Henry Badowski – Life Is A Grand...
| Label: | A&M Records – AMLH 68527 |
|---|---|
| Format: | Vinyl, LP, Album |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Released: | |
| Genre: | Electronic, Rock, Pop |
| Style: | Synth-pop, Pop Rock |
Tracklist
| A1 | My Face | 3:20 | |
| A2 | Henry's In Love | 3:09 | |
| A3 | Swimming With The Fish In The Sea | 4:46 | |
| A4 | The Inside Out | 3:27 | |
| A5 | Life Is A Grand | 3:44 | |
| B1 | Silver Trees | 3:34 | |
| B2 | This Was Meant To Be | 3:50 | |
| B3 | Anywhere Else | 3:54 | |
| B4 | Baby, Sign Here With Me | 3:50 | |
| B5 | Rampant | 4:09 |
Companies, etc.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – A&M Records Ltd.
- Copyright © – A&M Records Ltd.
- Published By – Illegal Music Ltd.
- Distributed By – CBS Records
- Pressed By – CBS, Haarlem
Credits
- Art Direction, Design – Michael Ross (3)
- Drums – Dave Berk
- Engineer – Simon Smart, Wally Brill
- Guitar, Bass – James Stevenson
- Photography By – Andrew Douglas
- Producer – Henry Badowski, Wally Brill
- Violin – Aleksander Kolkowski*
- Voice, Saxophone, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion – Henry Badowski
Notes
Made in Holland
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Rights Society: BIEM/STEMRA
- Label Code: LC 0485
- Price Code: CB 271
- Matrix / Runout: 19-68527-lA
Other Versions (4)
View All| Title (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recently Edited | Life Is A Grand... (LP, Album, Stereo) | I.R.S. Records, I.R.S. Records | SP 70601, 70601 | US | 1981 | ||
| Life Is A Grand... (LP, Album, Stereo) | A&M Records | AMLH 68527 | UK | 1981 | |||
| Life Is A Grand (LP, Album, Test Pressing) | A&M Records | AMLH 68527 | US | 1981 | |||
New Submission | Life Is A Grand... (LP, Album, Stereo) | I.R.S. Records, I.R.S. Records | SP 70601, 70601 | US | 1981 |
Recommendations
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Released1981 — GermanyVinyl —LP, Album, Stereo
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Released1981 — GermanyVinyl —LP, Album
Released1986 — EuropeVinyl —LP, Album, Stereo
Reviews
- This is one of a few classic albums never to be released on CD ….even by Cherry Red! . Along with Pink Military's Do animals believe in God …….a really annoying omission ...Hey Henry - sort it out ! Do you want to be the next Nick Drake only valued when you are gone!
- Edited 5 years agoWonderful album - interestingly The Damned's song "Edward The Bear" (b-side of "Grimly Fiendish") borrows its arrangement from "Baby Sign Here With Me", and there was no credit given - coincidentally (or not), Henry was once a member of The Damned (for a short time in 1978).
- Edited 7 years agoI've always thought this was one of the best and most sublime pop albums. Its simply beautiful in a very simple way, but surprisingly well composed. The lyrics are wry, funny, ironic, self conscious, heart warming. It does as the other reviewer commented have some resemblance to Syd Barrett, and also Captain Sensible, but Henry is his own man. I love every cut on it. I wish there were more Badowski albums. FIVE STARS.
- Edited 7 years agoIt's a really lovely LP. Badowski has a very distinct voice, which ironically cannot avoid comparisons with Syd Barrett.
This Barrett aesthetic is not just in the sound, but also lyrically. Badowski has a way of telling stories which have a very similar parallel with Barrett, even though the music is very much of the era.
Musically, we are talking early 80's Synth-Pop. Not pure Synth-Pop (there are drums & guitars here), but clearly very distinct from Syd's '67 Psych vibe.
You could almost get away with playing this LP to a Pink Floyd lightweight and make them believe that this was an unreleased Syd electronic LP!
Well, apart from the sax. Yeah, Mr. Badowski plays saxophone on quite a few tracks. To be fair, on the main the playing is restrained and does not overpower the music.
However, the title track (A5) is best avoided. Instrumental (sax), and one listen is enough.
It can't take away from the unique cuteness of this LP, though. It's a sublime album and is most certainly worthy of investigation, for Syd fans and lovers of curious obscure early 80's pop in general.
Release
For sale on Discogs
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