 | |
| Author | Tim Burgess |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Record collecting |
| Genre | Music |
| Publisher | Faber & Faber |
Publication date | 21 July 2016 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 272 |
| ISBN | 9780571314751 |
| OCLC | 959367697 |
Tim Book Two: Vinyl Adventures from Istanbul to San Francisco is a 2016 book by Tim Burgess, about him traveling around the world to find specific albums on vinyl.
Tim Burgess of the Charlatans released his first book, Telling Stories , in April 2012. [1] It told the history of that band as they experienced the Madchester and Britpop movements in the 1990s. [2] While promoting the book, Burgess said he had been writing notes for a follow-up, tentatively titled Tim Book Two. [3] He began working on it in earnest following him becoming father, the death of drummer John Brookes in August 2013 and the band working on what would become the 12th studio album Modern Nature (2015). [4] [5] Following the success of Telling Stories and Modern Nature, publisher Faber & Faber became attached to the project, who were expecting it to be completed by May 2015. [4] [6]
Burgess initially envisioned his second book to be a miscellany, before his focus shifted to vinyl records, which had more meaning to him. [7] He amassed a collection of around 3,000 records, having started buying them in 1975. [8] He then thought that if he could have "someone to recommend them I can write about what they mean to me, and what the record means to them". Burgess previously bought albums based solely on the artwork, regardless if he knew the music beforehand. [7] Burgess eventually finished the book in December 2015. [9]
When people would ask Burgess what his second book would be called, he would reply with "Tim Book Two" sarcastically, not expecting to take him seriously. It was a homophone of Timbuktu, a city in Mali, which Burgess said "always been used to suggest somewhere far away, hard to get to and, generally, not round here". [9] In Tim Book Two: Vinyl Adventures from Istanbul to San Francisco, Burgess contacted people he admired and asked them to propose an album that he should buy while traveling. [10] Discussing the vinyl format specifically, he said: "You can tell a lot from the music people recommend for you, not just their all time favourite LP but maybe a hidden gem in their collection or something they think you might not have heard." [11]
Burgess had talked to David Lynch, Johnny Marr, Cosey Fanni Tutti and Iggy Pop, among others. [12] Burgess met some people by chance, such as seeing Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys walking down a street or talking to Boy George after a show. [4] Burgess related Lynch's chosen album, Trout Mask Replica (1969) by Captain Beefheart, to the Tim Peaks brand of coffee he created, proceeds of which go to Lynch's Foundation. [7] Alongside this, Burgess gave his own opinion on each album. [10] The traveling allowed him to witness how record shops survived in the digital era of the music industry amidst the vinyl revival. [7] [12]
Burgess said the shops in mainland Europe were successful on their own, while some stores in the UK, such as Rise Records in Bristol and Pie and Vinyl in Southsea had to resort to selling beverages. [7] Each chapter lasts two-to-six pages and is dedicated for each person that selected an album, totalling 52 chapters. [13] One of the chapters revolves around Bookes and Burgess' attempt at writing an obituary for him. [4] On 6 April 2016, Tim Book Two: Vinyl Adventures from Istanbul to San Francisco was announced for release, and was published by Faber & Faber on 21 July 2016, initially as a specially signed edition limited to 500 copies. [11] [14]
The book's artwork was designed by Pete Fowler, known for his pieces for Super Furry Animals, as well as the Monsterism Island toy range. [11] Coinciding with this, a various artists compilation was released on Burgess' own label O Genesis, featuring some of the songs mentioned in the book. [15] [16] It was promoted with a short book tour in Norwich, London, Manchester and Liverpool. [17] A paperback iteration followed in May 2017. [18] Alongside this, a record store was opened under the name Vinyl Adventures, stocking albums listed in the book, plus others from the O Genesis catalogue. A custom record player was built by Rega Research, decaled with the artwork by Fowler. [9]
Janine and Lee Bullman of Loud and Quiet considered it one of the best releases of 2016, calling it an "utterly fantastic book, required reading" for anyone record hunting. [19] Louder Than War writer Sarah Lay said it was a "chatty, anecdote-laden page-turner" that is a "great addition to any music-lovers bookshelf; a light and entertaining read fully brought to life by the accompanying soundtrack". [20]
Record Collector 's Alix Buscovic wrote that Burgess's writing style is "light and conversational; he’s funny, engaging, genuinely passionate and ever ready with an anecdote". He said that having an "overarching narrative and more depth would take this beyond what is, ultimately, an entertaining diversion". [13] Popdose writer Rob Ross stated: "For those of us who love, understand, appreciate and are immersed in music, this is one of those rare moments when someone is able to say what you want to say but often can’t express". [21]
Discussing the soundtrack, Henry Lewis of Skiddle wrote that it "works extremely well given the amount of varying styles that have been thrown together to create it". [22] The Irish Times writer Tony Clayton-Lea said the album is an "eclectic blast from start to finish, as it takes us on Burgess’s titular worldwide trek" through its variety of artists. [23]
The Charlatans are an English rock band formed in the West Midlands, England in 1988. As of 2000, their line-up consists of lead vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist Mark Collins, bassist Martin Blunt and keyboardist Tony Rogers.
