Topic: The Fall

[hooded claw]

I know there are some Fall fans on here, so any recommendations on the essential albums/tracks or just a pointer to the best place to start... suggestions appreciated 

[FlashingBlade]

Well my own personal fave  LP is "Dragnet"...which was their second ( How many have they made now  25?)...Hex induction Hour is also very good...singles...many although once again their early stuff remains my favorites.."Totally wired" " Rowche Rumble"  " Look Know" " Kicker Consipracy"...the thing about the Fall is it wasn't one particular LP or single ..more there whole cannon of work..

[Cassiel]

50,000 Falls Fans Can't be Wrong is the best place to start. 39 tracks spanning his/their entire career, nearly every one a piece of mad, twisted genius-uh. By no means complete but enough on there to give you the gist.

[Barney_Rubble]

Hard to say, almost every album had a different lineup

My personal fave is Hex Enduction Hour.

[kavah]

that tv show about the history of the fall on the bbc a couple of weeks ago was brilliant. Mark Smith came over as a cantankerous, booze addled, ego-maniac/nutter genius.

And the quality ( and quantity ) of is work  impressive, I've only got 1 fall record ( and I think I bought that because it had a hologram on the sleeve) so I'm reading this thread hoping for a few tips.

[the good half]

My favourite is 'Xtricate' Mr.Claw. Featuring the song '...And There In' which is the track that kicked off my love for the oddball.

[Victor]

Hard to say, almost every album had a different lineup

My personal fave is Hex Enduction Hour.

seconded   every one is somebodys favourite tho    there are some of their albums I really don't like and some I really love ... but that's the nature of them

tracks ?  from Hex try "Jawbone and the air rifle" "Hip Priest" and "Who makes the Nazis"

[Barney_Rubble]

from Hex try "Jawbone and the air rifle" "Hip Priest" and "Who makes the Nazis"

And my fave from Hex, Fortress/Deer Park

[JonnyCigarettes®]

This is fucking hilarious.....


Members
Mark E. Smith
Elena Poulou
Tim Presley
Rob Barbato
Orpheo McCord
Dave Spur
Pete Greenway



Former members
Simon 'Dingo' Archer (2003-04)
Una Baines (1977-78)
Spencer Birtwistle (2000-2001, 2004-2006)
Ed Blaney (intermittently band member/manager, 2000-04 [1])
Kenny Brady (1990-91)
Martin Bramah (1977-79; 1989-90)
Jonnie Brown (1978)
Karl Burns (1977-78; 1981-86; 1993-96; 1997-98)
Dave Bush (1991-95)
Kay Carroll (1981-83)
Tommy Crooks (1997-98)
Ruth Daniel (2002)
Brian Fanning (2001)
Adrian Flanagan (1996-97)
Tony Friel (1977)
Andy Hackett (1997)
Paul Hanley (1980-85)
Steve Hanley (1979-98)
Tom Head (1998-2000)
Adam Helal (1998-2001)
Karen Leatham (1998)
Mike Leigh (1979-80)
Eric McGann (1978)
Dave Milner (2001-04)
Julia Nagle (1995-2001)
Yvonne Pawlett (1978-79)
Ben Pritchard (2001-06)
Marc Riley (1978-82)
Lucy Rimmer (1995-96)
Simon Rogers (1985-87)
Craig Scanlon (1979-95)
Marcia Schofield (1986-90)
Brix Smith (1983-89; 1994-96)
Kier Stewart (1997)
Kate Themen (1998)
Steven Trafford (2004-2006)
Jim Watts (2001-03; 2004)
Neville Wilding (1998-2001)
Simon Wolstencroft (1986-1997)
Dave/Steve (name unknown) (1977)
 

[Barney_Rubble]

More fucking changed lineups than Rafa......

[xavidub]

50,000 Falls Fans Can't be Wrong is the best place to start. 39 tracks spanning his/their entire career, nearly every one a piece of mad, twisted genius-uh. By no means complete but enough on there to give you the gist.

That and Totally Wired.

[JonnyCigarettes®]

More fucking changed lineups than Rafa......

They were at their best with Dave/Steve (name unknown) in the band.

[America's Sweetheart]

Dragnet is the one.

