The Decorator

The Decorator hesitated for a moment; then he spoke “But Sir, I cannot paint.  I mean – I can paint a wall or a ceiling or a door.  But I have never painted a picture, let alone a portrait.”

The Chamberlain smiled. “His majesty knows that, but we have a problem. He was betrothed to the Lady Miranda when he was 12 and she just 9.  He has never seen her since and now that she is 16, he must marry or bring shame on her whole family.  But the King is young and headstrong.  He refuses to wed until he sees his bride; he values Beauty over Duty.  You are commissioned to decorate the Lady Miranda’s private quarters I understand”

“Yes, but she, or rather I, will be screened off.  A movable partition of sheets will be hung to prevent even me seeing her accidentally while I work.”

“Well, you will just have to do your best.  Try to catch sight of her and on your return paint her image for his Majesty.”

 The decorator was frightened, but what could he do.  Refusal could result in death; an un-flattering portrait – the King’s wrath.  Besides he had never painted a picture before.  He had never tried, he was a humble decorator. 

His commission began and despite his best efforts he was constantly shielded from the merest glimpse of the Lady; all he could hear was her voice.  Like a vibrant mountain stream it glided and trickled gently over moss-covered rocks.  He was captivated, entranced and bewitched. Returning home he mixed his colours and in broad passes he filled the canvas with wide and bold brush strokes, delicately feathering the colours to each other.  Gentle sunrise yellows snuggled up to soft pinks and curved around clouds of Magenta and Alizarine crimson; soft purple billows bled into humming-bird blue.  No-one had ever painted anything like it, but the decorator knew that he had captured her voice and her soul.

The Chamberlain was horrified when he saw the decorator’s work.  “This is appalling, the King asked for a portrait, not this mess of hideous colours”

“I am sorry, but it was the best I could do – besides, I think she is lovely.”

When the king saw the painting, he demanded to see the decorator. “What does this mean? I asked for a portrait, I can see no image here.”

“Sir, I am a humble decorator.  I never saw the Lady once – all I heard was her beautiful soft voice. And, your Majesty, that is what I painted.”

“It is quite incredible I must admit, such colours, such vibrancy. If she is any way as beautiful and as colourful as her voice here, I will marry her.   But this painting must be removed to my private chambers at once.  No-one else must see this. Ever. Now be gone quick before I change my mind.”

The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle (1969)

This is their second album, and for a long time their last. After an initial rush of success in 1964 with ‘She’s Not There’ – still a great song – their fortunes floundered.  Follow-up singles were never received so well and by 1966 Decca had dropped them.  Considered one last throw of the dice the band, featuring Rod Argent,keyboards and main songwriter and Colin Blunstone lead vocalist, managed to get a tentative contract with CBS, though they had to partly  self-finance the recording itself.  Again this attempt had mediocre reviews and poor sales and the band decided to call it a day, actually in late 1967 as they were getting no gigs and the album’s release seemed to take forever.  Al Kooper, a staff producer pushed the record and the singles, the third of which ‘Time Of The Season’, after initial poor sales slowly gained traction and eventually got to number 3 in America.  By now Rod was busy forming his next band Argent and Colin after a couple of years began a successful solo career.  In 2003 the original members reformed and have released a handful of albums.  This album has become a small cult, and is quite unique – almost baroque pop, excellent songs and a clear uncluttered production.  Best songs ‘A Rose For Emily’, ‘Beechwood Park’ and ‘This Will Be Our Year’.

So, that’s it.  Finished – but another marathon I won’t bore you with, as I am going to attempt to play every single CD from A to Z again.  Only done it twice so far and not sure how many years it will take…wish me luck.

Frank Zappa – Joe’s Garage (1979)

Of course, not his first but one of his later brilliant works and my particular favourite.  Frank was a musical genius, brilliant guitarist and composer and producer of over 60 albums featuring every style of both popular and modern classical and jazz music.  He sadly died of cancer at age 53.  Who knows where his talent would have taken him.  He was also very political, hating Evangelical Christianity and most Republicans.  He had a habit, or indulgence of including ‘humour’ of a quite outrageous nature into his music.  This album is a loose story of Joe, who falls foul of the laws that haven’t been written yet, including ‘Music’.  Bizarre and brilliant and hilarious by turns Frank was on top of his sometimes erratic form with this album.  Too hard to choose any favourites but the instrumental guitar track ‘Watermelon In Easter Hay’ is sublime and one of my favourite guitar tracks ever. 

