Television re-releases

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Finally, after years of rumors, Rhino will be re-releasing both Marquee Moon and Adventure on September 23rd. Also planned is the oft bootlegged Live At the Old Wardorf. Both CD's will have plenty of extra tracks, though I doubt any of the Richard Hell era or Eno produced demos will resurface. Is anyone as excited about this as I am or do you feel they should have left well enough alone? Here's hoping Rhino will do as great a job on these re-issues as they did with Love's Forever Changes and the Elvis Costello ones.

― Jeff K (jeff k), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

excellent. are they remixing the recordings, or just leaving as is?

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

also, do the "bonus deluxe packages" come with their own syringe, so you can TRULY experience the Television experience?

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't hear anything about remixing and knowing Verlaine's previous bitchiness to his past TV projects I kind of doubt there will be much tinkering with the overall sound.

― Jeff K (jeff k), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, syringe is included but you must supply your own dope.

― Jeff K (jeff k), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

enh, fair enough.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Is Adventure worth buying? I've never heard it.

― NA the Billion Dollar Hobo (Nick A.), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Adventure has Glory, Foxhole and Ain't That Nothing. Those songs alone make it an essential purchase. After the chart failure of Marquee it seemd as though TV were going for a more warmer, radio-friendly type of sound. Nowhere near as classic as their debut but still a great follow-up.

― Jeff K (jeff k), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

didn't they already re-release marquee moon in the 90s, with the original ending on the title track, w.out the fade out?

not too excited about the bonus tracks unless we get to hear the eno-produced recordings/richard hell era stuff.

adventure has better lyrics than marquee moon, but none of the musical energy, I guess. Still worth getting.

― pulpo, Monday, 21 July 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Adventure is a drag. All the rhythmic spark of Marquee Moon is just not evident, both from the performances and the sound. The old CD master is really bad, the LP record sounds much better, but I haven't listened to it in a long time. Maybe it is just me, I love Marquee Moon, but I haven't liked much else Verlaine has done.

I'd recommend the live record on ROIR called The Blow Up, if you really like Television. The sound is pretty lofi, just a board tape from the 70s, but the playing is good.

― earlnash, Monday, 21 July 2003 15:01 (twenty-two years ago)

More importantly, it has 'The Dream's Dream'.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 21 July 2003 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

[that was supposed to be backing up why it's great, not why it's crap, but earlnash nipped in there]

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 21 July 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I've already got the Blow-Up.

― NA the Billion Dollar Hobo (Nick A.), Monday, 21 July 2003 15:04 (twenty-two years ago)

This is great news! Looking forward to them. 'Marquee Moon' is among my desert island discs & 'Adventure' is decent too. Rhino has done excellent work with COstello, Ramones, Dream Syndicate, etc... so it should be good packaging & sound.

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Monday, 21 July 2003 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone know anything about the talk of a reissue of MM on vinyl earlier in the year? did that ever come to pass?

I wore out a tape dub of MM years ago and still need an official copy, so this works for me. sometimes it pays to procrastinate on buying classic albums, til the next deluxe reissue drops.

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 06:51 (twenty-two years ago)

where can I get Little Johnny Jewel?

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 07:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Al:
Marquee Moon was reissued on vinyl last March, on "4 Men with Beards". (nice/appr. name?!) I've seen it here (Netherlands) but haven't heard it (yet).

Fabrice:
A glorious 15min. rendition can be found on The Blow-Up.

― willem (willem), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 08:20 (twenty-two years ago)

You can also download a live version performed by Watt & the pair of pliers:
Little Johnny Jewel if you just can't wait..

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 10:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks!
But what's the story behind the original? single-only release?

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 11:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Adventure also has "Days", which is beautiful

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 11:44 (twenty-two years ago)

fabrice: yep, originally released on their own Ork-label. later as an ep in the UK on Stiff.

― willem (willem), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"later as an ep in the UK on Stiff."

I think you're getting confused with Blank Generation.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

? As far as I know, Blank Generation was Richard Hell & the Voidoids' debut-LP. Was it (the song) also recorded by Television when Hell was still in the group?