Just three of the many marvellous moments on this most magnificent of musical masterpieces:

Printhead - Just the perfect tribute to music journalists everywhere:

The singer is a neurotic drinker
The band little more than a big crashing beat.
Instruments collide and we all get drunk

The last two lines were a quote, yeah
When we read them, we went to pieces
 

Diceman - Full on blam-ba-lam pre-punk: "They say music should be fun, like reading a story of love, but I wanna read a horror story"


In My Area - The song that inspired Paul Morley's Dave McCullouch's* rather famous tribute to Ian Curtis:  "That man cared for you, that man died for you, that man saw the madness in your area."


But really, every single song is a must-have. The Fall were never this good ever again.



*My Dad just had a word with me. And wanted me to mention that Mark E Smith once actually complimented him on his writing!

[crownpaints]

Where's The Fuckin Taxi? c*nt.

[kavah]

Mark E Smith once actually complimented him on his writing!

That must be unique

( not on the merits of his writing    - but MeS being complimentary to anyone )

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

How the hell did I miss this thread?

Recommended tracks:  Rowche Rumble, Eat Y'Self Fitter, Totally Wired, Sparta FC.

Recommended albums:  Hex Enduction Hour, Perverted By Language, Dragnet

Seen them more times than I'd care to mention but my favourite memory is from the Phil pub before a Fall gig at the Poly (there's a great Liverpool venue from the past). Me, my bro and a couple of mates enjoying a pre-gig pint and playing the quizzie/fruity and there's this Manc voice from behind us "Excuse me lads-ah" our kid turns round and with amazing sang froid blerts out "Fuckin' ell its Mark E Smith".  Deadpan as ever he says "Yeah, but have you seen ma fookin' band-ah?"

It transpired that the rest of the band had escaped his famously dictatorial clutches and snuck off to the boozer.  Leaving His Smithness to trawl the local hostelries trying to round them up before the gig.

[FlashingBlade]

As with VdM I too have seen the Fall more times than I can remember...when I got into the twenties I decided to stop counting ..though admittedly I haven't seen em since about 2002 at the Uni

First time I saw them was Eric's ( or was it Brady's) ? In 1979 ..I bombed out of getting a semi final ticket v Mans at Maine Road so I decided to go to a gig on the Friday night before the game and catch The Fall..I had never seen anything quit like it...no attempt to impress (apart from the music) and my memory tells me the stage lighting consisted of half adozen light bulbs....anyway I got home abt 2 ish and there on the kithchen table was a semi final ticket.....which my mate had got hold of and dropped off..needless to say a good night

[Des Lynam]

Great band...love them.

"Touch Sensitive" is a great song, way ahead of its time, and a near masterpiece. To me anyway.

"Fantastic Life" and "US 80'S/90's" are great as well.

Great band, great frontman. VERY underrated. VERY ahead of their time.

Also, read the other day that a new album is due for 2007, with obligatory tour...should be cool.

[Filler.]

The Fall are the greatest band Britain has ever produced.


*ducks*

or rather.. *leans backwards nonchalently as a Malcolm Marshall bouncer whizzes by my nose in complete safety*

[Des Lynam]

For anyone that's interested, they're playing liverpool on the 10th march.

http://www.seetickets.com/see/event.asp?e%7Cartist=THE+FALL&resultsperpage=20&filler1=see

[MichaelA]

The Fall are the greatest band Britain has ever produced.

Conceptually.

[Armin]

Was supposed to review them last time they were in Liverpool supported by John Cooper Clarke. May get to this one instead.

[Filler.]

Conceptually.

Of all the glib things that people can come out with in everyday life about who's the best in this that and the other... sling in a Fall track into the argument and suddenly things aren't so clear.. you can take your Pet Sounds and your White Album aND your whatevers, but nothing compares. They ARE the best.. and when it finally disappears... music is suddenly going to appear so so poor, no matter who what or when will pop up.

[Xabidodger]

My favourite band, simple as that. Greatness.

Best of is the best place to start and This Nation's Grace is my personal fav.

Woprds cannot describe how much I love the Fall. After 11 years of being with my Mrs, even she is coming round to see the genius that is Mark E Smith.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

My favourite band, simple as that. Greatness.

Best of is the best place to start and This Nation's Grace is my personal fav.

Woprds cannot describe how much I love the Fall. After 11 years of being with my Mrs, even she is coming round to see the genius that is Mark E Smith.

