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Robyn Hitchcock - The Kershaw Sessions Audio CD

A fair review of the Robyn Hitchcock "The Kershaw Sessions" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Robyn Hitchcock reviews here, or go back to the Robyn Hitchcock tabs.

Robyn Hitchcock Band: Robyn Hitchcock
Title: The Kershaw Sessions
Rating:
Release Date: 1999-06-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Brenda's Iron Sledge 2: Veins of the Queen 3: Lady Waters and the Hooded One 4: So You Think You're in Love 5: Bass 6: Sleeping With Your Devil Mask 7: Open the Door, Homer 8: Fifty Two Stations 9: Birds in Perspex 10: If You Were a Priest 11: Acid Bird 12: Arms of Love 13: Superman 14: Tropical Flesh Mandala 15: Oceanside 16: Madonna of the Wasps 17: Banana Boat Song (Day-O) 18: Listening to the Higsons 19: Heaven

A must for fans
You should buy it; you will not regret it. The bottom line: If you enjoy Robyn Hitchcock, you're going to want this CD. The material here, with two exceptions, is not new--it's reinterpreted. These sessions are sparser, leaner, even less polished. It works. Most of these versions are just different enough to be compelling. ("52 Stations" is a good example. ) The new tunes are "Open the Door, Homer," a cover of a Bob Dylan song (very good), and "Banana Boat Song," ("Dayo"), which is just silly. The sound quality and production are good. My only complaint is the song selection. It's a shame Robyn chose to cover the mediocre "Lady Waters and the Hooded One" instead of, say, "Strawberry Mind. " In fact, it seems to me that "Fegmania!" is slighted in this collection, which is unfortunate.

If you're curious about Robyn Hitchcock, skip this and pick up "Greatest Hits" (a bit of a misnomer as there are no hits on it!) If you are already a fan, especially a hard-core fan, don't hesitate. Order this today. You won't regret it.


Great for fans, okay for beginners
Some of the others sound very much like the album versions. Not a place to start, but fans will want the acoustic band versions, which comprises a little less than half the album. The 2 "new" songs are fun but nothing to die for.


Re-recordings with a reason for being
Be reassured - the songs may be familiar, but the performances won't be. If you already know Hitchcock's work, you may be looking over _The Kershaw Sessions_ track listing and asking yourself whether to buy an album to get two new songs.

Many fans felt that Hitchcock's recordings for A&M records were overproduced, so when he promised that _Respect_ would be the band playing around the kitchen table, hopes were high. Alas! _Respect_ was the worst of the lot, buried in studio glop.

_The Kershaw Sessions_ is closer to _Respect_'s intent. About half the songs here are from Hitchcock's A&M period, and nearly every one is an improvement on the official release. Except for the bookend tracks (inexplicably borrowed from Hitchcock's live _Gotta Let This Hen Out!_) the songs are fresh and clear, spontaneous without being sloppy - even "Superman" has all its tricky rhythms in place. It's especially satisfying to hear "Madonna of the Wasps" with the hypnotic intro restored.

Most imports are for completists only, but _The Kershaw Sessions_ still sounds good years after it came out.


You can see a complete list of all Robyn Hitchcock discography, or go back to the Robyn Hitchcock tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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