TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Neil's Heavy Concept Album" - Neil (1984)

"Neil's Heavy Concept Album" - Neil (1984)

     I picked up this album because I remember the guy on the cover from watching episodes of the TV sitcom, "The Young Ones."  It was a BBC thing that offered up that quirky British jocularity that I enjoy.  Neil (Nigel Planer) played the slump-shouldered hippie in the show, living his peaceful, sad "it is what it is" life, sharing a flat with three other roomies in the 80s.  It was an entertaining giggle, for sure.

     Both the front and back cover hint at a Satanic Majesties and Sgt Pepper psychedelic experience.  And that's exactly what it delivers.  There is some spoken nattering in between some of the songs and comedic moments, as one might expect, but the songs contained within are excellent.  Mostly faithful psychedelic covers of Pink Floyd, Caravan, Tomorrow, Donovan, Traffic, along with originals that echo early Sabbath and late Beatles.  All of the musicians participating in this project are top-tier, having been culled from bands ranging from Egg to Spooky Tooth to Gong to Level 42 to Porcupine Tree, and perform the songs with commitment.  The vocals by Nigel Planer, staying in character as Neil, really represent all of us.  And you do not need to be familiar with any of the songs to enjoy them, but the reward is a bonus if you do.

"Neil's Heavy Concept Album" - Neil (back)

Favorites include:
"My White Bicycle"
"Hurdy Gurdy Man"
"Lentil Nightmare"

     I don't believe "Neil's Heavy Concept Album" was ever released in the States, which might explain the rarity of it in the wild.  My original copy is an Australia & New Zealand pressing with the familiar flimsy jacket and a hype sticker on the actual front cover rather than the plastic sleeve.  I could not find an example on Discogs.  I'm guessing that was the way they were released.  The album was reissued in 2014.  Maybe I had my expectations low or had a rush of nostalgia when I dropped the needle, it's Neil after all, but the album doesn't sound like a cash-in, so I'm keeping it.  As the album says..."A heavy time is guaranteed for all."

WEA label

Cat #
240524.1
SIDE A  DEADWAX
240524-1-2  OH NO! BAD KARMA  MX210714  
SIDE B  DEADWAX
240524-1-A one  ANOTHER CONCEPT ALBUM  MX210713

"Hurdy Gurdy Man" - Neil / "Neil's Heavy Concept Album" (1984)

TRACKS:
A1  "Hello Vegetables"
A2  "Hole In My Shoe"
A3  "Heavy Potato Encounter"
A4  "My White Bicycle"
A5  "Neil The Barbarian"
A6  "Lentil Nightmare"
A7  "Computer Alarm"
A8  "Wayne"
A9  "The Gnome"
A10  "Cosmic Jam"
B1  "Golf Girl"
B2  "Bad Karma In The UK"
B3  "Our Tune"
B4  "Ken"
B5  "The End Of The World Cabaret"
B6  "No Future (God Save The Queen)"
B7  "Floating"
B8  "Hurdy Gurdy Man"
B9  "Paranoid Remix"
B10  "The Amoeba Song (From A Very Cellular Song)"

PERSONNEL: 
Nigel Planer - vocals, spoken word, others
Horrible Electric Musicians:
Bryson Graham - heavy metal drummer
Gavin Harrison - flash studio drummer
Pip Pyle - drunken cabaret drummer
Jakko Jakszyk - heavy and psychedelic guitarist
Dave Stewart - keyboardist, heavy metal bassist, useless drummer, and fifties guitarist
Rick Biddulph - cabaret bass, Rickenbacker 12-string
Beautiful Acoustic Musicians:
Jimmy Hastings - flute, saxophone, piccolo
Annie Whitehead - trombone
Barbara Gaskin - b-vocals
Ted Hayton - b-vocals (A2)

Good stuff.

Follow me on FACEBOOK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview:-- Joan Staley (Actress - Classic Movies & Television)

Image
  "Elvis,  do you really want me to slap you?"  ~ Joan Staley ~     So my friends and I were talking about first crushes. First tv and movie crushes.  For me, it was easy.  It was Alma. (Joan Staley)   I broke into the double-digit age of 10 in 1993.  That was the summer I discovered my favorite Don Knotts movie while flipping thru cable one Saturday morning... "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Everyone has seen it.  It was a funny haunted house story similar to an episode on Andy G. with a cast of familiar characters, trippy organ music, and the prettiest girl I had ever seen...Alma. She was beautiful alright.  I was love-stung so bad, I swear I could smell flowers coming out of the TV set.  And best of all, she was nice.  She didn't like the smart alec, the wise guy, or the show-off.  Alma was digging Luther (Don Knotts) and that just made her that much prettier.  And from then on... But unfortu...
Read more

Interview -- Henry Lee Summer (Singer/Songwriter)

Image
"I just always have played music.  For better   or worse, I banked my whole life on it." ~ Henry Lee Summer ~     It's strange how music lets you travel through time as if there truly was no time.  I played the shit out of this album growing up.  Nothing deep or complicated.  Nothing outta bounds.  Nothing to get hung about.  It's deceptively simple.  But here's the thing... Henry Lee Summer  is serving aces all over this heartland square. This is the 35th anniversary of Henry Lee Summer's self-titled album and this one falls under that sweet spot between raucous and chill.  It's a large cup of iced coffee with a nice soulful blend.  Not usually my type of go-to and yet this album easily fills a void I didn't know I had.  Let this spin be your own private Idaho.  " Check it out, Leroy!"   Henry Lee Summer... Go get you some. Henry Lee Summer Interview -- August 2023 Henry Lee Summer Casey Cha...
Read more

Interview -- Elliot Lurie (Looking Glass)

Image
"...Your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea." ~ Looking Glass ~ Elliot Lurie was a singer/songwriter for the 70s band Looking Glass . The band recorded two albums and had a couple of hits along with a handful of deep-track FM cuts.  And as many bands are wont to do... Looking Glass called it a day and handed over the keys.  However, before cutting out, Looking Glass did leave us with the #1 hit song... "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)."   Now there have been plenty of #1 songs that have climbed to the top spot faster.  And plenty of #1 songs that have stayed at the top spot longer.  But the list begins to thin when it comes to #1 songs that have had some real staying power years and years after their run.  And as the 50th anniversary draws to a close, the song  "Brandy..." still remains an ageless and endearing wonder. A song of unrequited love without all the drippy, maudlin sadness that often stains so many other attempts.  Every boy dreams ...
Read more