Legacy October 1996 CD: CMC Records CD6003-2 Henry
Marsh: Nickelodeon, accordion, piano, computer
programming and vocals |
A
Glass Of Champagne |
Produced by Phil
Pickett and Henry Marsh.
Engineered and mixed by Charlie Jensen.
Mastered by Peter Iversen and Charlie Jensen at PUK Digital
Mastering.
Recorded in PUK Recording Studios, April & May 1996
Additional engineering by Ian Humphries at NAM Studios, Wiltshire
and Ian Shaw at Shawsound, London
Additional musicians
and singers:
Chris Goulstone (Spanish
guitar on "Latin Eyes")
Naomi Eyres (Vocals on "Catwalk Girls")
Peter Lee (Ragga vocals on "Karma Chameleon")
Photos by Jonathan Opong-Wiafe
left to right: Grant Serpell, Peter Lincoln, Peter Lee
(who does the Ragga vocals on "Karma Chameleon"), Phil
Pickett and Henry Marsh
Liner notes:
Question: What´s got eight legs,
short hair, strange theatrical clothing, no electric guitar, a
Nickelodeon (what´s that ?!), a street lamp, a portable harbour
town and dares to call itself a band?
Well, the answer may beginn with a folklore tale, seldom told, of
a nightclub in Paris in 1946, where the proprietor, a Monsieur
Faux, insisted that his house band dress as sailors, as a remark
of respect to a sailor who saved his life many years previously.
This tradition is said to have continued until 1970, when the
club appropriately named "Le Matelot" was burnt to the
ground. The soul-surviving members of the houseband, allegedly
Phil Pickett and Georg Kajanus returned to London to form the
"Sailor" that we now know and love. Joining them on
this adventure were Henry Marsh, formally guitarist and keyboard
player with the band "Gringo" and Grant Serpell,
drummer with the cult jazz- rock phenomenon "Affinity".
Those who remember the early 1970s may well remember it as an
area recovering from the psychedelic 60s, and the music of this
new decade featured either rock bands with guitar heros, or pop
rebels who helped usher in their style and glamour for what the
70s is now best remembered.
Sailor stands alone as the most original chart act of the decade.
The group line-up incorporates instruments as diverse as
mandolines, glockenspiels, accordion, military bass- drum, and of
course the legendary Nickelodeon, an exclusive invention of the
band. The sound originally inspired by one of Georg´s demo tapes
and intended only as "musical review", was recognized
by Grant as the perfect group direction.
The song then became theatrical located in a fantasy world of red
light districts and harbour towns - the characters being lonely
sailors far from home.
The Nickelodeon, an extraordinary instrument was designed and
built for the purpose of delivering Sailor´s definitive sound.
The first album, released in 1973, included the hit "Traffic
Jam". the album achieved Gold status in Holland. But it was
the second album "Trouble" that established Sailor
throughout the world. "A Glass Of Champagne" was top
hit throughout the world in 1975, and was soon followed by
"Girls Girls Girls" in 1976.
Those fortunate enough to have experienced a Sailor concert
during this period will recall not only the unique theatricality
of their stage act - a harbour town, the Nickelodeon, street
lamps, palm trees, etc., but also the variety of musical
influences and styles rendered in one performance.
In the 80s, Henry mainly composed music for television, Georg
released three albums with "DATA", Grant took up
teaching chemistry, while Phil enjoyed success touring with
"Culture Club" and co- writing the now classic hit
"Karma Chameleon".
In 1989 a dream for Sailor and its fans came through. A new album
, after a ten year silence, two new hit singles "The
Secretary" and "La Cumbia", songs which are firm
favourites at their concerts and which re-establish the band as a
force to be reckoned with in the 90s.
In 1995 Georg Kajanus departed the band to pursue a solo career.
But, Sailor took on the seemingly impossible task of finding a
replacement. The arrival of Peter Lincoln, a respected guitarist
and singer, has given new life to Sailor. Just listen to the new
tracks to really experience the giant leap that Sailor has taken
in such a short space of time.
Latin Eyes, Catwalk Girls, Nickelodeon Nights and Karma Chameleon
are unquestionably songs that will re-instate SAILOR to it's
rightful place at the very top.
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