Up at the Lake is the eighth album by the British alternative rock band The Charlatans, released on 17 May 2004 through Universal and Island Records Group. As promotion wrapped up for their seventh album Wonderland (2001), Universal wanted them to follow it up with another one quickly. However, frontman Tim Burgess began working on his debut solo album in late 2002. At the end of the year, the band reconvened to write songs; by March 2003, they relocated to their own studio, Big Mushroom in Cheshire, Greater Manchester with them and James Spencer serving as producers. Recording halted in May 2003 to allow for Burgess to finish on his album, I Believe (2003); sessions would resume by the end of the year, and finish in February 2004. Up at the Lake is a pop rock album that pursues the country rock direction that they had first explored on their sixth album Tellin' Stories (1997).
Timothy Allan Burgess is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record label owner, best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band the Charlatans.
Join Hands is the second studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released on 7 September 1979 by Polydor Records. Upon its release, it was praised by the British press, including Melody Maker, Sounds, NME and Record Mirror.
Kaleidoscope is the third studio album by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released on 1 August 1980 by Polydor Records. With the departure of John McKay and Kenny Morris and their replacement by two new musicians, Budgie on drums and John McGeoch on guitars, the band changed their musical direction and offered an album containing a wide variety of colors. "It was almost a different band", said Siouxsie.
Us and Us Only is the sixth album by British rock band the Charlatans, released by Universal on 18 October 1999. After touring for their fifth studio album Tellin' Stories wrapped up by the end of 1997, they played minimal shows throughout 1998 and planned its follow-up. They built their own recording studio, aiming to start recording by early 1999; sessions eventually took place in March and April 1999 with the band self-producing. Us and Us Only is a country rock, folk and roots rock album that strayed from the band's British roots in lieu of American-focused music.
Some Friendly is the debut studio album of British rock band the Charlatans that was released on 8 October 1990 through Beggars Banquet Records imprint Situation Two. After forming in 1988, the band went through line-up changes before settling on vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist John Baker, bassist Martin Blunt, keyboardist Rob Collins and drummer Jon Brookes. The band wrote material at a prolific rate and released their debut single "Indian Rope" in early 1990. Soon afterwards, they signed to Beggars Banquet and began recording their debut album. Between March and August 1990, sessions took place with producer Chris Nagle at Strawberry Studios in Stockport and The Windings in Wrexham. Some Friendly is considered an acid-pop, baggy and dance-pop album that draws influence from The Beatles' psychedelic period.
Between 10th and 11th is the second studio album by British rock band The Charlatans; it was released on 23 March 1992 through Situation Two, a subsidiary of Beggars Banquet Records. The Charlatans started writing new material shortly after the release of their debut studio album Some Friendly (1990). After some writing sessions in Birmingham and a tour of the United Kingdom, guitarist John Baker left the band and was replaced with Mark Collins of English indie band Candlestick Park. Bassist Martin Blunt went through a series of personal issues that led to his hospitalization in September 1991. The Charlatans began recording their next album at Rockfield Studios in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales.
Tellin' Stories is the fifth album by the British rock band the Charlatans, released on 21 April 1997 through Beggars Banquet Records. After wrapping up touring in support of their 1995 self-titled fourth album in early 1996, vocalist Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins went to a cottage near Lake Windermere to write material. Shortly after this, they did a test recording session at Rockfield in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, before main sessions were underway from Easter 1996 at the nearby Monnow Valley Studio with the band, engineer Dave Charles, and engineer Ric Peet acting as producers. Partway through recording, keyboardist Rob Collins was involved in a fatal car crash. The band drafted in Martin Duffy of Primal Scream to help finish it, concluding in early 1997. Tellin' Stories is a Britpop, hip hop soul, and rock album that has been compared to the work of Patti Smith and Neil Young.