Neil Young – Neil Young (1968)

Neil is Canadian but like many others he re-located to America, specifically L.A. in the mid 60s. He met up with Stephen Stills and formed a band, Buffalo Springfield, who had some local success.  But Neil has always been restless and rarely stays in either a band or a musical style for long; he calls it following his muse, but others say he is just difficult.  The band broke up after just three albums and Neil struck out on his own with this superb album.  Neil had recently met Elliot Roberts who was managing a young Joni Mitchell and he became Neil’s manager.  He also met David Briggs who he asked to produce the record; these two have been with Neil through all his changes and tours until their deaths.  Neil seems to either be constantly writing songs, or has no difficulty in coming up with new stuff – unlike others who struggle with writer’s block.  Neil has never stopped writing and recording, releasing over fifty studio albums as well as many live records, and quite a few with his occasional collaborators Crosby Stills and Nash and he returns every few years to collaborate with Crazy Horse who backed him on his second album.  Confused but amazed by his incredible output I had bought most of his albums but gave up earlier this century, overwhelmed by the sheer output.  This debut is quite brilliant and is very much in his signature style of country rock; best tracks are ‘The Loner’, ‘The Old Laughing Lady’ and ‘Last Trip To Tulsa’.

Stevie Wonder – Talking Book (1972)

I hadn’t paid much attention to Stevie Wonder in the Sixties; he was just another incredible Motown hit Artist.  I knew he was blind and sung great songs, but I was much too into what was happening in Britain than America at that time.  What I failed to realise was that Stevie was a musical genius, writing many of his own hits and playing several instruments.  It was only in 1972 with the release of this album that he really moved from ‘pop’ stardom to being considered a serious musician and one of the most influential artists of the time.  This was also his 15^th album, many of which had not been released or available in the UK until later.  But what an album; firstly the cover photo of a now grown up and no longer ‘little’ man seeming to reclaim his African heritage in clothes and hairstyle; but then the music.  From the first chords of ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’ you knew this was something special.  The use of early synthesisers and the Hohner Clavinet were a revelations, such a distinctive and different yet incredibly funky sound.  This album marked Wonder’s move into Classic Artist status and he has enjoyed a long and successful career ever since.  Best on this are ‘Maybe Your Baby’, ‘I Believe When I Fall In Love’ and best of all, one of my all-time favourite tracks ‘Superstition’

Woolly Wolstenholme – Maestoso (1980)

Stuart (Woolly) was a founder member of Barclay James Harvest; formed in 1967 the band were definitely ‘Prog’, combining classical music with rock instruments with great success, especially in Europe where their albums often topped the charts.  But gradually he became disenchanted with the direction the group were slipping into; more pop and even ‘disco’ oriented.  Besides although an excellent songwriter he was soon relegated to only one or two of his songs on each album.  He had always suffered with depression too and the constant pressures of touring and recording took their toll. In 1979 he left the band, which continued as a three-piece, although adding additional members for touring.  This album is by far his best and was almost followed by just one other, which he eventually abandoned.  He then retired from the music business until John Lees, guitarist with the now split band asked him to join him in 1998 for an album and a short tour.  But despite recording a couple of new albums which were okay, but not the finest quality he eventually succumbed to his depression and died at his own hand in 2010.  A misunderstood talent; but this album stands as his Masterpiece.  It is in essence a BJH album with some great songs – my favourites being ‘Patriots’, ‘American Excess’ and of course the title track.

