John Cale - Paris 1919 Poll

Gotta go with "Hanky Panky Nohow", although on any given day it could be almost any of the others.

― Z S, Sunday, 23 March 2008 16:36 (5 years ago) Permalink

Paris 1919 is my favourite here. Gorgeous album by the way.

― zeus, Sunday, 23 March 2008 16:42 (5 years ago) Permalink

"Hanky Panky Nohow," especially on a day like this.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 23 March 2008 16:45 (5 years ago) Permalink

Went with Half Past France (I prefer the live solo piano version of the title track)

― StanM, Sunday, 23 March 2008 16:48 (5 years ago) Permalink

Paris 1919 for me, but really, it could be any of half-a-dozen, depending on the day.

― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 23 March 2008 17:02 (5 years ago) Permalink

Andalucia for me! That song brings back so many exciting memories...

― jonathan - stl, Sunday, 23 March 2008 17:10 (5 years ago) Permalink

I've been totally obsessed with this album lately. Good timing. This is a really hard decision, but I guess that the title track just barely takes the cake.

― Davey D, Sunday, 23 March 2008 17:42 (5 years ago) Permalink

I guess so.

This is one of those few albums where you have a new favorite song every day.

― sonderangerbot, Sunday, 23 March 2008 17:56 (5 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, "Child's Christmas", "Hanky Panky," "Andalucia", "Paris 1919", and "Half Past France" are pretty much interchangeably fantastic, and the rest are merely amazing.

― Davey D, Sunday, 23 March 2008 18:37 (5 years ago) Permalink

Wow, what a coincidence..was just listening to this one in the car this morning, first time in a long long while. "Child's Christmas in Wales" is my favorite song, though topped by the acoustic piano version on Fragments of a Rainy Season.

― Joe, Sunday, 23 March 2008 19:10 (5 years ago) Permalink

I like "Andalucia", except for one little detail-- the 'Andalucia/when can I see ya' line always bugged me.

― Joe, Sunday, 23 March 2008 19:12 (5 years ago) Permalink

you're a ghost la la la la la la la la la

― ciderpress, Sunday, 23 March 2008 21:01 (5 years ago) Permalink

can anyone hear a difference between the remastered cd and the original?

― nerve_pylon, Sunday, 23 March 2008 22:04 (5 years ago) Permalink

This is a hard one because every song is genius, but "Endless Plain of Fortune" kills me everytime.

― Bill in Chicago, Monday, 24 March 2008 02:49 (5 years ago) Permalink

I love Sally Timms' cover of "Half Past France."

― Maltodextrin, Monday, 24 March 2008 03:37 (5 years ago) Permalink

You know what's really been bothering me lately? I feel really bad about John Cale's wife sleeping with Kevin Ayers. I like Ayers records, the first 2 or 3 are mostly good to great, but I've been feeling/exploring Cale's 70s stuff a lot lately and I just feel really sad for John being cheated on. I guess he may have been a coked up asshole so who knows. Still, it just breaks my heart.

― dan selzer, Monday, 24 March 2008 03:59 (5 years ago) Permalink

Tape Store, you seemed to have tapped into the collective unconscious of ilXor, as I was listening to this the other day as well! I was trying to pick a song to put on a friend's mix, but I gave up when I couldn't decide on just one. I doubt I'll fare any better with this poll, but I've at least it narrowed down to "Hanky Panky Nohow", "The Endless Plain of Fortune", "Paris 1919", and "Graham Greene". I'm leaning toward "Hank Panky".

― David Bachyrycz, Monday, 24 March 2008 04:53 (5 years ago) Permalink

xpost

Yes, the remastered CD sounds wonderful, and the bonus tracks are nice-to-haves, though not essential.

― Davey D, Monday, 24 March 2008 06:17 (5 years ago) Permalink

paris 1919

― J0rdan S., Monday, 24 March 2008 07:52 (5 years ago) Permalink

any of his other solo stuff as good as this?

― J0rdan S., Monday, 24 March 2008 07:52 (5 years ago) Permalink

Nothing I've heard is quite the same, Slow Dazzle is the only one I listen to as much, lots of people like Fear too.

I've only ever heard the remaster, so I think of A Burnt Out Affair as the closer. Graham Greene FTW though.

― Greist, Monday, 24 March 2008 11:45 (5 years ago) Permalink

"Child's Christmas in Wales" for me, that melody is unbelievable

― J0hn D., Monday, 24 March 2008 11:48 (5 years ago) Permalink

J0rdan: Fragments Of A Rainy Season = his best IMHO. Solo live/best of kinda thing.

