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| 4-CD-Box Cover |
Martin Stone – Down But Not Out In Paris And London – The Mad Dog Chronicles
is a 4-CD-box which has been so beautifully made that I thought I must be dreaming.
The Mad Dox Box 1 is a joint effort of three record labels: Projectile, Pygtrack and Soft Cloud. Most certainly this is a limited issue, and I dare say that the three labels involved will not cash in money enough to buy themselves terraced houses – not because the music is irrelevant, but because the release is so expensively done. The box, the accompanying book, the four-fold fold-out-cardboard sleeve for the CDs, the CDs themselves have been beautifully illustrated by John Hurford. His drawings are magnificent, the Tony Poole artwork is to the mark. The 50-page book (bound in a hard cover) is richly illustrated with photos, drawings posters… and entertains the reader with reminiscences and memories of an outstanding musician. Among the contributors are Russell Hunter, Michael Moorcock, Tony Poole, Roger Powell, Pete Thomas, Carol Grimes, Edwin Pouncy, Eric Golden to name just a few. Nigel Cross, the co-ordinator of this effort magnifique, has compiled a portrait of “Stoney” - a lover beloved - as he was seen by bandmates and friends.
Martin “Stoney” Stone has played with many bands – The Savoy Brown Blues Band, Mighty Baby, The Pink Fairies, The Tallahassee Rent Boys, The OTs and even a number of French bands when he was living there. Thus the music featured here is multidimensional – from Hillbilly or Gypsy Swing to Balladesque or French Chansons, from wailing Blues to Rock’n’roll, from Garage Rock to almost free form improvisation.
The bands featured on these four CDs are The Tallahassee Rent Boys, Mighty Baby, Almost Presley, Totally Hank, Wolf People, The OTs, Les Soucoupes Violentes as well as duo work with Matt Deighton as well as Stéphane Eden and four tracks as Martin Stone solo.
The music has been culled from various and often private sources, but rest assured, the sound quality is always high even if the music originated from a cassette tape. Tony Poole as the master of the knobs guarantees for that.
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| CD 3 jacket |
The variety of musical approaches on these CDs covering Stoney’s music and musical contributions from 1992 to 2013 is wide, and if cover versions are performed they range from Robert Johnson via John Coltrane to Gun Club.
So, what are the songs that impressed me most?
First and foremost it is John Coltrane’s “India” on disc 3 - a 20-minute Jazz and Rock synergy and a tour of free form improvisation recorded live by Mighty Baby in 2006: a three guitarists’ challenge. In 1970, when people were more receptive and open-minded this interpretation would have moved mountains. “Little Girl Blues” by Almost Presley was heart-stopping. Almost Presley – racing along with a dominating violin – sound like Gypsy Swing with a load of Mexicana. Their unexpected tempo changes and stops are exciting.
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| CD 1 jacket |
I’ve already mentioned the kaleidoscope of sounds the listener can expect on “Down But Not Out”, so while the Blues wailing of the OTs (feat. Chris Youlden) exposes a broad chest and stands up to the very best of the British Blues masters, Matt Deighton’s “A Blaze Of Light” is floating along like a sailing boat in a summer breeze. Stéphane Eden’s “Elle n’aime pas me chansons” is a psychedelic Blues chanson which turns into a Garage Punk rocker. I also dug Les Soucoupes Violentes who drifted between Pub Rock Chamber Music and brash Rolling Stones-like R & B – including inspired longish guitar solos.
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| Les Soucoupes Violentes |
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| Martin Stone in the 70s |
It was a great idea to finish this box set with the 1996 tribute song “Martin” by Clay Harper & The Pierced Hearts feat. Eric Goulden and Charles Wolff. Little things like this add to style.
By my standards, this box set is a must, however expensive it might be. Thank you, Nigel!
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| The accompanying book's backside |
Orders via https://shagratrecords.com/
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