Wings – Red Rose Speedway (1973)

I had bought Paul’s new venture, Wings, first album ‘Wild Life’ and was sorely disappointed.  As a huge Beatles fan and slowly building up my Fab official albums I was, maybe stupidly, attempting to buy everything any of the four produced (I gave up on Ringo a few years ago but have most of the others).  So, almost reluctantly I bought Wings second offering – at least the single ‘My Love’ seemed a return to form.  I had only bought the record the day that Joy and I got together.  She had that day bought Terry Reid’s ‘River’, and we spent the first evening playing these two albums alternately on my Garrard deck.  Well I learnt to love both albums, though again the critics were unkind to Paul’s new album (the acrimony between John and Paul was still reverberating in the Press who mostly favoured John at this time). There have been various re-issues including ‘B’ sides and other miscellaneous tracks – I prefer the original album.  Some of it is naïve, but there is an enthusiasm about the songs that is infectious, not quite up to Beatles standards but I particularly like ‘Little Lamb Dragonfly’ and the medley of ‘Hold Me Tight/Lazy Dynamite/Hands Of Love’.  Happy memories.

Mari Wilson – Showpeople (1983)

I was listening to another concert on Radio 2, a cold Sunday afternoon.  I had tuned in to hear a double concert – The Fabulos Poodles (a half comedy band of quirky characters and even quirkier songs) and a singer I hadn’t heard of – Mari Wilson.  Well she was incredible, a strong and clear voice with subtle intonation an early 60s beehive hairdo and vibe.  It was almost love at first listen.  She sung pure ‘pop’ songs with a crystal clear voice which was warm and a reminder (this was the Eighties) of how music used to sound.  In some ways this is timeless music, though it is anchored in the Sixties.  Mari had some success with the album and lead single ‘Just What I Always Wanted’ and it’s follow up ‘Cry Me A River’ but her career dried up.  She continued singing and touring but it was 9 years until she released a new album and then another 14 until a third.  It seems her moment had passed, though she currently tours those early songs to her old fans.  Best on this debut are the two singles but almost every song is a delight – especially ‘Wonderful’, ‘The End Of The Affair’ and ‘Doctor Love’.  Always brings a smile to my face hearing these songs again.

Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels On A Gravel Drive (1998)

Lucinda is a slow developer, her albums are often a few years apart, and though born in 1953 she was 26 before releasing her first album, a very traditional country blues album.  But it was only in 1998 at age 45 that she had her real breakthrough with this very accomplished record, her fifth in19 years.  I have always had a penchant for ‘girl singers’ and ‘Americana’ – that strange mix of the heartache and yearning of country music and the best of slower rock and blues, which I think is the best music to come out of that complicated country.  I have bought just two others of her albums, both excellent, but not taking me in quite the way ‘Car Wheels’ did.  Lucinda has suffered from Spina Bifida and recently had a stroke from which she has recovered – but she has a fierce determination and continues to write, record and occasionally perform.  Best on this great album are impossible to choose, but I do love the title song, ‘Greenville’ and the splendid ‘Lake Charles’.  There is something in her voice that tugs at the heartstrings and I love it. Maybe I will buy another of hers…

The Who – The Who Sell Out (1967)

The Who, originally called The Detours, and for a while The High Numbers were fully formed in 1964.  The broke into the charts and our consciousness in that year with a song, written like almost everything they would go on to record by guitarist Pete Townshend and sung by Roger Daltrey – “I Can’t Explain”.  Pete later said that he deliberately wrote a song that sounded like The Kinks to impress their American producer Shel Tamly who was also recording them.  Anyway, it was an instant hit and has continued to be part of the bands live show ever since.  This album is their third and the first I bought, though that might have been the cheap-priced sampler ‘Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy’.  Anyway, I think I was influenced by the cover which had members using outsized commercial products such as Heinz Beans and Odorono.  It was a concept album but also a parody of concept albums; as a series of songs and advertising jingles.  It somehow hangs together but the concept hardly matters as the songs are so good.  The thing about the Who is their incredible energy, which they managed to get onto their records.  The critics generally loved it, but the buying public may have been confused, and it only reached 13 in Britain.  Anyway, I have always liked it and in some ways prefer it to ‘Tommy’ which was far too grandiose for my taste.  Best on this rather different sounding Who are ‘Armenia, City In The Sky’, ‘Mary With The Shakey Hand’ and of course ‘I can See For Miles’.