― StanM, Monday, 24 March 2008 11:52 (5 years ago) Permalink

I feel really bad about John Cale's wife sleeping with Kevin Ayers

Don't feel so bad, I think a lot of men's wives slept with Kevin Ayers in the 70s. Just ask Richard Branson.

This is one of my Top 10 favourite albums of all time.

― Tom D., Monday, 24 March 2008 11:53 (5 years ago) Permalink

The Island Years comp has some great stuff on it.

― Tape Store, Monday, 24 March 2008 14:41 (5 years ago) Permalink

Why is there still no cd reissue of Helen of Troy? Totally crazy. I wanna know what Jonathan Richman with Phil Collins on drums sounds like.

― sonderangerbot, Monday, 24 March 2008 16:21 (5 years ago) Permalink

"THE ENDLESS PLAIN..." because it will always remind me of driving into Alexanderplatz on a clear November night first time I went to Berlin. It was playing on the car stereo at the time. It fit perfectly with the view out the window.

― Capitaine Jay Vee, Monday, 24 March 2008 18:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

xpost

"The Island Years" contains the entirety of "Fear", "Slow Dazzle", and "Helen of Troy"... so you should pick that up!

― Davey D, Monday, 24 March 2008 19:13 (5 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

― ILX System, Sunday, 30 March 2008 23:01 (5 years ago) Permalink

title track

― stephen, Sunday, 30 March 2008 23:42 (5 years ago) Permalink

i'm listening to this now and wishing i voted for 'macbeth,' because of guitars.

― strgn, Monday, 31 March 2008 00:12 (5 years ago) Permalink

I listened to this a few days ago and wished I'd voted for "Child's Christmas," if only for the opening piano riff following by the guitar.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 31 March 2008 00:14 (5 years ago) Permalink

regret

― Tape Store, Monday, 31 March 2008 01:29 (5 years ago) Permalink

i also went w/ the title track, but it could have been anything

― Tape Store, Monday, 31 March 2008 01:30 (5 years ago) Permalink

Andalucia or The Endless Plain of Fortune

― wilter, Monday, 31 March 2008 01:31 (5 years ago) Permalink

Title track. No regrets.

― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 31 March 2008 01:39 (5 years ago) Permalink

god i love this album

― strgn, Monday, 31 March 2008 06:08 (5 years ago) Permalink

any of his other solo stuff as good as this?

-- J0rdan S., Monday, March 24, 2008 7:52 AM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link

Vintage Violence and Fear both rank with this one, though for different reasons. VV for the odd country vibe ("Charlemagne", plus "Gideon's Bible" has a signature killer chorus), Fear for the emotion ("You Know More Than I Know", the killer chorus award goes to "Buffalo Ballet"). Helen of Troy and Slow Dazzle are a step or two behind.

― zaxxon25, Monday, 31 March 2008 12:19 (5 years ago) Permalink

Voted "Paris" but flipped-flopped between that and "Hanky Panky."

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 31 March 2008 12:22 (5 years ago) Permalink

any of his other solo stuff as good as this?

Only "Music For a New Society". Difficult to make albums as good as "Paris 1919"!

― Tom D., Monday, 31 March 2008 12:24 (5 years ago) Permalink

Half Past France

― baaderonixx, Monday, 31 March 2008 12:44 (5 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

― ILX System, Monday, 31 March 2008 23:01 (5 years ago) Permalink

Wow, the top five are pretty much exactly the order in which I would rank them.

― Davey D, Tuesday, 1 April 2008 00:19 (5 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, and by the same margin (tho I don't mean to denigrate the rest of the disc beyond the title track; the first five songs listed in the poll results are all top-shelf).

― Daniel, Esq., Tuesday, 1 April 2008 00:23 (5 years ago) Permalink

If I had to Pick Only One song ever, there's a good chance it would be the title track. It gets me every. single. time. While I'm generally a guitar kinda guy, there's something about certain piano riffs like this that make me weak in the knees, bring out the rare sentimental feeling in me. The other songs would be the Stones "We Love You", Bowie's "Oh You Pretty Things", These Immortal Souls "Marry Me (Lie)" and Nina Nastasia's "Treehouse Song".

― bendy, Tuesday, 1 April 2008 02:34 (5 years ago) Permalink

"Half Past France" and "Hanky Panky" tie, but I mean I love Paris 1919. Too bad Little Feat didn't just become Cale's band, playing Cale's songs...altho Cale doing "Oh Atlanta" might've been fun.

as for the other stuff--I think Honi Soit is a good record; I love Fear and Slow Dazzle as much as I do 1919, and actually, Black Acetate was real good too.