― willem (willem), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Blank Generation / (I Could Live With You In) Another World / You Gotta Lose released on Stiff (cat. BUY 7, limited edition of 5,000)

http://www.bestiff.co.uk/images/buy007.gif

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, meant to say ".... by Richard Hell And The Voidoids"

I don't believe the original version of Little Johnny Jewel has EVER been released in the UK.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

well maybe it'll be on one of the re-releases. i really hope so, I'd be fascinated to hear a more gently produced, pre-punk version of the sound on Marquee Moon.

― pulpo, Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

".... I'd be fascinated to hear a more gently produced, pre-punk version of the sound on Marquee Moon."

I think you'll find that Television with R Hell is *more* like the punk version; with Marquee Moon sounding more like the gently-produced post-punk version by comparison!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Stewart, I got my info (i'm at work so i only quickly scanned through google-results, i (and/or the info) might be wrong) from this page

Looking further I'm thinking you're probably right.

― willem (willem), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

really? I heard that the single version of 'little johnny jewel' is muted-sounding compared to 'marquee moon'. Or I seem to remember reading that in from the velvets to the voidoids. Is my memory playing tricks on me? Also remember reading that verlaine had all the songs on MM down in 1974 and it took him till '77 to get decent recordings. this is why the eno-produced stuff would be interesting to hear (obv. not cos of eno yeuchhh!!!)

― pulpo, Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:58 (twenty-two years ago)

MM is one of those records that I've been spinning endlessly trying to like, but completely failed so far.
Nice guitar interplay here and there but I don't seem to get the genius of it and the vocals kinda make me cringe..

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 13:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I haven't heard Little Johnny Jewel for *years* but my recollection is that it was a lot rougher-sounding (poor source / pressing quality = poor top end response = muffled or "muted sounding", maybe?), and far less fluid musically than anything on Marquee Moon.

Reading the page Willem linked to 'though, it reads as if LJJ was (re-)recorded after R Hell 'though - I was under the impression that they pressed the single from the demos they'd recorded with Eno, so maybe I'm getting confused!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

They recorded it themselves, as far as I know, in an apartment. It isn't that great, really.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Verlaine hates LJJ, apparently, which is why it never gets reissued. It's been bootlegged widely enough.

I believe the Marquee Moon reissue will include the Eno demos (I think...there's always been some confusion between the Eno demos and another set of demos often misidentified as such.) More intriguingly, "Adventure" will include a studio version of the title song, which is one of their best songs, in a sort of "See No Evil"-ish vein. I always thought if they'd included it on the original record it would have made the LP very different in mood and (therefore) in its reception.

Can't wait. These have been ages in the making, and a friend of mine (who worked on 'em) played me some of the stuff they were intending (back when) to include. Should be great.

― M Specktor (M Specktor), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Sounds great, M!

2 months to go, then...

― willem (willem), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Got a little more info on the tracks included. Marquee Moon will have the original Ork release of Little Johnny Jewel! That kind of suprised me since Verlaine hated the mix and Lloyd actually walked out of the group cause he thought it was a poor choice for a single. Other songs included are alternate takes of Venus, See No Evil, and the title track. There's also supposed to be a beautiful long instrumental.
Adventure will have the title track (which was actually recorded for MM) a different version of Glory, and a ten minute instrumental take on Ain't That Nothing.
There's supposed to be more songs but these are all I know of.

― Jeff K (jeff k), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

andrew "little johnny jewel" is REALLY great!

― duane, Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe it's because I was listening to an MP3 of it, I hate those things. It sounds like that Richard Hell Ep to me, which is a really good record, so I dunno. I want 'The Blow-Up'.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Here's the press release:

TELEVISION'S MOON RISES AGAIN

Rhino Releases Expanded, Remastered Marquee Moon And Adventure,
While Rhino Handmade Releases Live At The Old Waldorf
On September 23

LOS ANGELES - One of the most influential rock bands of the last 30
years
will finally get the recognition it deserves when Rhino Records
releases

Television's MARQUEE MOON and ADVENTURE in expanded and remastered
form on September 23. Both titles' booklets are loaded with unseen
photos, lyrics and liner notes by experimental guitarist Alan Licht.
In addition, Rhino

Handmade will release LIVE AT THE OLD WALDORF on the same date.

