Lewis (musician)

Last updated
Lewis
Birth nameRandall A. Wulff
Also known asLewis Baloue, Randy Duke
OriginCanada
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1980s–present
Labels Light in the Attic

Randall A. Wulff, better known by his stage name Lewis, and also known as Lewis Baloue and Randy Duke, is a Canadian singer and musician. He released a number of albums in the 1980s, but did not become widely known until they were re-released in 2014.

Contents

Early and personal life

Lewis' family live in British Columbia but he is estranged from them; in August 2014 his brother stated that he had not seen Lewis since 2007. [1] His father and uncle had lost touch with him some years previously. [2]

During the recording process of his 1980s albums Lewis worked as a stockbroker, [3] and lived in Calgary. [2] He lived with his girlfriend in an apartment with all-white furniture. [2] [3]

Career

Lewis recorded two albums in 1983 and 1985 (L'Amour and Romantic Times) that were mostly forgotten until a record collector discovered L'Amour in an Edmonton flea market. They were both re-released by Seattle-based record label Light in the Attic in 2014. [1]

L'Amour was recorded in Los Angeles in 1983. [2] [4] Lewis disappeared soon after the photoshoot by Edward Colver for the album cover, after his cheque to Colver bounced. [1] [3]

Romantic Times was originally released in 1985 under the 'Lewis Baloue' pseudonym. [5] An original copy of the album sold on eBay in 2014 for $2,000. [6]

Two further albums - Love Ain't No Mystery (recorded under the 'Randy Duke' pseudonym) and Hawaiian Breeze were also released by different record labels in 2014 and 2015 respectively. [7] [8]

Under a different pseudonym, Lewis is also believed to have recorded a number of "very soft, religious music" albums in Vancouver in the mid-2000s which were never released. [1] [3]

In 2014 Lewis stated that he was continuing to perform music, but that he was not interested in his earlier releases. [9]

Recent activity

In 2022, a short film concerning Lewis, entitled I Thought the World of You directed by Canadian filmmaker Kurt Walker, toured the film festival circuit and garnered praise: ″Walker’s film perfectly captures the hauntology of dollar-bin, vanity-pressing gold. He recreates the edges of Lewis’s life with a lush romanticism, following his white convertible down tree-lined highways, spying him through the window of his recording booth. All the while, Walker keeps Lewis turned away from the camera, reserving him a certain privacy.″ [10]

Discography

Original releaseRe-releaseTitle
19832014L'Amour
19852014Romantic Times
Unknown2014Love Ain't No Mystery
Unknown2015Hawaiian Breeze

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Callahan (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Bill Callahan is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who has also recorded and performed under the band name Smog. Callahan began working in the lo-fi genre, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four-track tape recorders. Later he began releasing albums with the label Drag City, to which he remains signed today. His work, in addition to lo-fi music, has encompassed apocalyptic folk and gothic country.

<i>Lifes Rich Pageant</i> 1986 album by REM

Lifes Rich Pageant is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on July 28, 1986. R.E.M. chose Don Gehman to produce the album, which was recorded at John Mellencamp's Belmont Mall Studio in Belmont, Indiana. This was the only album the band recorded with Gehman, who moved them from the more obscure and dense sound of their earlier albums to an accessible, hard rock-influenced quality. The album was well-received critically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Tet</span> English musician and DJ (born 1977)

Kieran Hebden, known as Four Tet, is an English electronic musician. He came to prominence as a member of the post-rock band Fridge before establishing himself as a solo artist with charting and critically acclaimed albums such as Rounds (2003), Everything Ecstatic (2005) and There Is Love in You (2010). In addition to his eleven studio albums as Four Tet, Hebden's work includes a number of improvisational works with jazz drummer Steve Reid and collaborations with Burial and Thom Yorke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sufjan Stevens</span> American musician (born 1975)

Sufjan Stevens is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released ten solo studio albums and multiple collaborative albums with other artists. Stevens has received Grammy and Academy Award nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cass McCombs</span> American musician (born 1977)

Cass McCombs is an American musician and songwriter. He has been releasing music since 2002. In 2016, The New York Times referred to McCombs as, "one of the great songwriters of his time."

<i>Songs from Northern Britain</i> 1997 studio album by Teenage Fanclub

Songs from Northern Britain is the sixth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Teenage Fanclub. Produced by David Bianco and the group themselves, the album was released on 29 July 1997 through Creation Records. Teenage Fanclub's previous album, Grand Prix, had been seen as a comeback in their home of the UK, though its success elsewhere was limited. With more time and resources, the band recorded Songs from Northern Britain—a tongue-in-cheek title referring to their native Scotland—with producer David Bianco in Surrey. The record's lyrical themes focus heavily on love and domestic life. The album was completed at London's Air Studios, and its accompanying artwork was taken by photographer Donald Milne around the Scottish Highlands.

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio.

<i>Last of the Breed</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price

Last of the Breed is a two-disc album by American country music artists Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price, released in 2007. It debuted at number 64 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 13,000 copies in its first week. The album has 100,000 copies in the U.S. as of May 2015. The album was ranked number 33 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tallest Man on Earth</span> Swedish singer-songwriter (born 1983)

Kristian Matsson is a Swedish singer-songwriter who performs under the stage name The Tallest Man on Earth. Matsson grew up in Leksand, and began his solo career in 2006, having previously been the lead singer of the indie band Montezumas. His music has often drawn comparisons to the music of Bob Dylan.

