Back in 1973, ‘alternative’ and ‘independent’ records which seemed so bold and subversive have, with the benefit of hindsight, proved to be anything but. This after all was the year in which Tubular Bells was released, a record which, when John Peel played it on the radio in its entirety, seemed like a radical statement to launch a new direction in serious Rock music.
It explains why I – a shy, impressionable 15 year old -together with other gullible innocents, were led down the garden path into the cursed kingdom inhabited by the dinosaurs of progressive(sic) rock (check out ELP’s ‘Brain Salad Surgery, Camel’s ‘The Snow Goose’ and anything by Barclay James Harvest if you dare).
Mercifully, Messrs Rotten, Strummer & crew arrived on the scene to save the day.
‘Marjory Razorblade’ , now widely recognised as the finest album by Kevin Coyne (1944 – 2004), was released in the same year as Oldfield’s opus.
I remember hearing Coyne (also on John Peel show) but I’m ashamed to say that I dismissed him then as an eccentric novelty act. With his raspy voice, lack of dress sense and an appalling haircut he didn’t look like much of a role model. “What a tongue – what an abrasive manner” he sang, the description of Ms Razorblade could have been describing himself. His style was a bit like bluesman Joe Cocker but there was also a bizarre music hall flavour to his music.
Only now I can see the error of my ways and can recognise that his rebellious eccentricity and open non conformity made him a true punk prototype. Continue reading
