El Records - search and destroy...

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"Marvellous Boy" takes the "polite" thing a bit too far for me, really, Dickon. I mean, I like listing cakes myself, but I don't turn to pop music to hear other people doing it.

I adore the following Scarlet's Well tracks: "Miss Twinkle's Been On Holiday Again", "The Water-Shrew Shuffle", "Edo Meridiem", "Willy Whispers", "Sweetmeat", "Dark Dreams Aboard The Hesperus", "Old McGhee" (which might be traumatic listening for Tom because of one word alone), "Clop's Birthday", "Dragon", "Street Of A Thousand Fools", "Raven's Treasure", "Lord Fishgarlic's Last Expedition", "Fragment of a Parchment", "Azul Como El Diablo". Which is most of them, I know, it's just the rest I can take or leave and the occasional cod-music-hall tracks ("The Mayor's Song", "Luminous Creatures") I actively dislike.

But what I like about them is the sense of being unashamedly antiquated and outmoded in the sense of "exotica", which might otherwise be tedious, but here is unbearably moving.

Plus I like to think that I live in Mousseron, sort of. There is actually a sign down the road from me that says "Fortune's Well", an inverted comma that is never actually used in practice. Which is rather wonderful.

Robin Carmody, Thursday, 24 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I should point out that, in response to Keith's post, The Monochrome Set never actually wrote songs for the Would-Be-Goods, though they were the backing musicians on the two albums.

After the first single, "Fruit Surprise / Hanging Gardens of Reigate", which was penned by Simon Turner, Jessica Griffin, who IS the Would-Be-Goods, wrote the bulk of the music and lyrics.

As for Bid and the Monochrome Set's own records, I pity anyone unmoved by the timeless pop brilliance of "He's Frank", "Reach For Your Gun", "I Love Lambeth", "Goodbye Joe", "Up", "Whoops What A Palaver"...

Dickon Edwards, Saturday, 2 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

And "Love Zombies", "Apocalypso", "Expresso", "The Strange Boutique", "Straits of Malacca", "Cowboy Country", "The Twitch" ...

Robin Carmody, Saturday, 2 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

one month passes...
What is the association with the Would Be Goods and Bad Dream Fancy Dress? On the El site they say that The Camera Loves Me is the twin sister album to Bad Dream Fancy Dress album Choirboys Gas. I love the Camera Love Me, but have never heard Choirboy's Gas.

Brian Nupp, Wednesday, 18 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

No particular connection other than being on the same label.

Robin Carmody, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

six years pass...

So there's a bazillion El Records compilations, any one or two the best place to start? Something called _Too Good To Be True - The Best Of El Records_ came out within the last few years, will that do?

Mr. Odd, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 03:08 (sixteen years ago) link

They are basically all the same songs over and over no matter what compilation you buy. Ruling Class is a best of that comes with a bonus audio cd of Alan McGee and Mike Always and is pretty good. Seriously though they just keep repacking the same 20 or so songs over and over on their VA compilations. London Pavilion's are also a pretty good place to start.

svend, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 03:35 (sixteen years ago) link


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