Cruella de Ville

Last updated

Cruella De Ville
Also known as"Cruella"
Origin Northern Ireland
Genres Post-punk, gothic rock
Years active1982–1985
Labels Good Vibrations/EMI/CPL
Past membersColum Muinzer
Philomena Muinzer
James Clenaghan
Stephen Mulholland (1982)
Mike Edgar (after 1st single)

Cruella de Ville, formerly known as Blazer, was a band from Northern Ireland that presented a mixture of post-punk and gothic rock from 1982 to 1984. They were mostly a studio band, who performed on television on at least two occasions and released a number of singles. Their best-known song is "Those Two Dreadful Children", and their re-released single "I'll Do the Talking" topped the Irish charts in 1985.

Contents

Their members consisted of Colum (Colin) Muinzer (later also known as Colin Gibson) on vocals, guitar (often bowed), and violin; his twin sister, Philomena Muinzer (known as "Phil" or "Mena" and later writing under the pen name Phil O'Brien), on vocals and keyboard, James Clenaghan on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Mike Edgar on drums and backing vocals.

History

The band started out as a cover band called Blazer, changing their name after wanting to produce their own material. [1]

Their debut single, "Those Two Dreadful Children"/"Drunken Uncle John" was released on Good Vibrations, and Polydor showed interest, but did not follow up. Stephen Mulholland was replaced by Mike Edgar after this single, [1] and Michael Clifford became their manager. [2]

"Those Two Dreadful Children" appeared on The Dr. Demento Show and was included (transferred from a copy of the vinyl single) on a "Basement Tapes" members-only compilation.[ citation needed ]

The band appeared on RTE's Anything Goes in January 1983, and in March 1983 a new music video for " "Gypsy Girl". (YouTube). 26 February 2023." aired on Channel 4's The Tube. The latter led to a deal with EMI Records on 17 March 1983 (St Patrick's Day [2] ), which released a few singles in 1983 and 1984. An album was planned and partially produced by Roy Wood, who became ill, and the album was never released. [1] A 2008 newspaper report suggested that Edgar had "absconded with the recordings". [3]

They played live at Stringfellows nightclub in Covent Garden, London. [2]

In 1985 the band left EMI but re-released the singles "I'll Do the Talking", which topped the Irish charts. [2]

Music

The band's songs include "Drunken Uncle John", "Hong Kong Swing", "Blues, Blues, Blues", "Gypsy Girl", "I'll Do The Talking", "Oceans", and "Who's at the Door?". "Drunken Uncle John" and "Oceans" have a similar dark comic flavour to that found in "Those Two Dreadful Children" – the latter being an absurdist satire on drug dealing. "Hong Kong Swing" is a send-up of Ugly American Naval officers' mangling pan-Asia into a cartoonish red-light concept. There are three versions: the first recorded was the "Manic Mix", with breakdancing cues, which was followed by the regular version. The last, "Hollywood Hong Kong Swing" is a new recording that adds three new introductions: a string soundalike to Alfred Newman's 20th Century Fox Fanfare (with Cinemascope extension), a long guitar solo, and a new verse introducing the song as if being featured in a Hollywood revue. "I'll Do the Talking" is a serious song of sibling devotion. "Marching" aka "I can hear the tanks roll", unreleased but now available on video channels, seems to be about The Troubles, with lyrics also mentioning gunfire. [4]

The Muinzers, usually individually, did all the group's songwriting.

In addition to television performances, the group cut a music video for "Gypsy Girl" that UK television was not allowed to show before 10 pm because it depicted a bonfire. A more simple video was made for the song that simply depicts the band performing was used for daytime showings. [2]

Phil and Colum cite their major influences as coming from their father's old record collection, artists like Spike Jones, Danny Kaye, and Pete Seeger. Colin in particular modelled his guitar playing on Brian May of Queen.

The original demo of "Who's at the Door?" has been transferred to digital and cleaned by Colum Muinzer. A pre-FM copy of a BBC Radio 1 session (possibly broadcast on the Annie Nightingale show in ?1984) was rediscovered, a copy of which was passed on to Colum and Philomena.

