Some time in my distant past I read a review of Kevin Coyne's live double album In Living Black And White and something must have clicked cos off i went and bought said LP. Needle hits the first side and I hear some bizzarre mutterings, some pounding on a piano, a nursery rhyme like song about a dead head and chasing it down the street. Then suddenly the scene changes to a morgue where Coyne recalls an incident from his social worker past when he is called to identify a body of someone who has a piece of paper in his pocket with Kevin's name on it. The realisation that he could have helped this bloke if only he'd managed to get to him in time - just echoes thru the speakers.
Just when your spirits are down in comes a song about a fat girl going to commit suicide - but while your still reeling in kicks one of the greatest live bands of the time with a song John Lydon listed as a favourite - Eastbourne Ladies. An obsession was born.
Sometimes I've tried to share this obsession with others but know of no other artist who so polarises so many people. He was never a musician's musician -having one of the most basic guitar techniques you'll ever see. He was in no way pin up material and he had a voice which at times could strip paint off metal. But his body of work conatins some of the most real and thought provoking lyrics you'll ever hear and even when going thru his own breakdown he didn't shy away from recording it on album on the astonishing Bursting Bubbles.
His songs have been sung by Pere Ubu, Will Oldham, Everything But The Girl, The Nightingales, The Mekons and many others.
Coyne died in 2004 from lung failure which in his last years saw him singing aided by a breathing tube and in a wheel chair. Since that time there have been sporadic releases especially on his own Turpentine label for which he prepared some releases knowing they would be his last - including Underground.
EMI who now own the Virgin catalogue were preparing his back catalogue for rerelease this year but are now apparently only going to release Marjory Razorbalde and making the rest download only. For them here is Kevin singing one of his most cutting songs - the Teddy bear is a certain label boss who turned up at a party dressed as a bear - in the hope they will review their decision.
If you've read to the bottom of this I thank you
Tony