I Am Kurious Oranj
Encyclopedia
I Am Kurious Oranj is a 1988 album by British rock band The Fall. The album was written as the soundtrack for the ballet "I am Curious, Orange", produced by contemporary dance group Michael Clark
& Company, and themed loosely around the 300th anniversary of William of Orange
's accession to the English throne. The album is also notable for its reworking of William Blake
's lyrics for the hymn "Jerusalem
" by Fall front man Mark E. Smith
. The album's title is derived from Swedish director Vilgot Sjöman
's films I Am Curious (Yellow)
(1967) and I Am Curious (Blue)
(1968). The title appears as I Am Kurious, Oranj on some parts of the packaging formats.
The release of I Am Kurious Oranj came at end of a relatively successful year for the group, which had also seen the release of an "accessible" album, The Frenz Experiment
, and a handful of singles in the UK singles chart. Kurious Oranj was critically well received at the time, as were the few performances of the ballet production. A later review of the album by Ted Mills of Allmusic, however, is more indifferent, but, bereft of a detailed supporting argument, it only suggests that, "For the first time tracks felt like filler, and indeed they were."
A live version of this album recorded during at one of the Edinburgh Festival
performances of the ballet was belatedly issued in 2000, under the title I Am As Pure As Oranj. This is now out of print.
by The Fall, I Am Kurious Oranj featured a different track listing across the various formats on which it was originally released.
fronted by Stewart Lee and Richard Herring had a regular sketch involving a character called The Curious Orange, played by Paul Putner
in a large, orange mask. He was a sentient and quizzical citrus fruit, who, as the show progressed, developed a darker, somewhat sinister undertone. The track "Kurious Oranj" was played at the beginning of his slot, and has been credited as partial inspiration for the character. Stewart Lee is known to be a fan of the group and appeared in a 2005 BBC Four documentary about them.
The album also gives name to the British record label Curious Orange Records.
Michael Clark (dancer)
Michael Clark is a Scottish dancer and choreographer.-Early life:Michael Clark was born in Aberdeen and began traditional Scottish dancing at the age of four. In 1975 he left home to study at the Royal Ballet School in London, and on his final day at the school he was presented with the Ursula...
& Company, and themed loosely around the 300th anniversary of William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
's accession to the English throne. The album is also notable for its reworking of William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
's lyrics for the hymn "Jerusalem
And did those feet in ancient time
"And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, one of a collection of writings known as the Prophetic Books. The date on the title page of 1804 for Milton is probably when the plates were begun, but the poem was printed c. 1808...
" by Fall front man Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
. The album's title is derived from Swedish director Vilgot Sjöman
Vilgot Sjöman
David Harald Vilgot Sjöman was a Swedish writer and film director. His films deal with controversial issues of social class, morality, and sexual taboos, combining the emotionally-tortured characters of Ingmar Bergman with the avant garde style of the French New Wave...
's films I Am Curious (Yellow)
I Am Curious (Yellow)
I Am Curious is a 1967 Swedish drama film written and directed by Vilgot Sjöman and starring Sjöman and Lena Nyman. It is a companion film to 1968's I Am Curious ; the two were initially intended to be one 3½ hour film...
(1967) and I Am Curious (Blue)
I Am Curious (Blue)
I Am Curious is a 1968 Swedish film directed by Vilgot Sjöman and starring Lena Nyman as a character named after herself. It is a companion film to 1967's I Am Curious ; the two were initially intended to be one 3½ hour film...
(1968). The title appears as I Am Kurious, Oranj on some parts of the packaging formats.
The release of I Am Kurious Oranj came at end of a relatively successful year for the group, which had also seen the release of an "accessible" album, The Frenz Experiment
The Frenz Experiment
The Frenz Experiment is a 1988 album by The Fall. It was released on Beggars Banquet Records, and like the group's other albums with the label, it has a different track listing across the various formats on which it was released: LP, CD and cassette. A number of the tracks are credited exclusively...
, and a handful of singles in the UK singles chart. Kurious Oranj was critically well received at the time, as were the few performances of the ballet production. A later review of the album by Ted Mills of Allmusic, however, is more indifferent, but, bereft of a detailed supporting argument, it only suggests that, "For the first time tracks felt like filler, and indeed they were."
A live version of this album recorded during at one of the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
performances of the ballet was belatedly issued in 2000, under the title I Am As Pure As Oranj. This is now out of print.
Track listing
In common with other albums released through Beggars Banquet RecordsBeggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
by The Fall, I Am Kurious Oranj featured a different track listing across the various formats on which it was originally released.
Vinyl record
- "New Big Prinz" (Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
, Craig ScanlonCraig ScanlonCraig Scanlon is a British guitarist, best known as a member of The Fall between 1979 and 1995. During this period he co-wrote over 120 of the group's songs; Mark E. Smith excepted, this tally is unmatched by any other musician to have passed through the group.-Career:Scanlon joined the band...
, Steve HanleySteve Hanley (musician)Steve Hanley is an Irish-born English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing bass guitar in The Fall from 1979 to 1998, and afterwards in The Lovers....
, Marcia Schofield) – 3:25 - "Overture from I Am Curious Orange" (Brix SmithBrix SmithBrix Smith-Start is an American singer, guitarist and television presenter, best known for being a member of post-punk band The Fall, and as lead singer and songwriter with The Adult Net.-Biography:Brix grew up in Los Angeles and Chicago...
) – 2:49 - "Dog Is Life" / "JerusalemAnd did those feet in ancient time"And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, one of a collection of writings known as the Prophetic Books. The date on the title page of 1804 for Milton is probably when the plates were begun, but the poem was printed c. 1808...
