Something for the weekend – Episode #39 – Television “Marquee Moon”

…and here we go for our 4th episode about NYC-influenced records. This was supposed to be the final one but so many great records came from New York that we will continue this series with a few other ones ; stay tuned! This week, we will review what is for me the quintessential NY album… which happens to be one of my favourites ever.

Television – “Marquee Moon“ – 1977

I guess this is no secret from anyone vaguely familiar with this blog that the 1975-1985 New York period is my favourite one ever, full stop. Although things changed probably not for the best in the subsequent times thanks to Giuliani and his gentrification goons, there is still a different atmosphere in the great city today and I would not miss wandering in the Bowery district for anything when I happen to be there. You will not find a better love letter to these South-East Manhattan districts than on this record. Formed in the early 70’s by Tom Verlaine (né Thomas Miller) and Richard Hell (né Richard Meyers), Television really found their formula when the latter left the band and when they regrouped with the rhythm section of Fred Smith on bass and Billy Ficca on drums, leaving the space for the extraordinary guitar playing skills of Richard Lloyd and Tom Verlaine. This is very interesting to note that without doomed 19th century French poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine, there would not have been any Patti Smith, nor Tom Verlaine. Richard Hell in particular took Rimbaud’s non-haircut style, which then influenced UK punk bands (hello Sex Pistols…) which themselves influenced postpunk bands… U2‘s The Edge for instance clearly mentioned many times that his very unique guitar playing style actually came from Television. Interviewed in 1974 by Melody Maker, here is what John Lennon said while grabbing Television…on tv: “Yeah, I can relate to them, they’re exactly as we were. Skint and loving every minute. They sound terrible but they’re OK!“

What do we have then with “Marquee Moon“? A perfect rock album? Eight fantastic tracks? Incredible but also not demonstrative guitar playing from the two maestros? The best balance between poetry and street life found in lyrics ever? Well, all of this I must confess but also one of the most beautiful and iconic covers of all times, shot by legendary artist Robert Mapplethorpe. What makes this record different from the rest and important for any music lover is simultaneously his peculiarity (is it punk? is it jazz? is it psychedelic rock?) but also the fact it could not have been done anywhere else than in New York in the mid-70’s. The overall sound makes you feel protected and at home but with a sense of bitterness and urgency one can relate to the location and period. Television did not last very long and disbanded after 2nd 1978 “Adventure” LP. They later regrouped and released an excellent self-titled “Television” album in 1992 and keep on touring when they feel like it (I personally travelled to Glasgow, Scotland to catch them live…). Commercial success and sales are not that important in the grand scheme of things and I am sure that I am not the only one to have their lives changed after discovering this amazing album.

Format: LP Bought in: 1987 To be noted: Television were actually more popular in the UK than in their native United States of America, touring with Blondie and being defended by New Musical Express and Melody Maker writers at the time. Rating: 10.5/10 (rare rating for masterpieces)