The Man who Created the Television!
Okay. That may be a bit of an overstatement, but it's not much of one. The latest post to The Tuna Melt is of a record by an individual who was recruited, in 1973, to join a band called The Neon Boys who were regrouping after a brief split. The new band took the name Television and, with new guitarist Richard Lloyd joining Tom Verlaine, Billy Ficca and Richard Hell, went on to make Rock and Roll History. If you don't know the rest of that story it's not too hard to find. I'd suggest AllMusic for this one at: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fifqxqr5ldse~T1.
Back, though, to Richard Lloyd. This guy Loved to Jam! He and Verlaine would go off on these tangents that were all over the map, though never exactly the "blues-based" jams that, well, Jam Bands had dealt with mostly up to that point. These jams, though they rocked and had a nice beat and were easy to dance to, were quirky and seemed a bit disjointed and were just plain weird back in the 70s.
Television finally broke up in 1978 after achieving very much critical but, of course, very little actual (or financial) success. Lloyd released a solo record called "Alchemy" in 1979 and then disappeared into drug addiction.
This is his comeback record. "Field of Fire" was released in 1985 and features a reborn (literally, in the religious sense) and rejuvenated Richard Lloyd at the top of his game. It lacks some of the Punkish edge that some might expect, considering his history, but the attitude is all there. It's Loud. It's Proud. And at times... It Jams!
Well… In a strange way, anyhow.
- Watch Yourself
- Losin' Anna
- Soldier Blue
- Keep On Dancin'
- Pleading
- Lovin' Man
- Black to White
- Field of Fire
Ya'll oughta listen to more Punk Rock. It's good for your brain.
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3 comments:
Thanks for the taste of Richard Llyod! Been looking for that for years. Now if I can just get my hands on the first couple Willie Nile Lps I'll be a happy man.
I heard that Richard missed Television's big concert in Central Park a few weeks ago because of illness. I hope he's okay. Besides his solo stuff and his work with Television, he's done great stuff with John Doe and Matthew Sweet, among others. I saw him backing up Texas singer-songwriter Butch Hancock at Mercury Lounge in 1995 and he was amazing. A couple of his solos literally made me cry.
Robin
Oh, man. I didn't know he'd missed the New York show so I've got to wonder if his promise to officially retire from Television afterwards stills stands. I did know, though, that he had been hospitalised recently for Pneumonia. I've heard he's home now and resting and that they expect a full recovery.
Thanks, Robin!
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