From Brussels With Love
Possibly the rarest of any of my releases is this one. It was a (cassette-only) compilation released in 1981 by a Belgian label called Crepuscule. It included a demo version of ‘Airwaves’, recorded in my back room in London well before I got a record deal. I was approached recently by a company that wants to re-release it on CD and is trying to clear all the rights. I own the masters (unusual!) so I plan to say yes. The line-up on the album is terrific:
John Foxx
Duritti Column
Harold Budd
Richard Jobson
Gavin Bryars
A Certain Ratio
Martin Hamnett
Michael Nyman
An Interview with Brian Eno, etc
I have one copy of the cassette, resplendent in its soft plastic cover. But I don’t own a cassette player so I haven’t heard this recording of ‘Airwaves’ in years. It’s probably quite amateurish, as I used a little Boss Dr Rhythm box for the drums: but I bet it captures the essence of the song. I admit I cringe a bit when I listen to the version on The Golden Age Of Wireless, which hasn’t aged well: the production is far too ‘AOR’, with its chorused piano, glittering guitar chords and big drums. It was much better when I played it live. I regret not having had time to do a new arrangement of ‘Airwaves’ on this last tour. Maybe in the Fall?
June 9th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Oh, how cool it would be to hear Airwaves live!
I never managed to find a copy of “From Brussels With Love” – I hope that these folks are able to secure all the rights and permissions to make this CD happen!
BTW, I’m really digging seeing the great vintage tidbits you’re posting as photos. It’s so much fun to come here and see what gems you’ve pulled out to post.
June 9th, 2006 at 10:31 am
A cassette player is in the post….!
June 9th, 2006 at 10:38 am
A label called Interphon liscensed it in the late-80s and released it on CD – out of curiousity I looked it up on Amazon – there’s used copy for $225! ‘Amateurish’ isn’t how I would describe it – maybe ‘intimate’ – like looking in someone’s sketchbook.
June 9th, 2006 at 10:51 am
What is ‘AOR?’ Does the fact that this is being re-released indicate there is a renewed interest in your music that could result in additional re-releases? (I realize this could be wishful thinking on my end, as this appears to be a compilation of various artists, with Michael Nyman being a favorite of mine – love ‘The Piano’ soundtrack!)
June 9th, 2006 at 10:55 am
AOR: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Album_Oriented_Rock … if Wikipedia is to be believed.
June 9th, 2006 at 11:15 am
I must agree with Supertwist, I have (well my Dad has ) it on CD. It’s no bootleg I’m sure of it (You can usually tell when you’ve been ripped off with one of those can’t you?), anybody else know anything about this?
June 9th, 2006 at 11:17 am
oh and PS. Airwaves is the best track on there by miles.
June 9th, 2006 at 11:21 am
A little digging turned this up:
http://sound.jp/rockwrok/brussels.html
scroll down near the bottom to check out the liner notes!
June 9th, 2006 at 11:51 am
Somehow it strikes me as funny that TMDR does not own a cassette player.
TMDR’s comments about “Airwaves” are interesting. I’d never considered “Airwaves” as sounding particularly AOR (maybe because I never heard it on an AOR station).
When George Harrison re-issued “All Things Must Pass” he said something similar — he’d written in the liner notes that he was unhappy with how dated the Phil Specter production was — the “wall of sound” bugged him. But to me, that sound just seemed right for the album.
The reissue included a new version of “My Sweet Lord” that Harrison produced himself. And IMHO it was terrible. Sounded dated the minute it hit the shelves. Late 90s AAA, if you will.
But Harrison also threw in some demos he’d done of “Beware of Darkness” etc, and they were great to listen to — just Harrison and a guitar.
Hope to hear “Airwaves” live in the fall! And I hope TMDR can lay his hands on a cassette deck soon.
June 9th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
I think you do yourself a dis-service, sir. I think Airwaves is one of your best tracks and have never considered it to be AOR. I love the version on FBWL, a true Dolby time-capsule piece – reminded me a little of your voice on Cruel years later – and the plastic sleeve was an excellent idea and has save it from at least one soda-drenching over the past 20 years.
It also seems to be of an incredibly mature nature – hard to believe it was written by someone not to far out of their teens.
Looking forward to seeing you in London. It’s been too long.
June 9th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
It’s really the intro that bugs me. Most of what I play has zero to do with the mainstream musical or sonic conventions of the time. But in this case I think I was influenced by what I was hearing on the radio, and maybe trying a little too hard to conform.
