The Fugs : Classic or Dud?

And I think there was another bit where it says about a victim of Manson (Gary Hinman) that he was 'going through some changes" about having his ear hacked with a ceremonial sword.

Best album I think is "Second Album", which has a really confident backing band and starts with "Frenzy" which is probably my favorite Fugs song right now. It's so raw. It sounds like The Cramps. Its really really cool. Next song is "I Want to Know" which is this totally beautiful beatnik poem with a "Sunday Morning"-like arrangement. "Morning Morning" is on this record also and that's an intensely beautiful song. This album has a couple of really beautiful songs mixed in with crazy awesome freak garage like "Group Grope" and "Kill for Peace".

The first album is pretty awesome, yeah "Slumgoddess", "Nothin", "Boobs a Lot", "My Baby Done Left Me" CLASSIC CLASSIC CLASSIC.

"Tenderness Junction" I got but haven't heard yet. Sound nice and psychedelic.

"Virgin Fugs" I downloaded this copy but it sounds really bad, like someone did a transfer from a turntable that is on its way out. "We're the Fugs" is funny and awesome for the "EASTSIIIIIDE". Its the sloppiest-sounding album Ive heard so its going to take some time before I get it, methinks.

Also, I have only found a mono version of "Second Album" but stereo versions of the others. Was that only mixed in mono? Not that it's a complaint - it sounds AMAZING as it is - but I have a thing for 60s records where they treat stereo separation as a gimmick...

Tuli is not doing well, according to their website.

Tuli Kupferberg, co-founder of the Fugs, suffered a stroke in April of this year at his home in New York City, which has left him severely visually impaired, and in need of regular nursing care.

We are helping set up some benefits to raise money for his continuing medical expenses, which are not covered by Medicare

After treatment for a number of days at a hospital in New York, followed by convalescence at a nursing home, Kupferberg now is back home, where he is continuing to write songs. For the last few months, the band he co-founded 45 years ago, has been in the studio completing a new CD, entitled Be Free, which features 5 of Tuli Kupferberg’s new tunes, including the magnificent anthem, “Backward Jewish Soldiers,” and a setting of his famous poem, “Greenwich Village of My Dreams.”

i need to play it crawled into my hand haven't heard it in a long time...

i kinda still wish i had a copy of ed's beer cans on the moon. i got rid of my copy years ago. it was always good for a laugh.

Tuli isn't covered by Medicare? He should be almost 90 by now.

I hate saying so, but I think the Fugs are kind of dud. At least, I don't find them very clever and their music seems pretty anemic.

There's a quote in the Unterberger book attributed to Sterling Morrison that the Holy Modal Rounders, The Fugs, and the Velvets were the only "real" east side rock groups.

The Fugs are classic, imo. I love Virgin Fugs and the second album the most. And the rap at the beginning of "Couldn't Get High" on the live record (Golden Filth) is great. Tomato orgy with the lesbian dwarves!

classic

there's some brilliant Fugs footage on youtube.

for me, their high point is the gloriously OTM "Nothing" from the first record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HmJX11_AQE

http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dq2AGqlf8J9g%26feature%3Drelated

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2AGqlf8J9g&feature=related

RIP tuli kupferberg

http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/39252/fugs-co-founder-kupferberg-passes/

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

86, though. I guess that's not a bad age to go.

damn :(

"Carpe Diem" is one of my favorite songs ever. (The version from the second album--there was an earlier version on the first.) I read about them in Lilian Roxon's book when I was 12 or so, but never actually heard the first couple of albums (hard to find, expensive if you did) till 30 years later. Quite prepared for a letdown, I was amazed how good songs like "Slum Goddess," "Frenzy," and "CIA Man" actually were.

The version from the first LP. Most apropos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqJDJxGbUN4

rip, sweet dude

rip

Feel so lonesome in the morning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKS3l4mG6tw

Im sure he will still like boobsalot

gotta like boobsalot imo

ubu has all of 'no deposit, no return' available for streaming

http://www.ubu.com/sound/kupferberg.html

Aw, shit. RIP, Tuli.

greatest man I've ever peed next to (probably)

Nothing nothing nothing.

Bummer. RIP Tuli, a great man. And only 86. Thanks for that 'No Deposit, No Return' link!

I saw him get booed at a WFMU-curated show about 10 years ago. "HIPSTERS"

RIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R_E70N0g7k

Get this. and go to this!

one time one time

Found the first record (in the ESP reissue) at a record fair last weekend for $4 (in scratched but playable condition). Played it for guests tonight. Felt like I was 16 again. Guests were NOT impressed.

"Fuggiest" is valid in Scrabble. If I had to, I guess I'd go with Tuli Kupferberg as the Fuggiest of the Fugs.

"coming down" has popped into my head a couple times this week. i just love everything about this song. and it's beautiful! hello, grief bird!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJxQqKpVAmk

Speaking of Tuli, I said this a few years ago along with one on the last P&J ballots:
Jeffrey and Friends used to record a Tuli song every year on his birthday---this is too long (Tuli lived a long time, and unswerving self-pity was his specialty---nobody loves you like yourself, damn right---but lots of good stuff, comic and lyrical, incl. a bunch I hadn't heard by Fugs or TK solo: https://jeffreylewis.bandcamp.com/album/works-by-tuli-kupferberg-1923-2010-2018
Only a couple of freebies there, but you may well get hooked, if so inclined.
Lewis also has a bunch of things on there involving Stampfel, incl 2021's The Great Lost 2017 Double-Album, which is awesome, and. as Lewis says, may well be the last blast we get before Stampfel lost more of his voice. Some of that is a prob on the decades-in-thee-making Peter Stampfel's 20th Century---100 songs, 100 years---but there are at least 75 keepers, I say! Whole thang here:
https://louisianaredhotrecords.bandcamp.com/album/peter-stampfels-20th-century

one *of* the last P&J ballots; this was in comments section

A century of Tuli!

Also, he was born nine days after Hank Williams? How is that possible?

He was in good shape at age 65 the one time I saw The Fugs.

He wasn't the first or the oldest professional rock musician, but he must have been the earliest-born person to make a name in this music.

Tuli was born September 1923, Ed Cassidy of Spirit was born May 1923. However Papa John Creach was born in 1917!

my lord, Danny Kootch's violin solo on "The Garden Is Open" ... a work of art

yes! without question the highlight of that particular lp for me. it's been so long since i listened to it i can't remember if he plays on the live in the 60s version too?

not sure! i actually haven't heard that one. discogs says it's him though.

Sure wish I could see this tonight:

https://www.docnyc.net/film/fugs-film/

for real, looks awesome

Just realized now that it's the same Chuck Smith who directed the excellent Barbara Rubin documentary from a few years ago.