― whisperineddhurt, Tuesday, 1 April 2008 16:58 (5 years ago) Permalink

it was my vote that pushed it over the top

― PappaWheelie V, Tuesday, 1 April 2008 17:01 (5 years ago) Permalink

Maybe I should give Black Acetate another try

― baaderonixx, Tuesday, 1 April 2008 21:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

Recording of Cale playing this album w/ orchestra this week http://proskynesis.blogspot.com/2010/03/john-cale-05032010-london.html
Haven't listened, so I dunno what the quality is like. Hope it's good!

― tylerw, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 04:22 (3 years ago) Permalink

hm, i don't know those -- the van der graf generator guy?
I guess Scott Walker might sorta fit in.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 16:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

Brian Eno's "Another Green World" - particularly Everything Merges With The Night

― tomofthenest, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 16:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

bill fay's first two albs - self-titled and TIME OF THE LAST PERSECUTION - share some of the same general tone

― Ward Fowler, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 18:18 (3 years ago) Permalink

damn those bill fay records are great. good call.

― Brio, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 18:23 (3 years ago) Permalink

Maybe Epic Soundtracks' RISE ABOVE?

― doug watson, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 19:17 (3 years ago) Permalink

John Martyn Bless the Weather?

I'm disappointed there's no option to vote for the picture on the cover. Andalucia's my favorite, though. Fact: if you are named Amanda, it's fun to pretend he's saying Amandalucia.

― figgy pudding (La Lechera), Wednesday, 10 March 2010 19:25 (3 years ago) Permalink

Slapp Happy's Acnalbasac Noom has the same laid-back uptight-intellectual vibe.

― bendy, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:20 (3 years ago) Permalink

Maybe Epic Soundtracks' RISE ABOVE?
that's a good one, i love that record. Maybe not quite as lush/layered as Paris 1919, but I always though Epic and Cale's phrasing was kinda similar.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

it might be sorta obv, but cale's discography has paris 1919-y songs scattered throughout

"riverbank", "the soul of carmen miranda", "china sea", "bamboo floor", "gideon's bible"..lots of stuff from 'vintage violence' actually

― iatee, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:44 (3 years ago) Permalink

ooooh gideon's bible is my FAVORITE ALL TIME
not sure why

― figgy pudding (La Lechera), Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

it might be sorta obv, but cale's discography has paris 1919-y songs scattered throughout
yeah, there are definitely a few songs (esp. on Vintage Violence and maybe a few on Music for a New Society), but I think what's special about Paris 1919 is that not even Cale is sure how he did it. I think I've read an interview where he admits that it's great, but he's not sure why or how it happened. I guess just the stars aligning or something.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:49 (3 years ago) Permalink

Second the recommendation of Time of the Last Persecution by Bill Fay. A lot of interesting arrangements and instrumentation going on there. Compared to Paris 1919, tho, it is a decidedly bleaker/more dirge-y album.

― Turangalila, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:58 (3 years ago) Permalink

I dunno, I think it can pretty much all be chalked up to the arrangements. yeah he was at some crazy songwriting peak, but imo he'd stay at that peak for 'fear' and 'slow dazzle'. I don't think the paris 1919 songs stand out when they're played w/ the rest of his material (like in 'fragments') - stripped of the fancy arrangements and they're still def among the best songs he's written but not in some mystical realm beyond his other good stuff.

― iatee, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:58 (3 years ago) Permalink

xp

― iatee, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:58 (3 years ago) Permalink

yeah, it's probably that weird combo of Little Feat + Cale's Euro sensibility + SoCal + orchestral arrangements that makes it so unique.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 22:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

also: Antarctica Starts Here - 1

:(

― iatee, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 22:02 (3 years ago) Permalink

Very well put, iatee. I agree.

― The Magnificent Colin Firth (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 10 March 2010 22:02 (3 years ago) Permalink

i definitely hear a lot of paris 1919 in vintage violence but i got them both at the same time and had a huge cale period for a while (all way down to the haircut) so they're sort of inseparable to me in other ways as well. on the following records it seems like he just set out to rock first and write songs second.

― sonderangerbot, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 22:10 (3 years ago) Permalink

Another good parallel would be Al Stewart's Past Present & Future, also released in 1973 (and to some extent the following year's Modern Times). The same considered, reflective songwriting, the personal refracted through the historical. Those who only know Stewart for "Year of the Cat" should check this album out, it might surprise you.

