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Friday, April 14, 2006

LAST NIGHT I FELT IMMORTAL - THIS MORNING I FEEL DEAD

In the late seventies, a young teenage Jackson sought to expand his musical horizons by immersing himself in his brother Rod's vinyl collection. One LP, Be Bop Deluxe's 'Live In The Air Age' fascinated me. The album cover drew me in, and the music kept me riveted.




A blend of glam (Bowie, Queen, Roxy Music) prog (Rush, King Crimson) with a hint of that Steely Dan sheen, Be Bop Deluxe made five records (Four studio plus the forementioned live record) before disbanding in the early eighties.

Guitar snobs will know the name Bill Nelson, the creative force behind Be Bop Deluxe. A virtuoso on the level of David Gilmour or Michael Schenker, Nelson never quite got his due.





I can't recommend one Be Bop Deluxe album over any other - they are all good. A good place to start would be where I did with the live record, or at the beginning:




Axe Victim is the glammiest of the Be Bop's efforts, with a distinctive Bowie/Ziggy vibe. 'Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus' anyone? Despite the obvious ode to Ziggy, Axe Victim is a great record.

Not only are we talking about a great band with great songs, but album covers that rule as well. The cover art for 'Sunburst Finish' is one of the greatest works of art associated with rock music.




Boobies........

Anyway, check out the Be Bop Deluxe and be one of five Americans in the know.

Comments:
great post, the only be bop deluxe experience I have is with "Axe Victom"

No train to heaven is one my favorite songs.
 
I hear you Ken, it's a risk one must take at times.

Hue - Check out 'Futurama' or 'Sunburst Finish' if you can find 'em.
 
A worthy Randy Rhodes influence. I will have to jump over to Amazon and pick these up. I completely forgot about ol' Bill Nelson...
 
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