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Bizarre & controversial 1970 release from the suave cat who starred in 'Jason King', offering dramatic vignettes against treacly orchestral-pop arrangements. Withdrawn quickly after original release...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Take a great actor, a very talented writing and production team, and give them carte blanche to to whatever they want. That's exactly what this album is. A highly imaginative concept album, that really defies classification. It's quite close to the Bonzo Dog Band's work in places, but you're just as likely to find it listed under 'easy listening'. There's a terrific sense of humour permeating the entire record, courtesy of Wyngarde's lyrics and very careful selection of other material. His version of the psychedelic classic 'Neville Thumbcatch' is excellent. 'Rape' is social commentary, and the material about hippies and skinheads is marvellous. The recording quality is superb, as is his voice - it's very carefully intonated throughout, as you'd expect from him. With the right promotion, this could easily become a cult classic.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this while I was in one of my "let's see what weirdo stuff I can find this week on Amazon" humours, and to be honest I didn't even know this existed.
The best way to describe this CD is that it could be the first "seduction concept album" ever recorded.
Imagine the scenario, have the champagne on ice:
It all starts off well enough, preparing the batchelor pad for action with candles and music, you invite your lady in, complement her on her fragrance, pop the bubbly, then relax up close on the bright orange sofa. All very civilised until track 3 starts and she spits her champers out with enough force to knock you clean off your Cuban heels, before high-tailing it home in a taxi before you even have chance to straighten your pink silk kipper tie.
To quote Woody Allen; "How did I mis-read those signs?"
Yep, it's that kind of impact. Having said that, at least you have the rest of the evening free to digest the rest of this extraordinary album.
Peter Wyngarde was a common sight in the 60s on TV (appearing in The Saint, The Avengers, and The Prisoner to name a few); but is much more popular for his superb pre-Austin Powers alter-ego Jason King from the 70s TV show of the same name, but he was much better as this incarnation in Department S. Over-the-top acting (I think it's called "camp" now) and an inability to fight (check out those karate chops, they wouldn't part your hair) coupled with a revolving door on his bedroom made him a hero to all pre-pubescent boys and lusted after by teenage girls. Now he would be parodied, but then he was the ultimate grrrrrr man. Up there with Curtis and Moore.
WSLIIH encapsulates this period, but with overtones of loneliness that only a devoted playboy poet/crime writer is going to experience as he jets off to solve another million pound jewel heist.
If you're from this era, you will know what I mean.
The best way to describe this CD is that it could be the first "seduction concept album" ever recorded.
Imagine the scenario, have the champagne on ice:
It all starts off well enough, preparing the batchelor pad for action with candles and music, you invite your lady in, complement her on her fragrance, pop the bubbly, then relax up close on the bright orange sofa. All very civilised until track 3 starts and she spits her champers out with enough force to knock you clean off your Cuban heels, before high-tailing it home in a taxi before you even have chance to straighten your pink silk kipper tie.
To quote Woody Allen; "How did I mis-read those signs?"
Yep, it's that kind of impact. Having said that, at least you have the rest of the evening free to digest the rest of this extraordinary album.
Peter Wyngarde was a common sight in the 60s on TV (appearing in The Saint, The Avengers, and The Prisoner to name a few); but is much more popular for his superb pre-Austin Powers alter-ego Jason King from the 70s TV show of the same name, but he was much better as this incarnation in Department S. Over-the-top acting (I think it's called "camp" now) and an inability to fight (check out those karate chops, they wouldn't part your hair) coupled with a revolving door on his bedroom made him a hero to all pre-pubescent boys and lusted after by teenage girls. Now he would be parodied, but then he was the ultimate grrrrrr man. Up there with Curtis and Moore.
WSLIIH encapsulates this period, but with overtones of loneliness that only a devoted playboy poet/crime writer is going to experience as he jets off to solve another million pound jewel heist.
If you're from this era, you will know what I mean.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The album opens with Peter inviting you into his home, complimenting your perfume and pouring you a drink by candlelight...it's clear that one thing's on his mind: Sex. He even asks you to sit nearer to him, for "everything's much closer over here"...
Very bizzare, and it just gets weirder and weirder. Be it an exploration of the violent sex rituals of the world (Rape) or a traditional folk chorus, the album is full of surprises. Quite literally unpredictable, and unlike anything you've ever heard or ever will hear ever again.
Special mention must be made of "The Hippie and the Skinhead". Peter reads his newspaper to you before delivering what must be one of the very first recorded raps. In 1970! To a country music backing!
However, by far the best track on the album (on any album?) is Neville Thumbcatch. The music is wonderful and varied, making use of acoustic guitars, cellos, brass bands and female choruses. It's important to remember that Peter was not a singer, so he delivers his lines like a poetry recital. And it sounds utterly fantastic. The song details with a poor man who spent his whole life farming and gardening only to lose his wife, who wanted nothing more than to make love. "He was a man of nature who'd forgotten his birds and his bees"...I guess the message is that we should do what's natural and leave nature to mother nature, as is the natural order...
Without a doubt a classic. To be filed alongside such gems as Swordfishtrombones and Trout Mask Replica....hell, even The White Album....as a piece of art that was well ahead of its time and quite possibly changed the face of music forever.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
When Sex Leers Its Inquisitive Head, Peter Wyngarde - Cool slice of...
I bought this a little while ago, when a friend recommended it to me after I'd been enthusing about William Shatner's `Transformed Man'. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Victor
Hypnotically compelling ...
Quite amazing. Peter does an amazing tongue-in-cheek narrative even self-referencing his alter-ego Jason King. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. G. T. Fleming
Chocolate for your ears
Peter Wyngarde has always had one of those voices that make you like him. I was recently given this little gem from a younger man who couldn't "get into it". Read more
Published on 29 May 2010 by Witchfinder General
Jason King on CD? Fancy!!!
The first thing that hits you about Peter's idiosyncratic and so far only album is that it is radically different from anything released by his peers - well perhaps except William... Read more
Published on 3 May 2010 by G. G. Stafford
Amazing
Quite stunning. I bought it in order to laugh at the preposterousness of it and found myself drawn in. I love it. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2004 by Alex Keenleyside
A strange appeal
According to the liner notes (with an interview with Peter Wyngarde some years later) RCA had approached the artist several times with ideas for an album, usually of old standards,... Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2003 by "dave3rave"
when sex lears it's inquisitive head
IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THE BIZARRE THEN THIS ALBUM'S FOR YOU. IT WILL SCARE AND ENLIGHTEN YOU ALL IN ONE LISTEN. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2003 by "lulamcnaught"
Are You Curious?
This album is astonishing. Mr Wygarde was given carte blanche to produce this album and the fact that it was almost immediately deleted invites fascination. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2002 by Psi Powers
You really have got to be there....
Actor Peter Wyngarde portrayed Jason King from around 1968 to 1970. A fine actor and veteran of many TV, film and stage performances, he made this album in the wake of that... Read more
Published on 15 April 2001
For Peter Wyngarde fans only!
If you've searched for this CD on Amazon, then you're probably a fan of Peter Wyngarde.
On this CD, he plays up his role as Jason King and does some cheesy talking-only tracks,... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2000
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