Four decades of The Fall is impossible to summarize in ten songs, so I made one set for each decade. The first was written shortly after the release of The Fall's final album, New Facts Emerge, and covers 2007-2017. Those who like to cite The Fallen and Mark's "granny on bongos" comment forget that for nine years (2008-2016) there were no changes in The Fall's lineup.
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| I still miss the jumper clown. |
My second Imaginary Compilation Album (ICA) focused on 1997-2006, a period that began with Julia Nagle on keyboards and which saw Elena Poulou join in 2002 (as keyboard player, Fall manager, and third wife of MES).
I highly recommend this compilation of Slugbucket's favorite 21st Century Fall songs, choosing highlights from The Unutterable through New Facts Emerge. Quality control lapsed a bit during those years, but as Slugbucket says, there were "at least 3 or 4 excellent songs on (almost) every studio album." Slugbucket has curated many excellent psych, punk and folk comps at his blog, Nothing's Going To Happen.
My third Fall ICA covered 1987-1996. 1987 was the year of The Fall's first hits ("There's A Ghost In My House" and "Hit The North"). Brix left The Fall, returned, and left again during this decade. Founding member Martin Bramah also rejoined The Fall and quit again during this period. (Not all of The Fallen were pushed.)
The final Fall ICA -- hot off the pink press -- features the first decade (1977 through 1986). An extraordinary number of LP's and singles came out during this period: sometimes two albums per year, plus brilliant non-LP singles ranging from "Totally Wired" to "Cruiser's Creek". The four decades of Fall singles have been collected into a box set of 7 CD's, a fitting monument to the man and his group.
In 2008, the British arts collective Globo released an album covering all the songs from The Fall's 1985 LP, This Nation's Saving Grace. Here is Globo's This Nation's Saving Grace (192kps): tinyurl.com/y7erpvsf
ReplyDeleteFellow blogger Pubbi found a copy of the 2005 self-titled EP by Saddlebop (which features the singer from Les Godzillas, who covered "Hotel Bloedel"). Saddlebop does two Fall covers: "LA" and "Dead Beat Descendant". They also cover ESG's "Moody", based on an arrangement by the Bassholes that sounds a LOT like The Fall's "Black Monk Theme" (listen for yourself at youtu.be/2zZjYIFA4Vo).
ReplyDeletePubbi bought and ripped the EP because he knew I wanted to hear it, which is one of the nicest things another blogger has ever done for me (notwithstanding the countless kindnesses of Nathan Nothin). Please visit Pubbi's fabulous blog fuzzfarfisascreamsnmore.blogspot.com/
I hope Pubbi don't mind if I share the Saddlebop EP here (320kps): tinyurl.com/y9md3qdt
Thanks to dannyno for this tip: flesheatingfoundation.bandcamp.com/album/fallen-a-tribute-to-mark-e-smith-and-the-fall
Alright jonder? Been out of circulation for a bit because of the longest period of sunshine in the North since 1976, plus the World Cup etc. Just a tip, the torrent from "the Bay area" :-) of the latest release by the band that has the name as a town "on the West Bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States" is dodgey. I'm sure I got "bad dudes" from it, but have cleaned it up with both AVG / Mal.
ReplyDeleteCan do yer a zippy link tomoz (Sat 7th) if you ain't got it. Regards J in Sunnypool
I would love to hear the new sounds from that port of call, J!
ReplyDeleteHere yer go lid! :-)
ReplyDeletehttps://www97.zippyshare.com/v/kBsjCjH6/file.html
Bit distracted today by the Box of Bongwater shared “in another place” the other day – and the sunshine. Ann M – she still scares the shit outta me.
Best regards,
J
Careful with that Bongwater, J -- drink too deeply, and you become a paranoiac. Next thing you know, you're going home in a cosmic ambiance! Not sure what scares you about the divine Ms. Magnuson. I married a redhead, and have always been drawn to their passionate temperament like a timid moth to a lovely flame. Thanks for the latest in Creeping Bentism!
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