Vivian Stanshall solo - C or D; S & D?

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Just interested in people's opinions on the Great Man's solo work... Surely no one doubts the sublimity of the Bonzo Dog Band and Stanshall's part in that, but do people like his solo work?

Myself, love it just as much really, from what I have heard, which is:
"Sir Henry at Rawlinson End" (1978) - need I say more than the title? It's a gloriously insane world, all beautifully relayed by Viv in his enveloping tones... the use of language utterly inspired; perfect musical backings and sideshows. "Teddy Boys Don't Knit" (1981) is a real grower of an album; presence of many effective guest players helps, and Stanshall's on fine form. There are many wonderfully punning and jesting upbeat 'rock' (the genre is always twisted in some way) numbers. Most tellingly, "The Cracks are Showing" (with IIRC a harmonium and wistful barber shop harmonies as stark backing) and "Possibly an Armchair" are two of his saddest, most personal songs. They are the match of "Sport (The Odd Boy)" and other more reflective Stanshall Bonzos songs.

And that's as far as I've got with his back catalogue; not all is in print, I know. How do people rate the above, and other Stanshall albums...? "Men Opening Umbrellas" I have heard fleeting calls of praise and much clamour for re-release. I wish it was released, and I wish that Vivian Stanshall was a more well-appreciated figure.

Tom May (Tom May), Sunday, 30 November 2003 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

There's not that much out there sadly... He was working on new material when he died..

http://www.rawlinsonend.co.uk has most of the singles and the "Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead" LP for free download (as no-one seems to want to reissue any of it)

Apart from that, there a whole heap of Peel Sessions Rawlinson material, plus a few (bad quality) editions of his Radio Flashes radio show floating about on the net..

There's also quite a few bootlegs starting to appear, most notably "Harold Hare" which i haven't heard yet...

Jack Battery-Pack (Jack Battery-Pack), Sunday, 30 November 2003 10:46 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...
SHARE (nice acronym!) is one of the most formidable demonstrations of 20th-century poetic nous committed to tape. Surreal, hilarious, warm, and just the right length, I fully recommend it.

Louis Jagger (Haberdager), Monday, 7 August 2006 11:25 (nineteen years ago)

I love the work he did for Robert Calvert on Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters. Very funny and dark.

lexurian (lexurian), Monday, 7 August 2006 13:03 (nineteen years ago)


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