It was very common at that time to play a major chord with a 2nd in the bass–in this case the first two chords are Eb major, then Eb with an F in the bass. Couple those to a grand piano through an Eventide Harmoniser, and a Stratocaster through a Roland Space Echo, and you’ve got a recipe for many of the ‘power ballads’ of the late seventies and early eighties.
That chord sequence happens once again in the song, at the end of the ‘middle eight’ section leading back into verse 3. I often look for symmetry and repetition in my arrangements so those chords seemed to make a natural intro. But now I wish I had let them happen jst the once, in the M8. When I’m alone and play ‘Airwaves’ on the piano I use as an intro the Dm piano theme that shows up at the very end, with octaves in the right hand. This is more distinctive, more original, and more melancholy.
Trevor Horn once told me ‘Airwaves’ should have been a huge hit, but that I fucked up the first verse. Gee thanks Trev. I am awed by your production chops but you can be a condescending bugger sometimes! Of course, I could have had you produce it, but then I would have spent the next 20 years paying off the studio fees you ran up (in your own studio.)
Actually we get on fine. Years later when we were doing the ‘Toys’ sountrack Trevor told me he’d pursuaded Elton John to cover ‘Airwaves’. Now that would have almost made up for the sleight about V.1! But sadly it never happened.
June 9th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Elton John? that would have been pretty amazing as I always felt a certain Elton John-ness vibe going on in “Airwaves” But, one version of Airwaves which stands out to me is version in the closing to the “Live Wireless” Video. I still get a little misty when I hear that one. I think I recall a scene of someone in the audience wiping a tear too! You should revist that arrangement for your fall tour, those nice Roland Jupiter patches ahhhh Sweet. Also , that reminds me of a question about while you are playing that song you seemed to be tapping a patch memory button to play a little bongo type sound. Was that an act or did you rewire your JP-8 to trigger something? Silly nerd question but I always wondered that …
June 9th, 2006 at 3:26 pm
Mentioning Elton John got me to thinking about other folks that might bring interesting stuff to the song – the Brussels version reminds me a little of Robert Wyatt…
June 9th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Yes Thomas, more ‘melancholy’ please. I completely agree with your critique of Airwaves. I’ve always felt the same about it too, but have always been able to hear past the AOR sound of which you speak. I feel like the distinctiveness of it could be pulled out more. I guess that’s why I wanted to hear it live as I knew you’d probably change a thing or two on it. Can’t wait to see what comes of this as it has always been a favorite of mine.
Ah yes, Trevor and his studio fees… I’d heard that Claudia Brucken (wasn’t that his girlfriend?) and the rest of Propaganda didn’t see their first royalty check until 15 years after recording A Secret Wish.
June 10th, 2006 at 1:05 am
Beyond all the musical dissection it *is* simply a great song but I suppose, as it’s creator, you will always be far more critical of it than many of us. I can honestly say I have never been concerned by any of these “AOR cliches” (is that a tautology?!) – perhaps it’s due to my limited techincal awareness of musical (although I do know exactly what you mean from your explaination above). Still I feel that the lyric and vocal is where it’s strength is – there is a lot of emotion there that, of course, defies your image in the UK at the time!
Odd that you mention how it should have been a massive hit because I remember an article in one of the big UK music press titles of the time (Sounds, I think) where the journalist said something to the effect that it’s one of the great sins of the year that, along with Europa, it didnt scale the heights of the charts at the time – the story made me laugh at the time because there was an amusing aside about the journo’s friend getting his flat burgled but they left most of the records except for few titles including GAOW. I just loved the image of a couple of thieves bickering over musical preferences.
June 10th, 2006 at 6:20 am
This is a great compilation, and yes, Interphon did a reissue while ago, but I beleive their CD doesn’t have everything that the tape had.
Maybe Crepescule is finally doing it themselves – now that they’ve got a good thing going with the Congotronics series, they can finally finance proper reissues of their many goodies from the vaults !
June 10th, 2006 at 7:45 am
The only intro i dislike is the Budapest By A Blimp one, sounds cheeze to me, no offence Tom. Airwaves intro still sounds good i reckon .
