Nigel Lived
Nigel Lived is the first album by the British vocalist and actor Murray Head, released in 1973 on CBS Records.
Nigel Lived | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1973 | |||
Recorded | 25 June – 30 July 1972 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Label | CBS | |||
Producer | Joseph Wissert | |||
Murray Head chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | link |
It is a concept album which tells the story of Nigel, a young singer who arrives in London seeking a career in the music business. His early optimism gives way to disillusionment, struggle, and finally heroin addiction. The original vinyl release came in an elaborate package, with a lyric sheet featuring pages from Nigel's diary to depict the course of his gradual disintegration.
In 2017 Intervention Records reissued Nigel Lived on 180-gram double 45RPM vinyl. The reissue was 100% analog mastered using the original master tapes provided to the label by the original sound engineer on the project, Phill Brown. The album quickly became Intervention’s best selling reissue ever[1] and resulted in Murray Head’s decision to perform songs from the album live for the first time ever.
Track listing
Side One (labelled "Success"):
- "Pacing On the Station" – 4:55
- "Big City" – 3:29
- "Bed & Breakfast" – 2:28
- "The Party" – 3:13
- "Ruthie" – 3:19
- "City Scurry" – 1:58
- "When You Wake Up in the Morning" – 3:10
Side Two ("Failure"):
- "Why Do We Have to Hurt Our Heads" – 3:13
- "Pity the Poor Consumer" – 2:29
- "Dole" – 3:05
- "Nigel, Nigel" – 2:11
- "Miss Illusion" – 2:18
- "Religion" – 4:46
- "Junk" – 8:49
Background
This album followed Head's appearance as Judas, a leading role on the recording of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, and his subsequent 1971 single "Superstar".
His supporting musicians include the Giles brothers of Giles, Giles and Fripp, a group which evolved into King Crimson.
Personnel
- Murray Head – vocals; acoustic guitar on "Ruthie"
- Mark Warner – acoustic guitar on tracks 1,3-5,10,12-14, electric guitar on tracks 2,6,7,9,14, slide guitar on tracks 3,6,7
- Dave Wintour – bass guitar on tracks 5,7,9,11
- Peter Giles – bass guitar on "Junk"
- Phil Chen – bass guitar on "The Party" and "Religion"
- Clive Chaman – bass guitar on tracks 1,2,6,8
- Spike Heatley – double bass on "Bed & Breakfast" and "Dole"
- Peter Robinson – electric Clavinet on "The Party", electric piano on "Big City", church organ on "Pity the Poor Consumer", piano on tracks 1,2,8,14
- Fiachra Trench – conductor, pipe organ on "Miss Illusion", piano on "Dole"
- John Donnelly – flugelhorn on "Bed & Breakfast", trumpet on "City Scurry"
- Nick DeCaro – accordion on "Miss Illusion"; string and horn arrangements
- James Harpham – contrabass on "Bed & Breakfast"
- Tony Coe – clarinet on "Bed & Breakfast" and "When Do You Wake Up in the Morning", saxophone on tracks 1,6,14
- Jimmy Chester – baritone saxophone on "Bed & Breakfast", saxophone on tracks 1,6,14
- Jimmy Hastings – saxophone on "Pacing On the Station" and "Junk"
- Tommy Whittle – saxophone on "Pacing On the Station" and "Junk"
- Chris Mercer – baritone saxophone on "Dole", electric saxophone on "Bed & Breakfast", plastic saxophone on "The Party", tenor saxophone on "Big City"
- Henry Lowther – trumpet on "City Scurry"
- David Chapman – trombone on "Nigel, Nigel"
- Dave Charman - trombone on "Bed & Breakfast" and "City Scurry"
- Martin Fry – tuba on "Religion"
- Ralph Ho – horn
- Michael Giles – drums on tracks 7,9,11,14, percussion on "Ruthie"
- Cozy Powell – drums on tracks 1,2,6,8
- Miguel Baradas – steel drums on "Religion"
- Ray Cooper – percussion on "Bed & Breakfast" and "Miss Illusion"
- Frank Ricotti – congas on "The Party", bass marimba on "Miss Illusion"
- Barry De Souza – congas on "Big City" and "The Party", drums on "Religion"
- Glen LeFleur – drums on "The Party"
- Chris Karan – tabla on "Religion"
- Sue Glover – vocals
- Sunny Leslie – vocals
- Friendly Sisters – backing vocals
- Kay Garner – backing vocals on tracks 1,2,12
- Sue Garner – backing vocals
- Skaila Kanga – electric harp on "Religion"
- Chris Neil – harmonica on "Pacing On the Station"
- Graham Preskett – mandolin on "Miss Illusion", electric violin on "Why Do You Have to Hurt Our Heads"
- Michael Rennie – strings, violin
- Jack Rothstein – violin strings on tracks 5,7,11
- Timothy Bond - choirmaster on "Religion"
- Technical
- Phill Brown - chief engineer
References
- Nigel Lived at Allmusic.
- "Intervention Records' Nigel Lived First Pressing Run SOLD OUT! – Intervention Records". www.interventionrecords.com. Retrieved 6 March 2018.