The Charlatans is the fourth album by the British rock band the Charlatans, released on 28 August 1995 through Beggars Banquet Records. Following a holiday, vocalist Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins wrote material for their next album at Burgess' place in Chalk Farm. The band then absconded to Monnow Valley Studio in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales, with producer Steve Hillage. After preparing several mixes of the album, none of which they liked, Hillage was fired, and engineer Dave Charles was brought in. Further recording was then done at the nearby Rockfield Studios.
Up to Our Hips is the third studio album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 21 March 1994 through Beggars Banquet Records. They released their second studio album Between 10th and 11th in early 1992; by the year's end, they were working on material for its follow-up. Keyboardist Rob Collins was arrested for participating in an attempted armed robbery. After being bailed out, the band continued writing, splitting into pairs or working alone on songs.
Wonderland is the seventh album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 10 September 2001 through Universal. Following promotional efforts for their sixth studio album Us and Us Only, vocalist Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins wrote new material at the former's house in Los Angeles, California. Cocaine would be an impact on the writing, and later on recording; sessions were held at producer Danny Saber's house studio, Krevorkian's Lab, also in Los Angeles. The band worked with him for seven weeks from October 2000, only completing five tracks, and later went to their own studio, Big Mushroom in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, in early 2001. Wonderland is a funk-soul and electronica record, evoking the work John Mellencamp, Oasis and Primal Scream. Burgess remarked that Los Angeles itself became a member of the band; critics referred to it as a drug-enhanced party album. He employed a falsetto in the vein of Curtis Mayfield and Kurt Wagner.
Simpatico is the ninth studio album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 17 April 2006 through Creole and Sanctuary Records. After signing to the latter label in early 2005, frontman Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins went to Palm Springs, California to write new material. With Jim Lowe and the band producing, recording was held at Hook End Manor in Oxfordshire, with overdubs later being down at Townhouse Studios in London. Simpatico is a dub reggae and rock album that drew comparison to the work of the Dead 60s, Hard-Fi and UB40. Bassist Martin Blunt and Burgess attributed the sound shift to them listening to Ken Boothe, Gregory Isaacs and Studio One.
John David Robb is an English musician and journalist best known as the bassist and singer for the mid-1980s post-punk band the Membranes.
Martin Bernard Duffy was an English musician who played keyboards with Felt and Primal Scream.
You Cross My Path is the tenth studio album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 3 March 2008 as a free download from radio station Xfm's website. Following promotion for the band's ninth studio album Simpatico (2006), frontman Tim Burgess and manager Alan McGee devised an idea to give away their music for no charge. Guitarist Mark Collins and keyboardist Tony Rogers visited Burgess in Los Angeles, California, where they would write new material, and followed this up with jam sessions with the whole band in early 2007. Recording sessions were split across Hollywood, California, Blessington, Ireland and Cheshire, Greater Manchester, with Rogers given a separate producer credit independent of the band. You Cross My Path is an electro and pop album that evoked the work of Kasabian, New Order and Simple Minds. Following the reggae direction of Simpatico, Rogers' organ returned to the forefront of the band's sound on You Cross My Path.
"The Only One I Know" is the second single by English rock band the Charlatans. It was their first top-10 hit, reaching No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. In the UK, it was the highest-charting single from the Some Friendly album. Its best showing in the United States was on the Modern Rock Chart, where it reached No. 5 in September 1990.
"Over Rising" is the fourth single by the English alternative rock band the Charlatans, released on 25 February 1991. It followed "The Only One I Know" and "Then" into the UK Singles Chart top 20, reaching number 15, and peaked at number seven in Ireland, where it remains the group's only top-10 hit.
Modern Nature is the 12th studio album by British rock band the Charlatans. It was released through BMG on 26 January 2015. After the release of the band's 11th studio album Who We Touch (2010), drummer Jon Brookes was diagnosed with brain cancer, and subsequently died in mid-2013. In early 2014, the band met up at their studio Big Mushroom with Jim Spencer, and began working on a new album. The sessions lasted seven months, and featured recordings from the drummers of the Verve, New Order, and Factory Floor. Described as a pop album, Modern Nature featured contributions from the High Llamas frontman Sean O'Hagan, as well as gospel vocals from Melanie Marshall and Sandra Marvin.
Telling Stories is a 2012 autobiography by Tim Burgess, about his time fronting British rock band the Charlatans. After a false start with a ghostwriter, Burgess began the book in earnest in late 2010, completing it in early 2012. Originally released as a hardcover edition, a paperback iteration with an extra chapter was printed in 2013. The book received mainly positive reviews from music publications, several of which commented on Burgess' writing style.
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