June 10th, 2006 at 9:12 am
i always loved this record. it was really exciting to see it in the stores, i remember. it seemed a rarity and had a duritti column/general factory records aesthetic to the packaging, which i was always a sucker for.
also, i love dolby’s “airwaves” on this, so different from the AOR version on “wireless,” though i love that version, too. it has a backroom recorded feel — claustrophobic and … exhilarating [?].
some AOR was incredible, of course, like some of john stewart’s stuff, as an example.
brussels, tho … also, the fact that john foxx had contributions of only a few seconds length, to me, was incredible. before “science” was a hit here in the u.s. people would be looking at the “wireless” record and ask me what it was like. i said it’s hard to describe but there’s a track called “airwaves,” which sounds like the buggles through elton john and john foxx filters.
thomas, no-one on earth has put forth a song quite like “cloud burst on shingle street.” that song plays, involuntarily, in brain on almost a daily basis since i first put the needle on the vinyl in the early ’80s. same with “airwaves” and “flying north.”
June 10th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
Re: my comment above:
I talked with one of my close friends with whom I share an appreciation of both your work and the scene around Factory Records, and he pointed out that it was Les Disques du Crépscule that put out From Brussels With Love, not Crammed Discs. Both labels are equally admirable and equally Belgian. For the story of Les Disques du Crépscule, kindly see:
http://home.wxs.nl/~frankbri/crestory.html
Must have been all those drugs I didn’t do in the early 80s taking their toll on my memory.
June 11th, 2006 at 7:03 am
Hi Thomas,
I have the very rare official Crepuscule reissue of FBWL on CD and if you contact me with an appropriate address to send it to you can have an MP3 copy immediately. I assume that providing the copyright owner with a copy of his own song is not considered piracy!
It is the best version by a mile. The nasal Bowie-esque phrasing and the alternative lyric is ace. It has so much character.
It’s time that you heard it again! Your file awaits!
Cheers,
Jon
June 11th, 2006 at 7:25 am
Back again,
I just listened to the song for the first time in ages. It is really a rare and precious piece that documents your early work. The ‘control is enabled…’ part sounds really like Thomas Dolby meets David Bowie. Either that or you were in need to a fist full of Coldrex! Seriously, I really enjoy this version much more than GAOW version.
The lyric change goes like this: GAOW changes in brackets.
Control is (has) enabled the abandoned wires again
but the copper cables all rust in the acid rain
if you incorporate (that flood the subway)
elements of our combustion (with elements of our corrosion)
cabled in to me…
The chorus is also repeated differently in this original. It is much more primitive but that certainly doesn’t detract from it’s stature as a fine song.
Love it.
Cheers,’
Jon
June 12th, 2006 at 1:39 am
I once read an interview with Kajagoogoo(80′s band in the UK), and they were saying that Airwaves was their favourite track and if you had made the lyrics more mainstream romance, would have been a big hit. I know what they mean, but also glad you didn’t.
On your ballads, I really love the production on “The Beauty Of A Dream,” one of my favourite tracks. Ever thoughts of it being an A-side?
June 12th, 2006 at 4:59 am
For those who haven’t heard it, the version on From Brussels With Love is not a million miles away from the Live Wireless version i.e. Thomas solo without a backing band.
The FBWL album as a whole is worth checking out especially for New Order fans as I believe it’s the only place you’ll find their first post-Joy Division recording (Haystack) trying out a potential new lead singer Kevin Hewick. The collaboration went no further, Barney took lead vocals, and the rest is history. (Sorry for the digression…)
I think the FBWL recording’s a great version, and I wonder if Thomas has any other demo material from that period?
June 12th, 2006 at 5:46 am
Often, the creator is a song’s harshest critic. Most performers can only look back on previous recordings, writings and film productions and see the errors, not the successes.
All I can say is that ‘Golden Age’ has been in regular rotation in my musical library since the 80s, where it remains. ‘Airwaves’ in particular has deep resonance with me. Like most TMDR songs, it has a story that it reveals, if only parts of it. I can understand if TMDR feels that it needs a reworking; sometimes this produces a better or equally compelling version…sometimes not.
For example, the Police’s “Don’t stand so close to me ’86″ clearly wasn’t received well (though I think it’s not bad). But Peter Gabriel’s live versions of some songs are as excellent in my mind as the originals…without invalidating the original versions. This discussion led me to play ‘Airwaves’ on the iPod to listen to that opening…now I guess I’ll be listening to the whole album.
Would LOVE to hear Airwaves performed live, no question.
June 12th, 2006 at 8:14 am
Question for TMDR – Bill Nelson has a track on this album, so I mentioned it on his last week. Bill replied saying that he has not been approached about this, so any use of his track on the compilation would be without his permission – and we don’t want that, do we?