I took my missus to see The Fall playing at some obscure festival in a dodgy club in Bradford for our third date.  Still together 18 years later - it's the ultimate compatibility test

[Xabidodger]

I also recommend the Complete Box Set of the Peel Sessions, 9 CDs of hazy memories listening to The Peel Show on a radio fingers ready on the tape record button.
I am getting married this year and we are sorting all the Fluffy crappy stuff out now - we are having band names for the tables. The top table is of course The Fall!!!

Saw the Fall in Nov in London. As great as always.

I also saw the Brian Jonestown Massacre a couple of weeks after and they were great.Something of the Smith in Anton Newcombe. Also a band with 100's of former members.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

I am getting married this year and we are sorting all the Fluffy crappy stuff out now - we are having band names for the tables. The top table is of course The Fall!!!

C'mon then - what are the other tables called?  Which band is the table of people you don't really like but had to invite for family/work reasons?

[Xabidodger]

My Mrs wants Take That!! But that would be her family.

Others include

The Human League
Blondie
Stone Roses
Buzzcocks
New Order


Then  The Killers ( the Mrs choice I am afraid). Hardier than you think.

I wanted A Certain Ratio, but know.

[kavah]

My Mrs wants Take That!! But that would be her family.

Others include

The Human League
Blondie
Stone Roses
Buzzcocks
New Order


Then  The Killers ( the Mrs choice I am afraid). Hardier than you think.

I wanted A Certain Ratio, but know.

That's a cool idea sounds like it's going to be a good wedding disco.

[Xabidodger]

Of Yes, my only real involvement is curate a list of records for the disco. Got mates who DJ playing and mighty even get on the wheels of steel myself.

[Xabidodger]

Back to the main question of great fall records. There is a Fall cover version of Lost in Music, which is top draw. It was the Bside to Why are people Grudgeful?? And is on the excellent The Trip by Jarvis Cocker.

[Filler.]

Back to the main question of great fall records. There is a Fall cover version of Lost in Music, which is top draw. It was the Bside to Why are people Grudgeful?? And is on the excellent The Trip by Jarvis Cocker.

It's also on their double Live LP.. The Twenty Seven Points - great LP... and downloadable from here http://www.itstoolong.com/wp/2006/07/21/hundstage/

good luck for the wedding.

[Xabidodger]

Thanks, feels like it is taking over my entire life. But she is the girl for me.

[Filler.]

They are back with their 27th studio LP (and of course a new line-up), 'Imperial Wax Solvent', and listening to R5 today, Smith is getting some big gong at some awards ceremony - can't remember in what category or which ceremony but it's a life time achievement thing anyway. I guess it's that time. Britain's answer to Elvis Presley has also just come out with his first autobiography, which I may need to read.

Hats doffed to the great man. Is their anyone bigger or better in British music - no is probably the answer.



"after pursuits away with von sudenfed, welcome back mark e smith and the fall for record number 27. 'imperial wax solvent' is released on castle records and sees the slate wiped clean yet again with a new makeshift roster consisting of smith alongside wife elena poulou, keiron melling and david spurr, none of whom appeared with smith on 2007's 'reformation post-tlc'. the album features a groundhogs cover ('strangetown'), a track co-written with andi toma of mouse on mars ('is this new') and a schizophrenic track, in the case of the 11-and-a-half minute version of live favourite '50 year old man'. the whole sound is based on a backbone of scuzzy garage band / crunch-bass and it's another absolutely wonderful fall album."

[Cassiel]

I posted about this in the 2008 music thread. It's a great Fall LP, after a few average ones in my honest etc. Not a poor track on it, though the first is the weakest. Great fizzing garge rock, some nice levels of heavyosity and the gnarled one ranting on about leaving towels on the hotel floor and pissing on them..

'I'm a 50 year old man-ah and I like it-ah'

Do get the book. Fuckin hilarious.

[davidg]

I have only ever listened to 'This Nations Saving Grace' and I absolutely love it, work of total genius.

What album should I check out next?

[Cassiel]

Extricate or Hex Enduction HOur. From entirely different Fall eras, both fabulous.

[MichaelA]

Live At The Witchtrials. It's all been downhill since then. Manc bastard.

[hooded claw]

Rock the records
Check the record
Check the guy's track record!

As you were.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

I have only ever listened to 'This Nations Saving Grace' and I absolutely love it, work of total genius.

What album should I check out next?

Hex Enduction Hour, Perverted by Language