Ian Carr and Nucleus reissues on BGO

[David H]

Information for any fans of Ian Carr and Nucleus. BGO is currently reissuing the back-catalogue of Carr/Nucleus in one of their current reissues there is a promotion picture of other Carr/Nucleus CDs available. The vast majority of the title are available. However, two of the titles:

Alleycat/Inflagranti Delicto (BGOCD565) and
Under The Sun/Snakehips Etcetera (BGOCD568)

are not yet issued - due, according to BGO, problems between Carr and the distributors Universal. When I enquired the UK record shops did not have either title on their databases, though orders can be placed via the BGO website , and the CDs will be provided when available.
.[http://www.bgo-records.com/page1.htm

Whatever the problem is I hope that it can be sorted out and it does not prevent the reissue of these CDs.

[Bev Stapleton]

I've really enjoyed the initial re-releases. I saw Nucleus at Reading University c.1974 before I had much of an idea about jazz. I've never paid them much attention until recently.

I read somewhere that the BGO reissues were selling out abroad yet are hard to get hold of over here. Daft.

There's a 2CD live disc due soon from somewhere like Jazzprint or Cuneiform - check Alankin's site.

Track down Neil Ardley's 'Kaleidoscope of Rainbows' from that era, David. Its been reissued on CD with some additional material - similar feel and musicians.

[David H]

Bev,

Thanks for the tip about the Ardley - I'll keep my eye's open for it.

It does seem ridiculous if the BGO reissues are available overseas first!

The Carr/Nucleus CD of Out of The Long Dark & Old Heartland is well worth seeking out. The latter his more of a solo recording for Carr where he is back by a string orchestra - a very contemplative work - very different from early Nucleus.

David

[Bev Stapleton]

Yes, I have the original release from the 80s of Old Heartland. I like the strings on it - quite astringent compared with moth jazz + strings albums. Reminds me of someone like Walton or Bliss.

[Tom K]

This reminds me that I have the ROOTS LP in my collection - and haven't listened to it for decades. I have to take this out again, just for curiosity.

[David H]

Bev,

Funny you should say about Walton and/or Bliss. When I listened to Old Heartland last night it made me think of late Vaughan Williams. For me the orchestration caught the bitter chill of the Northumberland winds.

Tom,

I listened to Roots again tonight, a marvellous recording. What struck me was how riff orientated the music was. I'd recommend the double CD Elastic Rock/We'll Talk About It Later, which catches Carr and Nucleus at a more experimental and mellow frame of mind.

I heard somewhere (Jazzwise, if I remember correct) that the BBC might be releasing a double CD of Nucleus concerts from the 70s and 80s. It'll be very interesting to hear as, according to John Fordham's essay in Shots From The Hip, Nucleus was more of a jamming band live than studio. It'll be interesting to hear.

[Tom K]

I've listened to ROOTS again now - an interesting experience. I liked the beginning very much and thought it had stood the test of time very well. But then, by and by, my attention seemed to wander off. The retro electric piano was quite fun; but (just like at the time when it first came out) I found the wah-wah trumpet hard to take. My final impression was that the record is simply too noisy, which is probably a matter of how things are arranged.

[Bev Stapleton]

I think this was all in the nature of what Carr was trying to do at the time. He'd had it with the jazz establishment of the time as a consequence of his experiences in the 60s and was looking to reorientate into a type of music that seemed related to the times rather than detaching itself into some sort of purism that would please the self-appointed jazz police (the Miles parallel is there).

Of course the danger of aligning yourself with the times is that the times change and your music stands a high chance of being tied to those times.

I think one reason I never really took to Nucleus in the 70s was because they were too rock orientated at a time when I was starting to move away from rock into jazz, folk and classical - the last thing I wanted was funky rhythms!

With hindsight I find the music much more attractive - definately a period piece but very winning. But I wonder if that is just nostalgia. As I get older I find myself more and more drawn to the music of the 60s and 70s rather than moving beyond it! I think I understand why my Dad still listens to Vera Lynn!

[D.D.]

Originally posted by David H
The Carr/Nucleus CD of Out of The Long Dark & Old Heartland is well worth seeking out. The latter his more of a solo recording for Carr where he is back by a string orchestra - a very contemplative work - very different from early Nucleus.


I have this one, and I like it. I hear some Philip Glass influence.
On the other hand, I don;t think I even finished listening to the first funky/rock CD of the set. I'll give it a try...

[David H]

One of the aspects of the BGO Carr/Nucleus reissues are the well written sleeve notes. They provide a useful history of Carr's career, the development of Nucleus and a view of the UK jazz/rock scene. All of which could have been consined to the footnotes of jazz history. Hopefully, when all the CDs are reissued the full biography/history will be available.

[David H]

I've just received an email from BGO informing me that they have now received the DAT of Alleycat/Inflagranti Delicto so the reissue of that CD should now go ahead. BGO hope Under The Sun/Snakehips Etcetera should follow soon.

[RogerFarbey]

Just for information, you may want to checkout the "Unofficial Ian Carr and Nucleus Web Site" which I started up at the end of last year as a sort of token of appreciation to Ian and all in Nucleus (plus Ian's erstwhile colleagues in other bands such as the Rendell-Carr Quintet, Neil Ardley and the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble). The URL is at: http://www.geocities.com/icnucleus
and while it doesn't pretend to be the only site on Nucleus (and surprisingly there aren't that many) it does attempt to be as comprehensive as possible. Glad to see there are some Nucleus fans out there. - Roger F.

[RogerFarbey]

Nucleus fans will no doubt be pleased to learn that the Cuneiform double album "Nucleus Live in Bremen" will be hitting the streets in early May. There is a pre-release review of it on "The Unofficial Ian Carr and Nucleus Web Site" at: http://www.geocities.com/icnucleus
Also, Hux records are releasing at the end of April some BBC sessions by Nucleus from the 1970s and 1980s and this is called 'The Pretty Red Head". Again more details of this are on the Unofficial Ian Carr and Nucleus Web Site. Hopefully we should see the CD re-releases of "Under the Sun" and "Inflagrante delicto" in the not too distant future! - Roger F

[David H]

Roger,

Thanks for the Ian Carr and Nucleus information - I look forward to having a look at your website.

I've received an email from BGO the date for the re-issue of Alleycat/Inflagranti Delicto should be in three weeks time. Let's hope the problems holding-up Under The Sun/Snakehips Etcetera are only temporary.

[RogerFarbey]

David
Some good news then about the re-releases. On a similar note, although not strictly re-releases, Hux Records are about to release 'The Pretty Redhead - Nucleus Live at the BBC' - two sessions recorded about a decade apart. There will be a pre-release review of this major event on the web site http://geocities.com/icnucleus in the next day or so. I'm reviewing this CD and from what I've heard it is absolutely excellent. Roger F

[RogerFarbey]

The pre-release review of Nucleus' 'The Pretty Redhead' is now on the Unofficial Ian Carr and Nucleus Web Site at: http://www.geocities.com/icnucleus/PrettyRedheadreview