Saint Julian (album)
Encyclopedia
Saint Julian is the third solo album by Julian Cope
. It has a very strong pop
sound, compared to other Cope releases, and spawned several of his best known tracks (including "World Shut Your Mouth" and "Trampolene", which were both hit singles).
To record and tour the album, Cope put together a new backing group (informally known as the "Two-Car Garage Band"). This featured lead guitarist Donald Ross Skinner
and former Waterboys
drummer Chris Whitten (both of whom had played on Cope’s previous and ill-fated album Fried
), plus bass player James Eller (who’d played alongside Cope on the second Teardrop Explodes album, Wilder
) and Cope himself on vocals and rhythm guitar. For the album, Cope also played keyboards under the alias of "Double DeHarrison", although Richard Frost joined the band to play keyboards for live appearances. Cope also used the DeHarrison pseudonym for the "Oregon guitar" playing on "A Crack in the Clouds" and would go on to use it again on subsequent solo albums.
Several songs on the album originated from much earlier than the others. "Screaming Secrets" had been a Teardrop Explodes song which never made it to album, while "Spacehopper" may date back to late 1970s writing sessions with Ian McCulloch (although only Cope was credited as songwriter).
The album’s new songs abandoned the collapsing psychedelic styles of Fried
in favour of a crisp, punchier and more structured sound, drawing partially on Cope’s professed love for Detroit heavy rock acts such as early Alice Cooper
. Early sessions were supervised by Ramones producer Ed Stasium
and delivered the song "World Shut Your Mouth" (which became Cope’s biggest solo hit, reaching #19 in the UK in 1986), "Pulsar" and "Spacehopper". The remaining album sessions were produced by Warne Livesey. The parent album was well-received and generated two more singles ("Trampolene" and "Eve’s Volcano") but the fresh momentum did not last. Cope fell out with Callomon, and the Two-Car Garage band disintegrated as James Eller joined The The
and Chris Whitten left for Paul McCartney
’s band.
Cope played a red Gibson ES-335 12-string guitar strung with 9 strings (a single course of E, A and D strings, with the G, B and high E strings doubled) to get a fuller sound. The distinctive electronic peal which punctuates "World Shut Your Mouth" is the start-up tone of Cope’s main keyboard
Cope has subsequently described Saint Julian as not being one of his favourite albums, although he acknowledges that "it has its moments."
Some sources say that future Marillion
singer Steve Hogarth
sang backing vocals on the album, although he is uncredited on the inlay.
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
. It has a very strong pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
sound, compared to other Cope releases, and spawned several of his best known tracks (including "World Shut Your Mouth" and "Trampolene", which were both hit singles).
Background
Saint Julian was the first album recorded under a new Cope deal with Island Records, following two poorly-selling albums on the Mercury/Polygram label. Encouraged by his new manager Cally Callomon, Cope cleaned up and changed his image: cutting his hair, wearing rocker’s leathers and embracing a "Rock God" perspective (as well as investing in a bizarre climbable microphone stand (with integral steps).To record and tour the album, Cope put together a new backing group (informally known as the "Two-Car Garage Band"). This featured lead guitarist Donald Ross Skinner
Donald Ross Skinner
Donald Skinner is a guitarist, songwriter and producer born in Edinburgh, UK primarily known for his work with Julian Cope. Skinner is commonly known by the name Donald Ross Skinner with the addition of the middle name of Ross attributed to him by Cope after Glenn Ross Campbell, the pedal steel...
and former Waterboys
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
drummer Chris Whitten (both of whom had played on Cope’s previous and ill-fated album Fried
Fried (album)
Fried is the second solo album by Julian Cope.-Background:Fried was released just six months after Cope’s debut solo album, 1984’s World Shut Your Mouth Cope retained guitarist Steve Lovell Fried is the second solo album by Julian Cope.-Background:Fried was released just six months after Cope’s...
), plus bass player James Eller (who’d played alongside Cope on the second Teardrop Explodes album, Wilder
Wilder (album)
Wilder is the second album by neo-psychedelic Liverpool band The Teardrop Explodes, and the final completed album released by the group....
) and Cope himself on vocals and rhythm guitar. For the album, Cope also played keyboards under the alias of "Double DeHarrison", although Richard Frost joined the band to play keyboards for live appearances. Cope also used the DeHarrison pseudonym for the "Oregon guitar" playing on "A Crack in the Clouds" and would go on to use it again on subsequent solo albums.
