Machine's 1979 s/t album: C/D?

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Just received the LP copy I ordered online ($5, excellent condition, a steal) and although I am pleased with the overall discoriffic quality of this great lost record I am super-cranky that the album version of "There But For the Grace of God Go I" sounds a bit weak and possibly rerecorded in comparison to the undeniable massive monster Best Single of 1979* 12" version. The banging gospel-funk pianos in particular seem watered-down. On the other hand, the rest of the record is great; "Marisa" in particular has a supreme vocal hook and a sound that's a three-way between The Brothers Johnson's "Strawberry Letter 23", The Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Runnin'" and some unknowable lost b-side from Michael Jackson's Off the Wall.

Interesting liner notes revelation: supposedly the "...gaining weight and losing sleep" line from "TBFTGOGGI" was originally "popping pills and smoking weed". Damn!

*depending on how in love I am with Van Halen's "Dance the Night Away" on any given day

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Saturday, 10 January 2004 00:18 (twenty years ago) link

There were other lyric changes between the Machine and Kid Creole and the Coconuts versions, I think (in fact, I think the pill-popping/weed-smoking may BE in the kid creole version). Like, don't Machine say "where only upperclass people stay" instead of "no blacks, no freaks, and no gays?" Or something along those lines??

― chuck, Saturday, 10 January 2004 00:30 (twenty years ago) link

The KC and the C's version came a couple years LATER, though, of course; I always figured that once he had the hit, Darnell wanted to use the original words for once...

― chuck, Saturday, 10 January 2004 00:32 (twenty years ago) link

Later versions of the Machine recording were fucked with but the version I have (album and 12") have the blacks/Jews/gays line.

Also: KID CREOLE AND THE COCONUTS VERSION?! I knew August Darnell had a hand in both groups but oh man

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Saturday, 10 January 2004 00:33 (twenty years ago) link

August Darnell also ='s Aural Exciters, and I love both Kid Creole's female fronted version of Maladie D' Amour and the version on the Aural Exciters LP. Don't forget Dr. Buzzard's Original Savanah Band!

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Saturday, 10 January 2004 00:55 (twenty years ago) link

I've always had the Kid Creole "There But For the Grace of God" on a 7-inch (with a small hole), but it just got reissued on the CD version of their first and best album *Off the Coast of Me.* (My favorite obscuro Darnell-related album has always been *Cory and Me" by Cory Daye, from the Savannah Band. The Don Armando's Second Avenue Rumba Band album is also extremely great, if you can find it.)

― chuck, Saturday, 10 January 2004 01:37 (twenty years ago) link

one of the stupidest mistakes I ever made as a consumer was passing up a copy of Cory & Me for $3 used on vinyl when the Hennepin Avenue Cheapo opened up in Minneapolis. "Oh, I'll see it next time I come in," I thought. nope.

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 10 January 2004 08:31 (twenty years ago) link

Someone shoulda given you the green light

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Saturday, 10 January 2004 15:37 (twenty years ago) link

Is it time for the Arthur Russell-style August Darnell Soul Jazz retrospective...?

I remember, about 15 years ago, somebody doing a 12" that was a medley of "I Shot the Sheriff" and (Don Armando's...) "Deputy of Love." Bizarre.

― Douglas (Douglas), Saturday, 10 January 2004 18:05 (twenty years ago) link

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