Line-up

Phil and Colum were twins, born in Illinois, United States, of an Irish mother and American father. The family had moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, when the children were young. [2]

Philomena Muinzer is a graduate of the University of Essex, [5] Princeton University [6] and Yale School of Drama. [7] [8] She has written plays, articles, and books. [5] [8] [6] She also published under the name Phil O'Brien (O'Brien being the Munizers' mother's maiden name [2] ):

Mike Edgar had previously played with The Peasants, [2] [10] and later worked for the BBC. [1]

Drummers

Roy Wood, who produced most of the later releases as well as the unreleased tracks, played drums on "Hong Kong Swing" and Stephen Mulholland played them on "Those Two Dreadful Children." A drum machine was used on "Drunken Uncle John," with Mike Edgar overdubbing the bass drum; and a drum loop used on "Gypsy Girl," again with Edgar doing a few overdubs. All the drums on the unreleased album were played by Wood.

Discography

7" Singles

YearRecord LabelCatalogue NumberSongs
1982Good VibrationsGOT 16Drunken Uncle John/Those Two Dreadful Children
1982Good Vibrations/PolydorGOOD 1Those Two Dreadful Children/Drunken Uncle John (Alternate Mix)
1982Good VibrationsGOOD 2I'll Do The Talking/Blues, Blues, Blues
1983EMI (Great Britain)EMI 5412Gypsy Girl/Blues, Blues, Blues (Alternate Mix)
1983EMI (West Germany)1 C 006 1078177Gypsy Girl/Blues, Blues, Blues (Alternate Mix)
1984ParlophoneR 6075Hong Kong Swing/Drunken Uncle John (Rerecording)
1984CPL/PinnacleCPL-5I'll Do The Talking(Alternate Mix)/Hollywood Hong Kong Swing/Oceans
1984CPL/PriorityCPL-5I'll Do The Talking(Alternate Mix)/Hollywood Hong Kong Swing/Oceans
1984CPL/EMICPL-5I'll Do The Talking (Alternate Mix)/Hollywood Hong Kong Swing/Oceans

12" Singles

YearRecord LabelCatalogue NumberSongs
1983EMI12EMI 5412Gypsy Girl/Blues, Blues, Blues (Alternate Mix) /Gypsy Girl (Edit)
07/1984Parlophone12R 6075Hong Kong Swing (Manic Mix) /Hong Kong Swing/Drunken Uncle John (Rerecording)

Known acetates

YearRecord LabelCatalogue NumberSongs
1984Abbey Road StudiosHong Kong Swing (Alternate Mix)

Online releases

YearRecordingSongs
2011DigitalWho's at the Door?
2012DigitalThose Two Dreadful Children
2012DigitalDrunken Uncle John
2012DigitalI'll Do The Talking

Known demos

YearRecordingSongs
1984Original CassetteWho's at the Door?

Known recordings

YearRecordingSongs
1982Good Vibrations / Polydor: master tapeDrunken Uncle John / Those Two Dreadful Children
1984?BBC Radio: Pre FM master tapeGypsy Girl / I'll Do The Talking / Marching
-Trident Studios, 2" masterOpus1 / Gypsy Girl
-JAM Studios, 2" masterGypsy Girl / Blues, Blues, Blues
-DJM Studios, 2" masterHong Kong Swing / Uncle John / Two Dreadful Children / I'll Do the Talking / Meena Mina / I Can Hear The Tanks Roll / Oceans of Potions / Big Boy
-DJM Studios, 2" masterWho's at the Door / Toy Box
-Trident Studios, ¼" masterTones / Gypsy Girl (Red Hot Polka)
-SARM Studios, ½" masterHong Kong Swing No. 1, No. 2 & No. 3
-¼" master tapeDrunken Uncle John / Those Two Dreadful Children
-DJM Studios, ½" masterDrunken Uncle John / Who's at the Door / Oceans of Potions / Hong Kong Swing / Marching / Still She Wished for Company / Hong Kong Swing (2nd mix)
-DJM Studios, ½" masterHong Kong Swing / Oceans of Potions
-DJM Studios, ½" masterHong Kong Swing 7" / Hong Kong Swing 12" / Marching – Gig mix / Gypsy Girl – Gig mix
-DJM Studios, ½" masterI'll Do The Talking
-DJM Studios, ¼" masterHong Kong Swing
-DJM Studios, ¼" masterI'll Do The Talking / Gypsy Girl / Hong Kong Swing
-EMI Studios, ¼" masterToy Box / Hong Kong Swing
-¼" masterAway We Go
-Downtown Radio, ¼" masterI'll Do The Talking / Line Up
-Downtown Radio, ¼" masterRed Hot Mamma / Piano & vocal / Melody Medley