Several songs on the album originated from much earlier than the others. "Screaming Secrets" had been a Teardrop Explodes song which never made it to album, while "Spacehopper" may date back to late 1970s writing sessions with Ian McCulloch (although only Cope was credited as songwriter).
The album’s new songs abandoned the collapsing psychedelic styles of Fried
Fried (album)
Fried is the second solo album by Julian Cope.-Background:Fried was released just six months after Cope’s debut solo album, 1984’s World Shut Your Mouth Cope retained guitarist Steve Lovell Fried is the second solo album by Julian Cope.-Background:Fried was released just six months after Cope’s...
in favour of a crisp, punchier and more structured sound, drawing partially on Cope’s professed love for Detroit heavy rock acts such as early Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
. Early sessions were supervised by Ramones producer Ed Stasium
Ed Stasium
Ed Stasium is an American record producer and engineer who has worked on albums by The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Smithereens and Living Colour.- History :Stasium first surfaced in 1970 fronting the band Brandywine, appearing on their sole LP Aged....
and delivered the song "World Shut Your Mouth" (which became Cope’s biggest solo hit, reaching #19 in the UK in 1986), "Pulsar" and "Spacehopper". The remaining album sessions were produced by Warne Livesey. The parent album was well-received and generated two more singles ("Trampolene" and "Eve’s Volcano") but the fresh momentum did not last. Cope fell out with Callomon, and the Two-Car Garage band disintegrated as James Eller joined The The
The The
The The are an English musical and multimedia group that have been active in various forms since 1979, with singer/songwriter Matt Johnson being the only constant band member.-Early years :...
and Chris Whitten left for Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
’s band.
Cope played a red Gibson ES-335 12-string guitar strung with 9 strings (a single course of E, A and D strings, with the G, B and high E strings doubled) to get a fuller sound. The distinctive electronic peal which punctuates "World Shut Your Mouth" is the start-up tone of Cope’s main keyboard
Cope has subsequently described Saint Julian as not being one of his favourite albums, although he acknowledges that "it has its moments."
Track listing
All tracks composed by Julian Cope- "Trampolene"
- "Shot Down"
- "Eve's Volcano"
- "Spacehopper"
- "Planet Ride"
- "World Shut Your Mouth"
- "Saint Julian"
- "Pulsar"
- "Screaming Secrets"
- "A Crack in the Clouds"
Personnel
- Julian Cope - vocals, 9-string rhythm guitar; (also performs pseudonymously as "Double DeHarrison" playing organ, Hohner ClavinetClavinetA Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
and 'Oregon' guitar on "A Crack in the Clouds") - Donald Ross SkinnerDonald Ross SkinnerDonald Skinner is a guitarist, songwriter and producer born in Edinburgh, UK primarily known for his work with Julian Cope. Skinner is commonly known by the name Donald Ross Skinner with the addition of the middle name of Ross attributed to him by Cope after Glenn Ross Campbell, the pedal steel...
- electric & slide guitars, 'airhead' guitar & screams on "Spacehopper" - James Eller - bass guitar
- Chris WhittenChris WhittenChris Whitten is a British session drummer who provided drums for the hit singles "What I Am" by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, "World Shut your Mouth" by Julian Cope and "The Whole of the Moon" by The Waterboys...
- drums - Warne Livesey - synthesizer, strings on "A Crack in the Clouds"
- Paul Crockford - Ace ToneAce ToneAce Electronic Industries Inc., or Ace Tone was a manufacturer of musical instruments, including electronic organs and analogue drum machines, and effects pedals. Founded in 1960 by Ikutaro Kakehashi with an investment by Sakata Shokai, Ace Tone can be considered an early incarnation of the Roland...
organ on "Planet Ride" - Richard Frost (credited as "Keith-Richard Frost") - string machine on "Saint Julian"
- Kate St. John - cor anglaisCor anglaisThe cor anglais , or English horn , is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family....
on "Saint Julian" & "A Crack in the Clouds" - Dee Lewis, Tessa NilesTessa NilesTessa Niles is an English singer, best known as a backing singer for a wide variety of artists.-Early life and career:Born in Kent, Niles began her professional singing career, as both a lead and a backing vocalist, in 1979...
- chorus vocals on "Eve's Volcano", chorus agreement vocals on "Planet Ride"
Some sources say that future Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
singer Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth also known as "h", is the lead vocalist and occasional keyboardist/guitarist with the British rock band Marillion. Hogarth was formerly a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with The Europeans and vocalist with How We Live...
sang backing vocals on the album, although he is uncredited on the inlay.