" (M. E. Smith/M. E. Smith, William BlakeWilliam BlakeWilliam Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
) – 7:24 - "Kurious Oranj" (M. E. Smith, Hanley, Simon WolstencroftSimon WolstencroftSimon Wolstencroft is a musician from Manchester, England, best known for playing drums with The Fall between June 1986 and August 1997.Wolstencroft was a member of an early incarnation of The Stone Roses; having previously been a member of The Weeds and The Colourfield. He was also drummer for...
) – 6:21 - "Wrong Place, Right Time" (M. E. Smith) – 2:54
- "C.D. Win Fall 2080 AD" (M. E. Smith) – 2:45
- "Yes O Yes" (M. E. Smith, B. Smith) – 3:34
- "Van Plague?" (M. E. Smith, Scanlon) – 4:56
- "Bad News Girl" (M. E. Smith, B. Smith) – 5:22
- "Cab It Up!" (M. E. Smith) – 4:54
- "Last Nacht" (excerpt) (M. E. Smith, Simon Rogers) – 1:04
CD version
- "New Big Prinz" (Mark E. Smith, Craig Scanlon, Steve Hanley, Marcia Schofield) – 3:26
- "Overture from I Am Curious, Orange" (Brix Smith) – 2:48
- "Dog Is Life" / "Jerusalem" (alternative version) (M. E. Smith/M. E. Smith, William Blake) – 8:54
- "Kurious Oranj" (M. E. Smith, Hanley, Simon Wolstencroft) – 6:20
- "Wrong Place, Right Time" (alternative version) (M. E. Smith) – 2:52
- "Guide Me Soft" (M. E. Smith) – 2:15
- "Win Fall CD 2088 AD" (alternative version) (M. E. Smith) – 4:41
- "Yes O Yes" (alternative version) (M. E. Smith, B. Smith) – 3:25
- "Van Plague?" (M. E. Smith, Scanlon) – 4:56
- "Bad News Girl" (M. E. Smith, B. Smith) – 5:22
- "Cab It Up!" (M. E. Smith) – 4:54
- "Last Nacht" (M. E. Smith, Simon Rogers) – 3:56
- "Big New Priest" – 3:08
Cassette version
- "New Big Prinz" (Mark E. Smith, Craig Scanlon, Steve Hanley, Marcia Schofield) – 3:25
- "Overture from ‘I Am Curious, Orange’" (Brix Smith) – 2:49
- "Dog Is Life" / "Jerusalem" (M. E. Smith/M. E. Smith, William Blake) – 8:54
- "Kurious Oranj" (M. E. Smith, Hanley, Simon Wolstencroft) – 6:21
- "Wrong Place, Right Time" (M. E. Smith) – 2:54
- "Guide Me Soft" (M. E. Smith) – 2:15
- "Win Fall CD 2088AD" (M. E. Smith) – 2:45 · in some cases "C.D. Win Fall 2088 AD"
- "Yes, O Yes" (M. E. Smith, B. Smith) – 3:34
- "Van Plague?" (M. E. Smith, Scanlon) – 4:56
- "Bad News Girl" (M. E. Smith, B. Smith) – 5:22
- "Cab It Up!" (M. E. Smith) – 4:54
- "Last Nacht" (M. E. Smith, Simon Rogers) – 3:56
- "Big New Priest" (M. E. Smith, Scanlon, Hanley, Schofield) – 3:08
- "Last Nacht" is an alternate mix of "Bremen Nacht" from The Frenz ExperimentThe Frenz ExperimentThe Frenz Experiment is a 1988 album by The Fall. It was released on Beggars Banquet Records, and like the group's other albums with the label, it has a different track listing across the various formats on which it was released: LP, CD and cassette. A number of the tracks are credited exclusively...
.
Personnel
- Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
– vocals - Craig ScanlonCraig ScanlonCraig Scanlon is a British guitarist, best known as a member of The Fall between 1979 and 1995. During this period he co-wrote over 120 of the group's songs; Mark E. Smith excepted, this tally is unmatched by any other musician to have passed through the group.-Career:Scanlon joined the band...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Brix E. Smith – guitar, vocals, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
- Steve HanleySteve Hanley (musician)Steve Hanley is an Irish-born English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing bass guitar in The Fall from 1979 to 1998, and afterwards in The Lovers....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Simon WolstencroftSimon WolstencroftSimon Wolstencroft is a musician from Manchester, England, best known for playing drums with The Fall between June 1986 and August 1997.Wolstencroft was a member of an early incarnation of The Stone Roses; having previously been a member of The Weeds and The Colourfield. He was also drummer for...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Marcia Schofield – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, cowbell
In popular culture
The late-nineties British comedy series This Morning with Richard Not JudyThis Morning With Richard Not Judy
This Morning With Richard Not Judy or TMWRNJ was a BBC comedy television programme, written by and starring Lee and Herring. Two series were broadcast in 1998 and 1999 on BBC2...
fronted by Stewart Lee and Richard Herring had a regular sketch involving a character called The Curious Orange, played by Paul Putner
Paul Putner
-Life and career:He was born in East Grinstead. He studied at LAMDA where he won, amongst other prizes, the Kenneth More prize for comedy acting.His first significant TV role saw Putner as numerous characters in The Glam Metal Detectives shown on BBC2. His real break in comedy came after he set up...
in a large, orange mask. He was a sentient and quizzical citrus fruit, who, as the show progressed, developed a darker, somewhat sinister undertone. The track "Kurious Oranj" was played at the beginning of his slot, and has been credited as partial inspiration for the character. Stewart Lee is known to be a fan of the group and appeared in a 2005 BBC Four documentary about them.
The album also gives name to the British record label Curious Orange Records.