CD

In the absence of an official release, a fan-based CD has been compiled with the following songs:

  1. Hong Kong Swing
  2. Gypsy Girl
  3. Blues, Blues, Blues
  4. I'll Do The Talking
  5. Hollywood Hong Kong Swing
  6. Who's At The Door?
  7. Oceans
  8. Those Two Dreadful Children [2007 remix]
  9. Drunken Uncle John [second version]
  10. Hong Kong Swing [manic mix]

Most songs have been restored from a vinyl source, others have been donated by Philomena and Colum, who encouraged the fan to sell the discs for a profit because he had put so much work into it.

CD single

The GOT 16 single; "Those Two Dreadful Children"/ "Drunken Uncle John", has been turned into a CD single by the same fan. Using a copy of the original Polydor master tape (provided by Colum), artwork for this CD was reworked from a scan of the original poster cover.

Videos

The following video clips of CDV are known to exist

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dire Straits</span> British rock band

Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers. They were active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 1995.

Edgar Broughton Band were a British rock band founded in Warwick in 1968, and in their initial form were operative through to 1976. They were a trio consisting of brothers Edgar and Steve Broughton (drums) with Arthur Grant (bass), which was augmented at various times by a second guitarist and/or keyboardist, significantly Victor Unitt. They released five studio albums, including Sing Brother Sing, and six singles, including "Out Demons Out", on the EMI Harvest label and one further studio album for NEMS. The group reformed from 1978 to 1982, initially renamed as The Broughtons, issuing two more studio albums, and again from 2006 to 2010 with Edgar's son Luke for live appearances only.

<i>Fishermans Blues</i> 1988 studio album by the Waterboys

Fisherman's Blues is the fourth studio album by the Waterboys, released by Ensign Records in October 1988. The album marked a change in the band's sound, with them abandoning their earlier grandiose rock sound for a mixture of traditional Irish music, traditional Scottish music, country music, and rock and roll. Critics were divided on its release with some disappointed at the change of direction and others ranking it among the Waterboys' best work. The album was the Waterboys' best selling album, reaching a number 13 placing on the U.K. charts on release, and 76 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Swallow This Live</i> 1991 live album by Poison

Swallow This Live is the first live album by American glam metal band Poison. It was released in 1991 by Capitol Records. The album peaked at number 51 on the Billboard 200, number 42 on the Cash Box albums chart, and was certified Gold in 2001 by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddy Miles</span> American drummer and singer (1947–2008)

George Allen "Buddy" Miles Jr. was an American composer, drummer, guitarist, vocalist and producer. He was a founding member of the Electric Flag (1967), a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys (1969–1970), founder and leader of the Buddy Miles Express and later, the Buddy Miles Band. Miles also played and recorded with Carlos Santana and others. He also sang lead vocals on the California Raisins claymation TV commercials and recorded two California Raisins R&B albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Stand by You</span> 1994 single by the Pretenders

"I'll Stand by You" is a song recorded by English-American rock band the Pretenders from their sixth studio album, Last of the Independents (1994). The song was written by Chrissie Hynde and the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and produced by Ian Stanley. The song is a ballad in which the singer pledges love and faithful assistance to a loved one in times of personal darkness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flesh for Lulu</span> English rock band

Flesh for Lulu were an English rock band formed in Brixton, London, England, active between 1982 and 1992. They reformed from 2013 to 2015 with a new lineup. Initially part of the post-punk scene, the band's sound shifted to reflect influences from pop music, country and western, rhythm and blues and blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go Now</span> 1964 single by Bessie Banks

"Go Now" is a song composed by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett and first recorded by Bessie Banks, released as a single in January 1964. The best-known version was recorded by the Moody Blues and released the same year.

