eighteen years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 6 June 2005 19:00 (eighteen years ago) link
Some of their cds are going for crazy prices. I don't think the early singles are on any of them except Artfuck and some reissues have different bonus tracks. They really need a box set.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 4 August 2017 00:44 (six years ago) link
What the hell does Gavin Friday even do these days? Adam n Eve and Shag Tobacco are pretty neat albums.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:25 (six years ago) link
those Mute reissues are clipped garbage, see my post above. avoid at all costs. that might explain why other CDs are going for more, though.
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:26 (six years ago) link
one of my favorite bands ever, at least before they "lost the ability to fly" to quote the Heresie 2x10" reissue liner notes
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:27 (six years ago) link
I've got the Mute versions and the sound fine to me. These are becoming a bit scarce and expensive too.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:40 (six years ago) link
if you look at those files in a WAV editor you can see the clipping, it's not just an audiophile issue. thousands of samples per song are flatlined.
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:42 (six years ago) link
I'll try and listen out for that next time.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:44 (six years ago) link
like, I grant you that the Rudimentary Peni remasters we discussed don't sound THAT different, but this is truly egregious overcompression, worst I've ever seen, and just lazy negligence on the part of whoever oversaw the reissues.
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:45 (six years ago) link
whomever, argh
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:46 (six years ago) link
I only bitch about this because I love these records so much. Also a total outrage/tragedy that the original artwork for the New Form series was apparently lost.
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:47 (six years ago) link
All the albums on Amazon's mp3 store appear to be the same Mute releases
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:50 (six years ago) link
of course (cries)
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:50 (six years ago) link
Man, I tried and tried to like this band . I was working at Tower when the reissues came out and bought them all. If I Die was alright and The Moon Looked Down Laughed had a couple okay songs, but overall, it was audio performance art and I wasn't into it.
Now, on the other hand, Gavin Friday's solo catalogue is awesome.
― he doesn't need to be racist about it though. (Austin), Friday, 4 August 2017 01:51 (six years ago) link
Shag Tobacco is one of the clearly overlooked classics of the '90s imo
― nomar, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:51 (six years ago) link
man I don't know that shit at all, I like the fearless art/noise vibes a lot more than the cabaret overdose that I imagine he got into later
that being said, I should listen.
Austin, the New Form records are where it's at
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 01:59 (six years ago) link
If I die I Die is relatively straightforward and totally amazing. The transition from "Ulakanakulot" to "Decline and Fall" is sublime.
And the part in "Come To Daddy" that goes "I told you not to wear that dress" to him shouting "NO ONE CARES ABOUT MUMMY" is just incredibly awesome. So many other great things about it too.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 4 August 2017 02:06 (six years ago) link
I bought this one when it came out: https://www.discogs.com/Virgin-Prunes-A-New-Form-Of-Beauty/release/1159366
It was my least favorite of that remaster campaign.
― he doesn't need to be racist about it though. (Austin), Friday, 4 August 2017 02:07 (six years ago) link
That's the one I've got. I think it's been heavily abridged?
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 4 August 2017 02:14 (six years ago) link
It's missing the live side of the Part 4 tspe
― sleeve, Friday, 4 August 2017 02:24 (six years ago) link
Colin Newman's fingerprints are all over "If I Die", which is what makes it their most consistent album.
Gavin's "Each Man Kills The Thing He Loves" is such a special record. A blend of his Scott Walker love and a touch of his Virgin Prunes weirdness. Totally slept on.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 4 August 2017 14:00 (six years ago) link
Like I said, I love Gavin Friday's solo discography. You want to talk about overlooked, but brilliant, his album Catholic from a few years back was fantastic and it was totally ignored.
― he doesn't need to be racist about it though. (Austin), Saturday, 5 August 2017 19:22 (six years ago) link
Really impressed by The Moon Looked Down And Laughed (the Baby label version, not Mute), so many great songs and Gavin's voice is so wonderful. As much as I would have liked more of the early savage stuff, it has it's own fascinating strangeness and odd touches like Gavin sounding like he's buzzing with electricity at the end of "Love Lasts Forever". "Betrayal" is gorgeous, I think maybe it should have ended with that because it packs much more punch than the actual last track. I'm in two minds over whether they should have milked the "my whole world is on fire" part for longer. A beauty.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 23 February 2018 20:00 (six years ago) link
The old irish guy voice on Heresie is brilliant. Second track is like a subway nightmare.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 2 November 2018 18:50 (five years ago) link
I think The Moon Looked Down And Laughed is my favourite now, even though it doesn't really represent their usual style.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 2 November 2018 18:53 (five years ago) link
one of the more beautiful soundtracks i own is the Gavin Friday/Maurice Seezer score for THE BOXER. Very moving and haunting and moody, mostly, and an impressive achievement for guys who afaik haven't done much in the way of film scoring. it has some film dialogue mixed in sparingly, on a few of the tracks. it can probably be found for a couple bucks on ebay.
― omar little, Thursday, 22 August 2019 17:45 (four years ago) link
I'll keep it in mind.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 23 August 2019 20:53 (four years ago) link
Dude, the live album (The Hidden Lie, I think it's called) is my favorite thing by them. Got it in the cut-out bin years ago, was totally blown away. Lost my records in a devastating home situation and I truly miss this.