<i>Tous les garçons et les filles</i> (album) 1962 studio album by Françoise Hardy

Tous les garçons et les filles is the debut studio album by French singer-songwriter Françoise Hardy, released in November 1962 on Disques Vogue. Like many of her following records, it was originally released without a title and to be referred to, later on, by the name of its most popular song. Released when Hardy was 18 years old, the album was a commercial success and "went on to top charts". It was originally released in the United States under the title The "Yeh-Yeh" Girl From Paris! in 1965 on "proto-world music label" Four Corners.

<i>American VI: Aint No Grave</i> 2010 studio album by Johnny Cash

American VI: Ain't No Grave is an album by Johnny Cash released posthumously on February 23, 2010 on American Recordings and Lost Highway Records. Its release was three days before Cash's 78th birthday. The tracks were recorded during the same sessions as American V: A Hundred Highways (2006), which took place during the final months of Cash's life. The album debuted at #3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, American VI: Ain't No Grave received generally positive reviews from music critics.

<i>Johnny Cash Remixed</i> 2009 remix album by Various artists

Johnny Cash Remixed is a tribute album to country musician, Johnny Cash featuring remixes of Johnny Cash's songs by various artists, such as The Heavy and Alabama 3. It was released by Compadre Records on January 27, 2009. On the second disc of the album is a documentary of the CD's production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Segall</span> American musician and record producer

Ty Garrett Segall is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his solo career, during which he has released fourteen studio albums alongside various EPs, singles, and collaborative albums. Segall is also a member of the bands Fuzz, Broken Bat, the CIA, GØGGS, and Wasted Shirt. He is a former member of the Traditional Fools, Epsilons, Party Fowl, Sic Alps, and the Perverts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Destroyer (band)</span> Canadian indie rock band

Destroyer is a Canadian indie rock band from Vancouver, formed in 1995. The band is fronted by founding member Dan Bejar, with a collective of regular band members and collaborators joining him in the studio and during live performances. Alongside Bejar, Destroyer currently includes longtime producers John Collins (bass) and David Carswell (guitar), Nicolas Bragg, Ted Bois (keyboards), JP Carter (trumpet) and Joshua Wells (drums).

"Come on a Cone" is a song by American rapper and singer Nicki Minaj, taken from her sophomore studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012). Minaj, Garibay and Hit-Boy wrote it and Fernando Garibay & Hit-Boy produced it. Musically, it is a hardcore hip hop song that uses electronic beats. Lyrically, the song is rumored to be another diss song to Lil' Kim, following "Roman's Revenge" and "Stupid Hoe". "Come on a Cone" received mainly positive reviews from contemporary critics, while others criticized the chorus, calling it the main problem of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strand of Oaks</span> Musical artist

Strand of Oaks is the rock project by songwriter and producer Timothy Showalter. Originally from Indiana, he currently resides in Austin, Texas. His music has been classified as rock and folk, as well as folk rock.

<i>The Voyager</i> (Jenny Lewis album) 2014 studio album by Jenny Lewis

The Voyager is the second solo album and third overall by American singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis. The album was released on July 29, 2014, by Warner Bros. Records. The album was primarily produced by Ryan Adams at his studio, PAX AM.

<i>Archive Series Volume No. 1</i> 2015 compilation album by Iron & Wine

Archive Series Volume No. 1 is a rarities collection by Iron & Wine, released February 24, 2015 on Beam's new record label Black Cricket Recording Co. The collection consists of unreleased home recordings and demos from the same time period as the 2002 album The Creek Drank the Cradle and the 2003 EP The Sea & The Rhythm. "Everyone's Summer of '95" was the first track to be officially released from the album.

Edward Curtiss Colver is an American photographer, best known for his early punk photographs.

<i>Ty Segall</i> (2008 album) 2008 studio album by Ty Segall

Ty Segall is the self-titled debut studio album by American garage rock musician Ty Segall, released on December 9, 2008, on Castle Face Records. A cassette edition was released on Burger Records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "The mystery of Canadian musician 'Lewis'". CBC. August 1, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Charles Taylor (July 6, 2014). "Let Me Whisper in Your Ear: On the mysterious Lewis". LA Review of Books. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rob Fitzpatrick (June 25, 2014). "The 101 strangest records on Spotify: Lewis – L'Amour". The Guardian. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  4. Stephen M. Deusner (May 20, 2014). "Album review - L'Amour". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  5. Stephen M. Deusner (August 1, 2014). "Album review - Romantic Times". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  6. Sarah Geffen (August 6, 2014). "Lewis and Mystery in the Age of Information". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  7. Marc Marsters (October 21, 2014). "Album review - Love Ain't No Mystery". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  8. Jeremy Gordon (January 8, 2015). "Another Lewis Album, Hawaiian Breeze, Surfaces". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  9. Molly Beauchemin (August 8, 2014). "The Synth-Pop Folk Artist Known As Lewis, Previously Thought Missing or Dead, Is Alive". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  10. Chloe Lizotte (September 13th, 2022). "Toronto Dispatch: Future Days". MUBI. Retrieved August 6th, 2023.