Customer Reviews

Tom Verlaine

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a Verlaine fan for over twenty years, even putting down the cash for the original CD version of this, his terrific solo debut. (Yes, it was indeed released previously on CD as a German import, with lyrics hilariously mis-transcribed in the liner notes by "Stanley"). When I read that the Collector's Choice version had the ORIGINAL mix, which I'd read about as a bootleg, I immediately bought it online for that very reason.

Comparing the two mixes shows that Bob Clearmountain, called in to clean things up back in '79, beefed up the bottom and smoothed the edges. The "new" alternate mix is hard to listen to uncritically at first; it initially sounds rawer, particularly the vocals. But the details are fascinating, and keep pulling me back for more -- so much so that I now prefer some of the alternate. Catch Verlaine's own revelatory mix of "Breakin' in My Heart," for instance. Clearmountain's mix, though a tremendous song, doesn't prepare you for the amazing sonic cross-currents Verlaine was able to put down in the studio. The actual SOUND seems three-dimensional. His guitar is edgier, with more bite, the harmonics are more complex. Jay Dee Daugherty's drumming is like thunder come down to earth (ditto Allen Schwartzberg on "Kingdom Come" -- Verlaine says in the liner notes that he had "never played with a drummer so powerful and loud." I've always loved that way the cymbal figure at the beginning folds into the song).

Not every difference is worthwhile; "Red Leaves," for instance, sounds washed out. But considering how important Verlaine's sound -- not just his playing -- has been for thousands of musicians and fans, it's a wonderful treat to hear the alternative.

**LATER NOTE: THIS MIX IS NO LONGER ON THIS CD -- STILL A GREAT DISC, THOUGH**

Tom Verlaine's debut is still his finest solo effort. While sonically and musically it could easily be the follow-up to ADVENTURE (Fred Smith is even on board again), filled with anthemic choruses and tight, fluid solos, the slightly more personal (but still enjoyably obtuse) lyrical content is probably unique in Verlaine's canon. In particular, "Souvenir From a Dream", "Kingdom Come", and "Last Night" might be the three best songs, in a pure songwriting sense, in Verlaine's songbook.

Note, however, that the initial Collector's Choice 2002 reissue used the *wrong master* and consequently features an early, rejected, alternate mix of the entire LP. Collector's Choice subsequently replaced this master with the correct, "final" master, and this is still the best one to hear.

To correct another poster: "Kingdom Come" is *not* the same song Television used to play. It has no relation to that epic Television song of the same name. (But it *is* the same song David Bowie covered on SCARY MONSTERS in 1980). However, a number of other songs on this LP are Television leftovers: "Breakin' My Heart" dates from 1975, "Grip Of Love" from 1976, and the lyrics of "Red Leaves" are derived from both "Adventure" and the original "Kingdom Come".

If you're reading this review, you're probably a fan of Tom Verlaine and Television and need no convincing about the quality of these songs. It's still great stuff, even to this day (not as dated as some might say).

However, a tiny word of warning - for some reason, this version released by Collector's Choice is not quite the same as the original LP, or at least not to these ears. My previous experience with this hard-to-find LP was via MP3s that I got from, er, another source. They were ripped from the original vinyl, with all the pops and hisses intact.

There's nothing drastically wrong with this version, but if you're expecting an exact duplicate of your old LP, you may be surprised with alternate versions of "Breakin' In My Heart" and other tracks. But depending on how you look at it, this could be a collector's item in the future. So don't throw away your vinyl!

This CD also has a few liner notes written by Tom about the making of the album that are pretty informative.

All in all, great songs, and the remastering job is pretty good for an album recorded on a budget in the late 1970s. Here's hoping Tom's other albums are next on the Collector's Choice release schedule.

Being that Tom Verlaine is one of the most talented and unique musicians that I know of, it is hard to imagine why his solo material is almost never mentioned anywhere, aside from diehard Television fans. Both Television and Tom Verlaine's solo work has long been critically acclaimed, but why don't more people know about it? Utterly perplexing though it is, the reader of this article appears to have luckily stumbled upon it!

Tom Verlaine's self-titled debut album appears to be a more personal reflection than in Television. Being that nothing could probably ever top the epic "Marquee Moon", Tom Verlaine successfully distanced himself from that album in his solo work. His lyrics are perhaps more poetic, his singing voice is better defined, and the instrumentation is fairly minimal, unlike the complex and layered approach of his former band. Television bassist Fred Smith appears throughout the album, as well as The B-52's Ricky Wilson on guitar for the last track. All the tracks are well-thought-out and enjoyable to listen to (though my most favorite is probably "Souvenir from a Dream").

Anyone who likes Television should buy Tom Verlaine's solo material; this album and any of the others!

Tom Verlaine will always have Television' s great MARQUEE MOON shining over his shoulder as an unapproachable yardstick to measure against his work. It's a little unfair, because it has taken away from Television's solid follow up album ADVENTURE and caused many of his fine solo albums to fall under the shadow of his 1977 classic. I guess you need to ask, how many works by other artists do measure up to MARQUEE MOON before getting too down on an excellent album such as this?

Veraline is obviously trying to define some new directions on this, his solo debut. Sometimes he suceeds with breathtaking material, and other times he is not as successful. Still any album that contains first rate material like the poetic, guitar workout BREAKING MY HEART, THE GRIP OF LOVE and KINGDOM COME (later covered by David Bowie) can't be less than top shelf. This edition issued by Collectors Choice includes some enlightening liner note by Verlaine detailing the sessions and some of the ideas that went into this recording. All in all it's a very strong set by one of musics great gutarists and one of it's underrated singer-songwriters.

Excellent guitar work. A solid album that never got the good reviews, press and playtime it deserves. If you like Television, and/or some good old fashioned guitar rifts then give this a try. - Flash Lightning, Grip of Love and Kingdom Comes - standout. Well worth it.

The good news is that "Souvenier From A Dream" is musical perfection. Must be heard. "Grip Of Love" is very strong also. "Red Leaves" is okay.

The bad news is all the rest of this. "Breakin' In My Heart" is all foreplay with no follow-up; I'll bet it would have sounded better if played by Television. Verlaine really hit his limitations on this record if you ask me.

I have a copy of the Collector's Choice CD with a release date of 2002 on the back cover. However it sounds pretty much the same as my earlier Japanese CD release, only louder. Are the corrected issues marked 2002 or marked with a later date?
Please answer as this will help me to know if I should order another copy.