Fear (John Cale album)
Encyclopedia
Fear is a 1974
album
by John Cale
. It was the first of three albums for Island Records
, all of which were released in a period of just over a year. During this time Cale was also producing records for other artists, working on albums such as Squeeze's eponymous debut and Horses
by Patti Smith
, one of the most influential of all protopunk
records.
In addition to his lead vocals on Fear
, Cale also played keyboards, guitars, viola, violin and bass, and was joined by Richard Thompson, Roxy Music
's Brian Eno
and Phil Manzanera
, and other artists signed to Island.
Keith Morris
was responsible for the photography.
"The Man Who Couldn't Afford To Orgy" was released as a single, with the non-album track "Sylvia Said" as the B-side. (The original single mix of "Sylvia Said" has never been reissued, since the "The Island Years" CD set uses a new remix.)
Executive Producers: Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno
Engineered and mixed by John Wood
1974 in music
-January–April:*January 3 – Bob Dylan and The Band kick off their 40-date concert tour at Chicago Stadium. It's Dylan's first time on the road since 1966.*January 17...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
. It was the first of three albums for Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, all of which were released in a period of just over a year. During this time Cale was also producing records for other artists, working on albums such as Squeeze's eponymous debut and Horses
Horses (album)
"Horses" is often cited as one of the greatest albums in music history. In 2003, the album was ranked number 44 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. NME named the album number 1 in its list "20 Near-as-Damn-It Perfect Initial Efforts"...
by Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
, one of the most influential of all protopunk
Protopunk
Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...
records.
In addition to his lead vocals on Fear
Fear
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
, Cale also played keyboards, guitars, viola, violin and bass, and was joined by Richard Thompson, Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
's Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
and Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
, and other artists signed to Island.
Keith Morris
Keith Morris (photographer)
Keith Morris was an English rock photographer. Morris was responsible for several iconic images of Marc Bolan. He photographed musical figures including Led Zeppelin, Van der Graaf Generator, Janis Joplin, Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, The Albion Band, B. B...
was responsible for the photography.
"The Man Who Couldn't Afford To Orgy" was released as a single, with the non-album track "Sylvia Said" as the B-side. (The original single mix of "Sylvia Said" has never been reissued, since the "The Island Years" CD set uses a new remix.)
Track listing
All tracks composed by John Cale- "Fear is a Man's Best Friend" (3:53)
- "Buffalo Ballet" (3:29)
- "Barracuda" (3:48)
- "Emily" (4:23)
- "Ship of FoolsShip of FoolsThe ship of fools is an allegory that has long been a fixture in Western literature and art. The allegory depicts a vessel populated by human inhabitants who are deranged, frivolous, or oblivious, passengers aboard a ship without a pilot, and seemingly ignorant of their own direction...
" (4:38) - "Gun" (8:05)
- "The Man Who Couldn't Afford to Orgy" (4:35)
- "You Know More Than I Know" (3:35)
- "Momamma Scuba" (4:24)
Personnel
- John CaleJohn CaleJohn Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
- bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, viola, vocals - Phil ManzaneraPhil ManzaneraPhil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
- guitar, slide guitar on "Momamma Scuba" - Fred Smith - drums
- EnoBrian EnoBrian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
- Eno - Archie Leggatt - bass
- Michael Desmarais - drums on "Momamma Scuba"and "Fear"
- Richard Thompson - slide guitar on "Momamma Scuba"
- Bryn HaworthBryn HaworthBryn Haworth is a British Christian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pioneer of Jesus music in mainstream rock. Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, he has released some twenty-two albums and several singles since the 1970s as well as guesting as guitarist on many other albums by rock and folk...
- slide guitar on "Momamma Scuba" - Brian Turrington - bass on "Momamma Scuba"
- Irene Chanter - background vocals
- Doreen ChanterDoreen ChanterDoreen Chanter is a British singer best known for her career as a member of the Chanter Sisters and for her work as a backing vocalist and session vocalist during the 1970s and 1980s.-Chanter Sisters:...
- background vocals - Liza Strike - background vocals, girl's choir
- Judy NylonJudy NylonJudy Nylon is an American artist who moved to London in 1970. She was half of the punk act called Snatch, which also featured Patti Palladin. Only those who lived in New York and London during the era that spanned glam rock, punk and no wave are likely to appreciate her importance, most of which...
- vocals on "The Man Who Couldn't Afford to Orgy"
Executive Producers: Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno
Engineered and mixed by John Wood
John Wood (music producer)
John Wood is an English sound engineer and producer, best known for his work with Fairport Convention, John Martyn, Cat Stevens, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, the Incredible String Band, Pink Floyd, Nico and Squeeze.-Career:...