― Seething, Pathological Hatred of Oldies Radio (I M Losted), Saturday, 24 August 2019 20:18 (four years ago) link
Have to admit I was getting nervous at remembering the song titles "Caucasian Walk" and "White History Book" but the former seems to be a dystopia in which black slavery is allowed and there isn't much I can read into the latter song.
There's a quote here that suggests the former song doesn't really mean much at all...https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858552956/
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 24 August 2019 20:19 (four years ago) link
i played "Caucasian Walk" in a disco last week for the first time since the 80s. it sounded incredible. i have never understood the lyrics so figured it was ok to play.
― stirmonster, Sunday, 25 August 2019 04:17 (four years ago) link
Some amazing stuff on Over The Rainbow (2 disc version). Gavin's voice in "King Of Junk" is hilarious, "Greylight" is beautiful, "Revenge" is a great horrory track.
But what on earth is that secret track after "Love Lasts Forever"? Cant find anything about that. Gorgeous song that must have been from Moon Looked Down And Laughed era.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 21 September 2019 13:41 (four years ago) link
Some real surprises in Gavin's discographyhttps://gavinfriday.com/discography/score-get-rich-or-die-tryin/
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 21 September 2019 13:42 (four years ago) link
Classic. This almost went in The Irish thread.
https://www.rte.ie/archives/2019/0916/1076206-virgin-prunes-theme-for-thought/
― Let them eat Pfifferlinge an Schneckensauce (Tom D.), Sunday, 6 October 2019 15:26 (four years ago) link
Nice
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 6 October 2019 16:23 (four years ago) link
their glory days, it just wasn't the same without Guggi :(
eons ago in college a friend had a bootleg cassette tape of a show where they did "Moon Looked Down And Laughed" tracks but with the 5-piece (6 if you count Dav-Id) lineup, wish I could find that somewhere
― sleeve, Monday, 7 October 2019 20:47 (four years ago) link
(sorry for revive, no news) How is there so much 1983 live footage from them on Youtube? Not complaining though, amazing
― StanM, Wednesday, 12 May 2021 17:36 (two years ago) link
Ohohoh! Seen an expanded remaster of If I Die, I Die today! I think that's the only album reissue so far, some vinyl single reissues, and seemingly everything is available digitally.
Lots of new stuff on youtube, mini podcasts and video projectshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdvpXJq5vis
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 12 November 2022 20:27 (one year ago) link
thanks!
― sleeve, Saturday, 12 November 2022 20:34 (one year ago) link
"2022 remaster" - I have no problems with the 2004 remaster?
― StanM, Sunday, 13 November 2022 00:02 (one year ago) link
I liked it too, but it was very clipped and Sleeve didn't like it, so I'm curious about what people say and if the extras are noteworthy
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 13 November 2022 02:08 (one year ago) link
lol yeah don't get me started on those botched Mute CDs, more clipping than I have ever seen anywhere else ever
― sleeve, Sunday, 13 November 2022 15:03 (one year ago) link
oh I see - yeah, the new remaster fixes that.
― StanM, Sunday, 13 November 2022 15:26 (one year ago) link
yeah this new LP remaster sounds great, can confirm
it's such a bummer that all the original artwork from this era seems to be lost, but there are tons of super cool new photos from the era that are used here to great effect, I'm still keeping the 1982 Italian Base pressing that I've had for decades because the art is all different but this is a worthy reissue and highly recommended
this is also available as a double CD with bonus tracks on the 2nd disc, I can't comment on the mastering here but I assume it's better than previous CD iterationshttps://www.discogs.com/release/25162990-Virgin-Prunes-If-I-Die-I-Die
― sleeve, Monday, 28 November 2022 23:35 (one year ago) link
I can really hear the remastering details on "Bau-Dachong" which is my fave, I am thrilled
― sleeve, Monday, 28 November 2022 23:37 (one year ago) link
It would appear that "Fádo" from the 2004 reissue is different than "Fado (rough mix)" on the new release. The piano-driven second half of the former in particular doesn't appear in the latter.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 8 December 2022 03:50 (one year ago) link
Enjoyed that youtube series. I learned there's another 2 parts of A New Form Of Beauty that might yet be released (Gavin wouldn't tease us without delivering would he?), I was surprised that his favorite release was Heresie
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 24 December 2022 17:16 (one year ago) link
If you can, find "The Hidden Lie".
It's a live album that I picked up at the old cut-out store in Old Town in Chicago.
It's my personal favorite Prunes album. Beautiful sound quality.
― Picture of Chairman Mao (I M Losted), Tuesday, 27 December 2022 03:03 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9s85pTlz0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEbSSn2meuMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujlhMEHLrsE4 part doc, on a channel with a treasure trove of Prunes/Gavin Guggi videos
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Tuesday, 27 December 2022 22:47 (one year ago) link
thank you! gee I'd love to hear those other New Form parts before I die, or Gavin dies...
― sleeve, Tuesday, 27 December 2022 23:19 (one year ago) link
but hey, if I die, I die, right?
Okay, that documentary is badly cropped so I can't see the names of some of the speakers and there's more parts that I can't find, it obviously had longer to go
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 28 December 2022 01:15 (one year ago) link