The Kershaw Sessions

Artist: Robyn Hitchcock
Label: Strange Fruit UK
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 605563007826
EAN: 0605563007826
ASIN: B000007U57

Release Date: 1999-06-28

The Kershaw Sessions

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Tracks:

Brenda's Iron Sledge
Veins of the Queen
Lady Waters and the Hooded One
So You Think You're in Love
Bass
Sleeping With Your Devil Mask
Open the Door, Homer
Fifty Two Stations
Birds in Perspex
If You Were a Priest
Acid Bird
Arms of Love
Superman
Tropical Flesh Mandala
Oceanside
Madonna of the Wasps
Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
Listening to the Higsons
Heaven

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Customer Reviews:

A must for fans.......2002-05-29

The bottom line: If you enjoy Robyn Hitchcock, you're going to want this CD. You should buy it; you will not regret it. The material here, with two exceptions, is not new--it's reinterpreted. These sessions are sparser, leaner, even less polished. It works. Most of these versions are just different enough to be compelling. ("52 Stations" is a good example.) The new tunes are "Open the Door, Homer," a cover of a Bob Dylan song (very good), and "Banana Boat Song," ("Dayo"), which is just silly. The sound quality and production are good. My only complaint is the song selection. It's a shame Robyn chose to cover the mediocre "Lady Waters and the Hooded One" instead of, say, "Strawberry Mind." In fact, it seems to me that "Fegmania!" is slighted in this collection, which is unfortunate.

If you're curious about Robyn Hitchcock, skip this and pick up "Greatest Hits" (a bit of a misnomer as there are no hits on it!) If you are already a fan, especially a hard-core fan, don't hesitate. Order this today. You won't regret it.

Great for fans, okay for beginners.......2001-12-14

Not a place to start, but fans will want the acoustic band versions, which comprises a little less than half the album. Some of the others sound very much like the album versions. The 2 "new" songs are fun but nothing to die for.

Re-recordings with a reason for being.......2000-06-07

If you already know Hitchcock's work, you may be looking over _The Kershaw Sessions_ track listing and asking yourself whether to buy an album to get two new songs. Be reassured - the songs may be familiar, but the performances won't be.

Many fans felt that Hitchcock's recordings for A&M records were overproduced, so when he promised that _Respect_ would be the band playing around the kitchen table, hopes were high. Alas! _Respect_ was the worst of the lot, buried in studio glop.

_The Kershaw Sessions_ is closer to _Respect_'s intent. About half the songs here are from Hitchcock's A&M period, and nearly every one is an improvement on the official release. Except for the bookend tracks (inexplicably borrowed from Hitchcock's live _Gotta Let This Hen Out!_) the songs are fresh and clear, spontaneous without being sloppy - even "Superman" has all its tricky rhythms in place. It's especially satisfying to hear "Madonna of the Wasps" with the hypnotic intro restored.

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