Television's 1977 debut album, MARQUEE MOON, immediately earned
critical raves and inspired a number of musicians and bands. Tom
Verlaine's vocals and fret work, Richard Lloyd's angular guitar
playing, and Billy Ficca and Fred Smith's halting, unexpected drum
and bass work all combined to reassert a guitar-based music during a
time when soft-rock and disco ruled the airwaves. The band also
ventured‹very successfully‹into extended sonic explorations, despite
punk's call for shorter, faster songs.

In addition to MARQUEE MOON's original eight flawless cuts (including
the searing opener, "See No Evil" and the epic title track), this
expanded version includes previously unreleased alternate takes
of "See No Evil,"

"Friction," and "Marquee Moon," a previously unreleased instrumental
track, and the never-before-on-CD, full-length version of the
single "Little Johnny Jewel," which pre-dated the album.

Television's sophomore disc, 1978's ADVENTURE, refined the band's
sound a bit with some elegant production, but the songs and playing
are just as compelling as on MARQUEE MOON. ADVENTURE's original eight
songs are augmented here by three previously unreleased
tracks: "Adventure," an early version of "Glory," and the single mix
version of "Ain't That Nothin'," as well as an instrumental rehearsal
run-through of "Ain't That Nothin', included as a hidden bonus track.

The Rhino Handmade title, LIVE AT THE OLD WALDORF, captures Television
on June 29, 1978 at their incendiary best, playing tunes from MARQUEE
MOON and ADVENTURE, as well as "Little Johnny Jewel"
and "Satisfaction." The concert was originally recorded for radio
broadcast, and made available only as a promotional album. Often
bootlegged in varying degrees of quality, the show receives its first
official release ever here, with
pristine remastered sound.

Available at regular retail outlets and at www.rhino.com, MARQUEE MOON
and ADVENTURE each carry an SRP of $17.98. LIVE AT THE OLD WALDORF is
available only through RhinoHandmade.com for $19.98. Get ready to
turn on the Television!

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 10:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"Get ready to turn on the Television!"

Ma! Git ma gun - I'm gonna bag me a copywriter!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 10:35 (twenty-two years ago)

$17.98? let me be the first to say "fuck that shit"

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

ESJ - have you ever tried to order anything from Rhino Handmade? They tell you something's $19.98 or whatever and then try to charge you something like another $10.00 for sticking it in an envelope, attaching a stamp and posting it to you; *another* $10.00 for the privelege of paying by Credit Card (like there's any other way of paying for it!).

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 11:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I like the principle of Rhino Handmade but I puzzle somewhat at the results -- it doesn't cost THAT much to make a limited edition of something.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i dunno -- i think Rhino Handmade is a room of old ladies sitting in a circle, knitting in the bits on each CD by hand.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

I feel like I have to get the Live at the Waldorf CD, but I'm a little reluctant to buy it from Rhino Handmade for the cost reasons mentioned above.

Obviously I don't want to miss out cos there's only supposed to be 5,000 copies, but the last Rhino Handmade title I bought (Tim Buckley) it got an official release 6 months later anyway. Who's to say they're not going to just put it out later (at a reasonable price).

Has anyone heard the Waldorf bootleg btw?

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Now it's out can anyone clarify whether the Eno demos are on? It's absurd, really, there are hundreds of actual great records I could buy, I already own 'Marquee Moon', yet I'm willing to lay out just cos some demos that evidently weren't good enough to release might be on it this time round. But yeah - are they?