Is there some way we can get Bill in the loop on this? Say, with contact details he can use to get in touch with the company? Or they could register on the forum and leave a “personal message” for Bill, or in the “From Brussels With Love” thread (under “William’s World”).
Thanks!
- brian t
June 12th, 2006 at 8:28 am
Dunno what happened to the previous post’s formatting – should have double-checked the last edit – but the forum I was referring to was http://www.billnelsonmusic.com/forum/ . It would be a real shame if anyone was ripped off, Bill’s had serious problems with that in the past – like, whole albums with no royalties at all!
– brian t
June 12th, 2006 at 8:59 am
Ah, Crepuscule, one of the greatest independent record labels. Home to the great and the good: Paul Haig, The Names, Winston Tong, to name but a few.
Also of note are the excellent sleeves Crepuscule housed their product in.
June 14th, 2006 at 8:25 am
— RPK: his is a great compilation, and yes, Interphon did a reissue while ago, but I beleive their CD doesn’t have everything that the tape had. —
I’d never heard about a CD release of this collection. Under the proverbial radar?
—- Stereoroid: Bill Nelson has a track on this album, so I mentioned it on his last week. Bill replied saying that he has not been approached about this, so any use of his track on the compilation would be without his permission – and we don’t want that, do we? —
I was going to point out the comment by Bill Nelson as well. He has not been approached as of yet. Which makes me wonder if other artists have not been approached.
I’m sure he would give permission, it’s just that most artists don’t like it when they find out about things after the fact.
.
June 22nd, 2006 at 6:36 am
if mr dolby wants it, i can provide him with a copy in flac/mp3, directly from the original cassette, or from the 2 lp version, or from the cd version.
just leave me question
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If I may chorus Mme. Veruschka (ouch) but only half in agreement–
‘Airwaves’ resonates intensely for me, being the memory soundtrack for some emotional turmoil surrounding life in
(& eventual departure from) New York between ’83′-’85.
In a way, the ‘AOR’ production touches serve to give a broader context (even a nod of gentle cultural parody)
to a lyric & melody that move from dissociation & containment to aching, full-blown melancholy & the beginning acknowledgement of a sense of deep loss that cannot be fully owned up to…
The Dm figure that builds with the ‘calling horns’ until the fade?– feels like the emotional payoff– the musical shoulder to help us through this long, dark night–
& might arguably best be reserved for that moment.
The actual piano figure under the guitars in the intro seems full of possibility…with an A (sus 4th) you can move thru th Dom7th — playing on the conventional, but…open to more idiosyncratic tweaking.
Oh, as per TH’s diss– the underlined melody for the first verse does seem a little lacking– feels a little arrogant to play ‘fantasy amateur arranger-producer’ but– a sparer version of the shifting chords from the third? a first hint of the chorusing pedal tone that punches up the intensity for the second? …your show, Mr. D-
I’m sure you’ll do fine– the ‘patient’ is actually very sound & in vibrant health, with a long life ahead– a few cosmetic tweaks will help alleviate growing pains, is all. All th best! …holding on to the chance of being in LA for November & hoping I may find a last minute ticket…to cheer continued growth & evolution on!
November 7th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Mr Dolby, could you set up an online store? You have and have planned a lot of very interesting material but I for one live outside the iTunes Store domains and am unable to make purchases via that route.
Let us know more if you get the chance.
December 21st, 2006 at 1:24 pm
From Brussels With Love should be out in February 2007:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brussels-Love-Various/dp/B000K97MUC
Tom
January 27th, 2007 at 6:17 am
In the USA, “From Brussels With Love” will be available from Darla.com or Amazon.com
It has been remastered and is being re-released by the Les Temps Moderne label. See the following link for more info:
http://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5881&Itemid=90
I was a bit disappointed to see that, due to space limitations, one track that was on the original 1980 cassette release is being omitted (a live version of A Certain Ratio’s “Felch”). That track is available on an ACR live CD also put out by Les Temps Moderne. But it won’t be quite the same.
I do have one of the original FBWL cassettes packaged in a plastic pouch. I don’t know how I managed to get one here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, way back then. It is my understanding that none of the re-releases (whether on 2-LP vinyl or CD) has the identical track list as the original. So, as James Nice puts it, “the 1980 edition…remains the definitive artifact.”
“Airwaves”, by the way, is quite a nice track. Thank you, Mr. Dolby.
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