― anagram, Thursday, 11 March 2010 08:18 (3 years ago) Permalink

more paris 1919 v2 songs: 'sylvia said', 'dixieland and dixie'

― iatee, Thursday, 11 March 2010 18:59 (3 years ago) Permalink

if you wanna have the full experience

http://www.sallepleyel.fr/francais/evenement.aspx?id=11113

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Saturday, 13 March 2010 11:28 (3 years ago) Permalink

Bunch of awesome suggestions. Hey, this Al Stewart record is great! I was vaguely aware of him...

― SourPatchCorpse, Saturday, 13 March 2010 15:54 (3 years ago) Permalink

wish I was in paris :(

― iatee, Saturday, 13 March 2010 17:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

yeah no kidding ... the recording sounds sweet.

― tylerw, Saturday, 13 March 2010 17:44 (3 years ago) Permalink

might go for the occasion

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Saturday, 13 March 2010 17:46 (3 years ago) Permalink

this live show is gorgeous. not sure about the guitar solo on "Child's Christmas" but most of it is close to perfect. Cale's voice sounds great these days ...

― tylerw, Monday, 15 March 2010 19:14 (3 years ago) Permalink

love the Femme Fatale/Rosegarden Funeral of Sores mix, which I guess he's been doing for a while now?

― iatee, Monday, 15 March 2010 19:16 (3 years ago) Permalink

^^ yes, by the time the live set was over i was not digging all that guitar at all.

― nerve_pylon, Monday, 15 March 2010 19:18 (3 years ago) Permalink

kinda digging the psych-y guitar on Half Past France tho. Kind of unexpected.

― tylerw, Monday, 15 March 2010 19:32 (3 years ago) Permalink

always kind of hated this album but I feel like shit right now and it sounds great

― puff puff post (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Thursday, 25 March 2010 19:23 (3 years ago) Permalink

I'll probably love this album forever now or something

― puff puff post (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Thursday, 25 March 2010 19:27 (3 years ago) Permalink

hopefully!

― iatee, Thursday, 25 March 2010 19:52 (3 years ago) Permalink

http://www.uclalive.org/calendar/event_detail.asp?id=15

― tylerw, Monday, 9 August 2010 17:32 (2 years ago) Permalink

Cale rocking the soul patch

― Falkor Johnson (askance johnson), Monday, 9 August 2010 17:37 (2 years ago) Permalink

would love to see paris 1919 live.

― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 9 August 2010 17:41 (2 years ago) Permalink

$15 UCLA students, damn that's a steal

― iatee, Monday, 9 August 2010 19:06 (2 years ago) Permalink

yeah, no kidding. kind of cool -- i think the original Paris was recorded with the UCLA orchestra

― tylerw, Monday, 9 August 2010 19:23 (2 years ago) Permalink

Go see this. It was fantastic at the Royal Festival Hall. Some songs are improved by the new arrangements - Half Past France almost had me in tears.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Monday, 9 August 2010 19:24 (2 years ago) Permalink

wish I could :(

― iatee, Monday, 9 August 2010 19:25 (2 years ago) Permalink

I am hoping he brings the live show to NYC. It would be crazy if he didn't right? RIGHT?

― FRESH MEAT (MFB), Monday, 9 August 2010 19:27 (2 years ago) Permalink

right

― iatee, Monday, 9 August 2010 19:27 (2 years ago) Permalink

also be pretty surprising if there wasn't an album released out of these shows ... Royal Festival Hall bootleg is great.

― tylerw, Monday, 9 August 2010 19:29 (2 years ago) Permalink

i would have voted andalucia.

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 9 August 2010 21:37 (2 years ago) Permalink

"Andalucia" is knocking me out lately, in particular the melody of the vocal on "Andalucia, when can I see you". I am leaving you in a day and a year too, or at least I hope so, I love you.

I'm sorta caught in this album right now: it's kinda songwriting-by-Baedeker (Paris, Barbary, Dunkirk, Andalucia, Dundee, Berlin) but that speaks to me, looking backward but not inward.

― Euler, Friday, 15 October 2010 17:19 (2 years ago) Permalink

yeah i have no emotional connection to this album whatsoever but it's still one of my favorites of all time because it's so damn pretty

― only built 4 cuban linux... (ciderpress), Friday, 15 October 2010 17:52 (2 years ago) Permalink

gonna go with "andalucia"

― Notinnymane (k3vin k.), Saturday, 6 August 2011 06:10 (1 year ago) Permalink

Efficiency efficiency they say

― chawki (buzza), Saturday, 6 August 2011 07:30 (1 year ago) Permalink

this is the best album ever

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Friday, 5 October 2012 18:17 (7 months ago) Permalink

yes

― tylerw, Friday, 5 October 2012 18:18 (7 months ago) Permalink

Thirded

― Cosmic Fopp (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 6 October 2012 02:38 (7 months ago) Permalink