30.11.2006

Lizzy Mercier Descloux

I am sorry for posting this little at the moment, but I have a few other things to take care of at the moment.
These are three LPs by Lizzy Mercier Descloux, a very fine artist who passed away far to early in 2004.

Here is the bio from Ze Records:
Lizzy Mercier was born in 1956 in Les Halles, in the center of Paris. After some time at The Beaux Arts, she left for New York in 1975, where she contributed in the creation of the French magazine "Rock News" with Michel Esteban, and in so doing, became part of the New York's underground scene. It was the beginning of a long love story with New York. She published a collection of poems and photographs, "Desiderata", prefaced and illustrated by her friend Patti Smith, with contributions by Richard Hell. In 1976, she decided to move to New York. She bought a Fender Jazzmaster guitar and began the rounds of the Soho galleries and Lower East side clubs in duo. In 1978 under the name of Rosa Yemen, she recorded a first six titles LP, on the now cult label, ZE Records, launched by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban. She became involved in the birth of the City's "New Cinema" acting in a number of short films including Amos Poe's "Blank Generation". She also wrote an ode to Andreas Baader for the music of Diego Cortez' film "Grützy Elvis". In 1979, she released her first album "Press Color" recorded in New York, on ZE Records. It was at this time that she met Jean Michel Basquiat, in whom she found a kindred spirit. In 1981, she recorded her second album "Mambo Nassau", at Compass Point Studio in Nassau, Bahamas. It was to be the start of a deep relationship with Africa. In 1982 she went on a promo tour in Asia, via Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macao, Seoul and Japan. Back to Paris where she signed two singles with CBS: "Mister Soweto /Don't you try to stop me", and her first in French: "Maita /Les Baisers d'amants". In 1983 she set off for Africa on the tracks of Rimbaud. She went, via Ethiopia, all the way to South Africa which was in full apartheid. Here she recorded the album : "Mais où sont passées les gazelles". Back to New York, she acted in a short film by Seth Tillett with Arto Lindsay. In 1984 she made a second trip to Africa, where she gave a concert at The Pelican, the largest undercover club of Soweto and she shot a music video of "Gazelles" which became the most unexpected hit, in France, of the summer of 84... The rock critics went mad and voted it "best rock album of the year" : "Bus d'acier 84", trophy was presented to her by the previous winner, Alain Bashung.... She went back to New York, in September, to prepare her new album which she planned to record in New Orleans. Her big dream was to try to bring together South African musicians and Cajun/Zydeco on the same album. What she had forgotten was the power of the South African authorities who refused to give out visas to the musicians. In 1985 she left for Rio to record "One for The Soul". Here she met Chet Baker at the Rio Jazz Festival who ended up playing on five tracks of her album. An album of the soul, for the soul. Lizzy, forever nomadic, spent the rest of the year in the warmth of Ceylon / Sri Lanka, and began the writing of her novel "Buenaventura". 1986 back in Paris again. Then in London she recorded her last album "Suspense" with Mark Cunningham, the trumpet player in Mars. It was the first album not to involve her old partner in crime, Michel Esteban. Lizzy began painting again, but still contributed to various film score projects and she recorded an album in 1995 in the USA which was never released. She then moved to the West Indies where she threw herself into her painting until she came back to France setting up base in Corsica at the beginning of the new Millennium. It was on her return from a visit to New York in April 2003 that she was diagnosed with Cancer. Lizzy died in April 2004, right by the sea in the tiny port of Saint Florent in Corsica where she had chosen to end her days. Her ashes, according to her wishes, were scattered at sea, her second home. Hard to believe as it is, two dolphins appeared near the boat and accompanied her ashes, mingled with the petals of wild flower, far out to sea, as far as where the dividing currents part ways to Spain and Italy. She rarely dropped anchor in life and now, at last, she is sailing free forever. "Pourquoi vivre à terre, quand le reste du ciel s'ultramarine et rien ne sert à rien sauf le désir". Cape Desire. LMD "Why live down on earth when the sky is so vast and so blue and all is pointless but desire". Cape Desire. LMD
© Ze Records

Lizzy Mercier Descloux 1984

Lizzy Mercier Descloux - One 4 the soul 1986

Lizzy Mercier Descloux - Suspense 1988

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19.11.2006

Maximum Joy - Special and general experiences

My special moment with Maximum Joy except of Stretch (everybody loved it immediately) was driving along on a road near Celle after I had spent a night in Düsseldorf listening to Marc Almond, Johnny Thunders, Patti LaBelle, Billy Bragg, The Stranglers, The Fixx in one great concert 21.12.84. I had to stick my head out of the window of my Kadett C City a few times before arriving safely at home.

Maximum Joy - M.X.J.Y.

Maximum Joy - Stretch (as off my record)

Maximum Joy - Stretch (as off my record and restored)

Maximum Joy - White and green place

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Radierer & Front revival edition

Hi, I am still alive!
This post is just to tell you this will go on... At the moment I can't tell you more than that you will find interesting music mostly from the 80ies here!
Here are the 7" EPs from Front and Die Radierer .

Front 7"

Die Radierer - Angriff auf's Schlaraffenland

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03.11.2006

Bernd Begemann Live

As you could already read in my post for the release party for the
Greatest Hits of the Süddeutsche Zeitung series 1000 Songs , I am a great fan of the german entertainer Bernd Begemann .

This Live CD gives a very good overview for new listeners. The man alone with his guitar rocking the crowd, everybody singing along having a great time!

Bernd Begemann Live

The autograph on the cover translates to 'always in good company with...'

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Deutsche Schlager from the 30's and 40's

As I can't post in the next week here is something different, german popular music from the 30's and early 40's. Most songs are from movies from the UFA, the major studio in Germany. Many of the songs sound like everything was fun at the time, but you can not forget, that most jewish artists had to escape or were killed. Take the
Comedian Harmonists as an example. Formed in 1927 as a unique vocal ensemble and, after worldwide success, had to stop working in the original lineup after they were banned in Germany in 1934. The jewish members went to the USA and reformed with new members, the non-jewish did the same under the name 'Meistersextett'.
Some of the songs here were clearly propaganda and perseverence slogans, for example 'Ich weiss es wird einmal ein Wunder geschehen' (I know a miracle will happen) by Zarah Leander. But there also many nice love songs, novelty numbers, enjoy!

UFA-Schlager 1

UFA-Schlager 2

UFA-Schlager 3

UFA-Schlager 4

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  • I'm Jörg
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