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Picked up the re-release of Marquee Moon yesterday. I'd never heard the studio version of "Little Johnny Jewel" before, so that's cool (I've only ever heard the version available on The Blow Up.) The other extra stuff doesn't seem wildly different from the material already on the album (alternate versions, etc.) Comes with booklet and reminiscence from Richard Lloyd and writer Alan Licht.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"It's absurd, really, there are hundreds of actual great records I could buy, I already own 'Marquee Moon', yet I'm willing to lay out just cos some demos that evidently weren't good enough to release might be on it this time round."

How many new albums released this year do you actually expect to be as good as, or better than, some demos that evidently weren't good enough to release on "Marquee Moon" though?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I've got the Waldorf thing. It's sound is quite good--unlike every other Television live recording I've ever heard--and they sound muscular as fuck, which I hadn't suspected. Almost like Crazy Horse, in spots.

The other two reissues are likewise splendid. The so-called "Eno demos" (which weren't necessarily produced by Eno--there's some unclarity about that) have been widely booted, and aren't so hot. I think the alternates on Marquee Moon *are* substantially different--See No Evil's a minute longer, Friction's got a different vocal track, and they all have different guitar parts (which, given that V's guitar is the crucial element, makes them vital enough.) Adventure's got the title track, and that makes the record seem stronger as a whole. Plus they sound great.

I hate to re-buy stuff I've already got too, but these (like the SACD reish of "Blonde on Blonde" I also bought, against my differing inclinations, and am I glad I did!) are fab.

― M Specktor (M Specktor), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 19:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, those aren't demos at the end of Marquee Mizzle (Televizzle.) They're alternate-takes that were apparently considered until the very end against the ones that wound up on the alb. Tough choices, very justifiably it seems to me.

― M Specktor (M Specktor), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 19:16 (twenty-two years ago)

"Comes with booklet and reminiscence from Richard Lloyd and writer Alan Licht."

The same Alan Licht from Love Child? (I guess it's unlikely that there are two). How old was he when he saw Television? I went to school with him, and I'm 34, meaning he was about 9 when they released MM! Maybe I should find out *what* he's reminiscing about before worrying about this.

― dlp9001, Thursday, 25 September 2003 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, the reminiscing is by Lloyd, the commentary/historical stuff is by Licht. It calls Licht: "a New York-based musician and writer. He is the author of 'An Emotional Memoir of Martha Quinn' (Drag City press)"

Sound like your guy?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 25 September 2003 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Little Johnny Jewel was released as a 12" on Ork records in the UK, after adventure and them having split.

Side 1. Full Studio version
Side 2. Live version (15 mins)

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 25 September 2003 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

The alternate take of 'see no evil' is delicious! Completely different lead guitar part and vocals, feels a lot looser and also a lot busier - how is that possible??? xxx

― stevie (stevie), Thursday, 25 September 2003 09:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Hrm, still no definitive yes/no answer in re Eno. In the sticks, paypal phobe here can't be doing with boots or mp3 etc etc.

How many new albums released this year do you actually expect to be as good as, or better than, some demos that evidently weren't good enough to release on "Marquee Moon" though?

Point taken: I mean all those other great rekkids that I'm supposed to like, free jazz, etc...

― Enrique (Enrique), Thursday, 25 September 2003 10:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Must be the same Alan Licht. Seems like a strange choice. By all accounts he's an extremely nice and smart guy, but his guitar playing fits squarely into the "noise/experimental" category. And, while there's nothing exactly wrong with having someone who was 9 (maybe 10, maybe even 11) during Television's heyday write a critical commentary...oh hell, there's nothing wrong with it. I was just surprised, much as I'd be surprised if Calvin Johnson were to be tapped to write the liner notes for the inevitable next Millenium reissue.

― dlp9001, Thursday, 25 September 2003 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I just read the Signal to Noise story on Licht today and he talked about getting into Television when he was 14 and all, so hey.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 25 September 2003 15:01 (twenty-two years ago)

When Verlaine played a one-off benefit after 9/11 headlined by sonic youth Licht played 2nd guitar in Verlaine's band. Played some solos on a cover of psychotic reaction. I would guess he knows from Television and am looking forward to reading what he has to say.

― [email protected] (monkey man), Thursday, 25 September 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

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