Artistic License

The CD version is actually two CD’s, the main album and three additional songs on a CD single. This is Gavin Bell’s artwork for the main CD (it a little too subtle to be appreciated on a very small screen).

Unreliable Recollections from Jimmy McKenna (subject to amendment should better facts come to light)

For a while I had been considering the wide and sometimes confusing range to a potential audience of the songs that I came up with and, in a similar vein to why Peter Scott and myself had chosen the name DisGuise, I thought that is would be appropriate to adopt the name The Verious Artiste.

I became aware of Gavin Bell’s adventurous and melodic bass playing whilst he played with The Candy Ranch/The Ranch. When I was recording my song ‘Dreams of Violence’ (on the Super Songs Simply Sung album) Gavin was next door with The Ranch and I borrowed him for ten minutes and said have a go on this. Gavin played in a way that I would never have thought of which really propelled the song along.

Similarly I had noticed Jason Bell’s drumming with his group The End being exceptionally musical. He didn’t just play the beat or go mad with showy drum fills, he listened and played what was right to get the best out of the song.

It was c1994 and I had been recording mostly in a mostly solo capacity for a considerable time so I decided that I should try making some recordings again using the group approach. So Gavin and Jason were the first people I called and persuaded to have a go.

My clumsy guitar playing has always been the weak spot in my recordings so wherever possible I have always tried to involve a person who has control over their fingers. For the bunch of songs I had in mind I asked Neil Iceton to have a go. Similarly Mark Hand was a natural piano and keyboard player who in addition enjoyed soundscaping making noises which would help make a big sound.

So we had a couple of rehearsals and then recorded them.

All of the Waiters a return to my punk roots with another rant, as you do.

Adult Life a song I am proud of (almost like Van Der Graaf Generator!).

Up the Wall one of my favourite Peter Scott songs, it rocks.

Girl on Fire this was first recorded with Peter Scott as part of the 1981 Two Tape Recorder sessions, this is the big band version.

(You Give Me the) Blues Baby the end of a love affair and other assorted whinges.

Taking Stock when you realise that your life can go on without that person you thought that you needed.

Climbing up the Stairs a 1978 DisGuise song revisited.

Take it to the Wire a moody atmospheric dirge.

You Really Are another Peter Scott song from 1977, in which I mangle his lyrics with my own interpretation.

There Must be More to Life one of my soppy songs.

The King Must Die Mary Renault wrote the book of the same name which tells the story of Theseus who has to be a Bull Leaper in Crete (the legend of the Minotaur). Part of the story is about the ritual of choosing a King for a year at the end of which he is to be sacrificed.

Mystery Singer I had already made a 4 Track Portastudio version of this. The group made it a bit heavier and the song introduced me to the Saxophone of Bryn Collinson.

We attributed the album to The Verious Artistes – it seemed a good idea at the time!