John Cale

[DAngerer09]

So, I just discovered John Cale. Just got done listening to his debut album from 1970, "Vintage Violence," and I really loved it.

 

Anyone else here into his stuff? Which album should I listen to next?

[Synthesizer Patel]

paris 1919 - it's pretty much perfect. i'd also suggest getting fear, slow dazzle and helen of troy - which you can pick up on a double cd called 'john cale the island years' which also has some non-album tracks too. that is a great package, but get paris 1919 first. there are some other albums of his that i like, but those ones are on a different plain to the rest.

[PopTodd]

paris 1919 - it's pretty much perfect. i'd also suggest getting fear, slow dazzle and helen of troy - which you can pick up on a double cd called 'john cale the island years' which also has some non-album tracks too. that is a great package, but get paris 1919 first. there are some other albums of his that i like, but those ones are on a different plain to the rest.

 

Almost my exact reply, word-for-word.

 

Also the Cale/Eno collaboration Wrong Way Up is outstanding, as well.

[rsjbraz]

Boy have you got a great catalogue to work through, v jealous.

I actually think Vintage Violence is one of his weakest but as the others said,go with Paris 1919 next and then the 2CD Island years.

After that hunt down Music For A New Society which has been out of print for years but is his emotional tour de force, dark and utterly beautiful.

The live album Sabotage recorded in late 70s has a collection of wonderful raw tunes that were never recorded in the studio.

The other two early 80s albums Honi Soist & Carrabean Sunset have some great rockers too.

His last couple of albums , Black Acetate & Hobosapiens, have been prett great too seeing him expore a more electronic style.

Finally the wonderful live solo album Fragments Of A Rainy Season which is a great summation of his live repetoire in the early 90s.

[WaronWar]

I would say get Paris 1919 and then Fear.

[Analogman]

 

His secret centered around his participation in an 18 hour 40 minute piano performance, the first full length presentation of Erik Satie's "Vexations" held at the Pocket Theater. (Not mentioned, pianists John Cage, David Tudor, Christian Wolff, Philip Corner, Viola Farber, Robert Wood, MacRae Cook, David Del Tredici, James Tenney, Howard Klein (the New York Times reviewer), Joshua Rifkin, with two reserves, and with Cale all took turns playing the piece that is three lines long, the required 840 times on September 9, 1963, from 6 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. the following day. John Cage was the fifth of the many pianists who followed after John Cale who was, of course, the fourth. More importantly, Cage arranged for the entire performance having been introduced to this music while in Paris in 1949. A sheet of the piece was lent to him by Henri Sauguet, and Cage kept a photostat of it with him then, finally performing it 14 years later. I read of this in David Revill's book "The Roaring Silence.") Seated also on the I've Got a Secret stage was Off Broadway actor, Karl Schenzer, who's secret was that he was the only person to stay for the entire piano concert.

 

I've been waiting for a thread to post this in -

[LouieB]

Very cool....

 

LouieB

[mpolak21]

Paris 1919 is one of my favorite records. Wrong Way Up is a good way to go, Eno and John Cale does it get any better than that. I also love Cale's work on Nico's Chelsea Girl.

 

--Mike

[noyes]

I would say get Paris 1919 and then Fear.

 

what he said.

Fear is my favorite of his and the first I ever heard.

the semi-title track opener is amazing. as is "The Man Who Couldn't Afford to Orgy" etc.

practically every one of his 70's records are worth listening to though.

i love his cover of Jonathan Richman's Pablo Picasso.

so driving, so powerful, especially the ending.

all great stuff.

 

awesome video, btw.

i've yet to search "John Cale" on youtube.

[DAngerer09]

Thanks for all the opinions and advice guys. I'll start hunting these albums down.