The Velvet Forum

arjan wrote:

iaredatsun wrote:A band without their original front man and songwriter makes for a slim case, I think.

Well, many bands tried to and some even succeeded (Genesis post-Gabriel, many hard rock bands) - and yes, some failed (The Doors, Genesis post-Collins). (I'm not outing myself here as a prog fan, rest assured.)

And it's not downplaying Lou's importance either - the band were indeed mortally wounded AFAIC. But there's just no denying the fact they tried, and legitimately too, Sterling and Moe included.

Phil Collins was the original singer before they recruited Gabriel. Also their original song-writing team remained more or less intact, just with a change of lyricist. Some people (Patrick Bateman amongst them) actually preferred the post-Gabriel version. They existed with Collins as singer far longer than without. So with Collins they outlived and even out-shone (for some) their former line-up.

They (VU) may have tried (a bit half-heartedly, perhaps?) but without their original song-writer and frontman it was a VU in name only.

Kill Mick wrote:A while back somebody argued on here - quite convincingly in my opinion - that of all the times the VU could be said to have ended (after Max's, in 1973, etc.) the most legitimate time was at the end of 1971, when (for the first time) they ceased to function as a touring band and effectively disbanded. I've always held that view since then, so yes, I'd love to hear "She'll Make You Cry" and "Friends".

It seems a bit like arguing the existence of a legal entity. They were a shell of a band required to keep going by the management. They'd literally lost their soul at that point. To call them the VU is, I think, to ignore what made the VU what they were. But, I've always held that the VU were not just another rock band. That's my view, at least.

I would even add "Louise", as the last track on the last CD, just for the last minute or so and the line "every day slips away".

iaredatsun wrote:Ok. For the playing ? I got it.

Exactly, especially as it has Sterling on it. I'd give The Smurf Song a listen if it had Sterling on it.

arjan wrote:

iaredatsun wrote:Ok. For the playing ? I got it.

Exactly, especially as it has Sterling on it. I'd give The Smurf Song a listen if it had Sterling on it.

You mean it doesn't?! I could have sworn that was him...

At first universal could redo the banana album and the wlwh reissues properly.

Kill Mick wrote:You mean it doesn't?! I could have sworn that was him...

Nope, that's "Smurf It Takes" (live only) and "People Who Smurfed".

arjan wrote:

Kill Mick wrote:You mean it doesn't?! I could have sworn that was him...

Nope, that's "Smurf It Takes" (live only) and "People Who Smurfed".

Personally I always love his work on "I'm Waiting For The Smurf" and "Smurf Fatale"...

Kill Mick wrote: Personally I always love his work on "I'm Waiting For The Smurf" and "Smurf Fatale"...

Just get to the point please. "Pale blue smurfs" ...

threechordwonder wrote:

Kill Mick wrote: Personally I always love his work on "I'm Waiting For The Smurf" and "Smurf Fatale"...

Just get to the point please. "Pale blue smurfs" ...

You guys are fuckin' stupid. That was Willie Alexander that played on those tunes. Sterling played on "Homnibus Says" and "I Heard Gargamel Call My Name."