<i>Memories of the Irish-Israeli War</i> 1995 novel by Phil OBrien

Memories of the Irish-Israeli War is a 1995 novel by Phil O'Brien, a pen name for Philomena Muinzer. It was published by New Futurist Books, whose directors were Muinzer and her twin brother, Colum. The pair were formerly leads and vocalists for post-punk band Cruella de Ville.

<i>Shotters Nation</i> 2007 studio album by Babyshambles

Shotter's Nation is the second album by English rock band Babyshambles and was released in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2007 by Parlophone to generally favourable reviews. In the United States the album was released on 23 October 2007 by Astralwerks. The first single from the album, "Delivery", was released on 17 September 2007.

<i>Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places)</i> 2009 live album by Nightwish

Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places) is the title of a live / compilation CD/DVD by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 11 March 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bleeding Heart (song)</span> Song written by Elmore James

"Bleeding Heart" is a song written and recorded by American blues musician Elmore James in 1961. Considered "among the greatest of James' songs", "Bleeding Heart" was later popularized by Jimi Hendrix, who recorded several versions of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parisienne Walkways</span> 1979 single by Gary Moore

"Parisienne Walkways" is a song by guitarist Gary Moore that reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1979. The song is featured on Moore's album Back on the Streets and features a vocal from Thin Lizzy frontman, Phil Lynott, who co-wrote the song with Moore. Lynott also played bass guitar on the track, alongside Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey, thus reuniting the short-lived 1974 Thin Lizzy line-up which had recorded "Still in Love with You", "Sitamoia" and the single "Little Darling". The melody of "Parisienne Walkways" is based on the jazz standard "Blue Bossa" by Kenny Dorham. It became Gary Moore's signature song.

The Too Low for Zero Tour was a concert tour by English musician and composer Elton John, in support of his 17th studio album Too Low for Zero. The tour consisted in 24 shows across Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love American Music</span> 2013 single by Cherry Poppin Daddies

"I Love American Music" is a song by American swing-ska band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released as the first and only single off their 2013 studio album White Teeth, Black Thoughts. Released digitally on May 20, 2013, "I Love American Music" marked the Daddies' first single since "Diamond Light Boogie" in 2000.

Philomena "Phil" Muinzer is a dramaturge, writer and former musician from Northern Ireland, who has used the pen name Phil O'Brien for some of her work.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Irish Rock Discography: Cruella De Ville". Irish Rock Discography. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Cruella De Ville". A to Z of N. Ireland Punk Bands. Spit Records. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  3. ↑ Ted Hynds. "Cruella de FILE on Radio Ulster Boss: Band Threaten Action Over Edgar's Tapes." The Sunday Mirror 3 February 2008, p. 9
  4. ↑ "Cruella De Ville - Marching". 23 April 2009 – via www.youtube.com.
  5. 1 2 Muinzer, Philomena (15 January 2009). "Evacuating the Museum: the Crisis of Playwriting in Ulster". New Theatre Quarterly . 3 (9): 44–63. doi:10.1017/S0266464X00008502. ISSN   1474-0613. S2CID   191656586 . Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  6. 1 2 Heinemann, Elaine P. (20 July 1978). "Playwright McCieery man of many talents" (PDF). The Franklin News-Record . Manville, New Jersey. [Other students, such] as Philomena Muinzer -- whose glowing "We're on the One Road," a drama of contempary Ireland, was premiered at Intime the year before last -- are on their way. She's currently attending the Yale Drama School
  7. ↑ "Lost Alumni: 1980". YSD Annual Magazine 2010-11. LV. David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University: 71. Fall 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2022– via Issuu.
  8. 1 2 3 "First Flush: Memories of the Irish-Israeli War [book review]". Books Ireland (186). Wordwell Ltd.: 131 1995. ISSN   0376-6039. JSTOR   20623113 . Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  9. ↑ O'Brien, P. (2004). Coldplay: Look at the Stars. Plexus. ISBN   978-0-85965-349-7 . Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "The Peasants". Irish Rock Discography. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.