Reading the lost enz and officially released rarities thread got me thinking that we are actually quite lucky in one way, a crucial point of the early enz is actually available on CD.... as The Beginning of the Enz. This covers the first non mushroom singles and also half of it is from the period where Phil left Split Enz (where both Wally and Rob Gillies were in the band) even though Phil does play acoustic on all the tracks, he wasn't actually a part of the lineup at the time.

Reading STF, it seems this was the period where Eddie joined and the band really took off. Thank goodness they got that Six of the Best TV show, otherwise we'd never have heard this fantastic lineup of Finn/Chunn/Chunn/Rayner/Gillies/Wilkinson. And gee I like Geoff Chunn's drumming, such great tom work.

Imagine how bleak it would be if it the earliest available recordings were Mental Notes? Seems like the Enz were a bit of a different beast then as well

So we're actually very lucky to be able to hear such an early formative time of the band. And unless I'm sadly mistaken, 129 and Sweet Talking Spoon Song must be the only piano solos played by Tim on an Enz record.

Needles to say, it doesn't stop me wanting more. More. MORE I SAY!!!

We are very lucky - Beginning of the Enz is my second favourite album after Mental Notes. And it's a very close second at that.

Geoff's drumming is great, especially on the intro to Spellbound. That version is so much better than the Mental Notes one, Wally's guitar in particular. Imagine if Mental Notes had been recorded with his guitar sounding like that instead of the infamous 'rubber band' sound.

I'm also glad we have the two songs from the acoustic line up with Miles Golding and Mike Howard. Makes you wonder what the first Enz album would have sounded like if Miles had stayed. Very Jethro Tull-ish, I'd imagine (as opposed to Yes-ish, which is how Mental Notes sounds).

So I'm very happy that the Enz catalogue doesn't begin with Mental Notes (as brilliant as it may be). My life would be very empty without No Bother To Me. Btw, does anyone else prefer the Beginning of the Enz Lovey Dovey to the Second Thoughts one? And has anyone else heard the person counting the beats in the Spellbound intro? It's VERY faint... you'll probably need to be in a mildly altered state and listening through headphones to hear it.

Yup, I prefer the BOTE versions of Spellbound and Lovey Dovey too. And yes, I did notice that "Spellbound" vocal countdown through headphones.

On the subject of BOTE, what do people think of "For You", the first single? I've heard non-fans complain that it sounds "out of tune" or even "sick". Quite a contrast from the glowing reviews from writers like Ron Kane (STF discography) and John Dix (Stranded in Paradise). I must admit it's not one of my favorites, but I'm more a fan of the Neil era.

One of the 3 or 4 songs that I really do like from BOTE is For You. Love the "took me by surprise...dancing up the stairs" bit. The song elevates to something special there imho.

i always try and recommend this 'album' to people who think pre-neil enz is prog.
Its also a great sunday morning album for me.
although i have played it at other times and still really enjoyed it.

In general I like both versions of Lovey Dovey, but the Second Thoughts version wins hands down in the end, the arrangement is so bent. I can see what you mean about spellbound... the mellotrons at the end are better on the earlier version, though I prefer Phil Judd's vocals to Tim's on this.

Home Sweet Home is a revelation in the fact that Phil sings something straight.

I really like For You, I don't think it's out of tune at all. I can see most non fans having a problem with Phil's vocals though, his early vocals are fairly unique.

Was Home Sweet Home the B side to For You?

quote:

Originally posted by John:
[qb] Love the "took me by surprise...dancing up the stairs" bit. The song elevates to something special there imho. [/qb]

Heh heh, that's the very bit that frightened certain members of my family away from the song.

Camus -- the singles were For You/Split Ends and
No Bother to Me/Home Sweet Home.

I prefer the later versions of 'Lovey Dovey' and 'Spellbound'. For me, this album's real stand-out classics are 'Split Ends', '129' and 'No Bother To Me'. Because the tracks represent three different Enz line-ups, and a change from acoustic to electric instrumentation, from folky pop to arty, eccentric rock, there's such a wide variety of different musical sounds and feels, lyrical emotions and insights. A very eclectic collection which adds a much-needed look into the past. Now bring on the remastered reissue which adds the single mixes, Buck-A-Head live recordings, and the Mandrill demos!!!

Don't forget the 1969 Stebbing demos.

I loooove Sweet Talking Spoon Song, No Bother To Me...

I've really underestimated Tim as a piano player, he kicks my ass Did he really play those piano solos Joe? They're fantastic... Are they difficult or is it that I suck?

Will you be able to get chords (and mandolin tab for STSS) happening on these?

I prefer ST Lovey Dovey too, the double vocals are creepy on the BOTE, but it's easier to hear the piano on that, and it's amazing how much better Eddie got on the ivories between BOTE and ST...

BOTE Spellbound has an urgency to it (the fast tempo works alot better than the Mental Notes slow 'ballad' version) but Judds vocals are better than Tims...

Damn straight about the mellotrons Joe

Funny enough this - I've been offline for a day or two, and I've been listening to Beginning of The Enz quite a lot. Which is strange - Considering We discuss the Enz a lot, but I've not dug out an Enz record for a while now.

Spellbound i've always preferred the BOTE version,
A few years ago I did a CD edit with the intro from the Mental Notes recording, which cuts into the buildup of the BOTE version for the rest of it. It may be cheating, but that's probably my favourite version. It combines my favourite parts of both. I did a few other MN\ST edits - But none of them worked quite as well.

I also think that the BOTE version of 129 ****s all over the ST version. It just seems to have more character to it.

Lovey Dovey - I think i'm going to have to go with the ST version, just for the simple reason of how nuts it goes towards the end.

So did George Lucas get his idea for the prequels from Split Enz doing their prequel?! :-)
I can't think of many other artists that officially release albums like BOTE. And to then release (all be it in a limited way) other rarities with the box sets (Nightmare Stampede, True Colours, etc.), Frenz are very lucky.

Frenz are VERY LUCKY and well treated fans. And I appreciate.

BWiG, it's Eddie playing piano and the solo on No Bother To Me, but he wasn't in the band when they recorded 129 and Sweet Talking Spoon Song, and Tim was the piano player before Eddie. I was so pleased to see Tim playing so much piano on EIH and the recent tours, he doesn't play piano enough IMHO

And the Mellotron is one of my favourite keyboards... it makes a fat overblown prog song like In The Court of the Crinmson King.

Mmm, you're right iarla, the 129 song does have more 'character'... Particularly the "I'm going to ask you if you want to be a chorus b-ohoi!" Teheh, I love that BOTE style...

The Second Thoughts version also lacks alot of the cool sax parts from BOTE for some reason, why didn't Robert record them again? Like after "It's not all first nights at all..." BUM BUM BUM! Heh...

What was the Chamberlin like Camus? I've heard it was a much superior design, and all round better instrument than the more famous Mellotron? It was the American version right?

Damn straight about Tim's pianoing, su-poib!

Off the top of my head the Chamberlin was very very similar to the Mellotron, had a few design tweaks and some different samples, but essentially the same instrument. There's also the Optigon (I think that's what it's called) that used discs instead of tapes, you can hear one on Not The Girl You Think You Are, it's not a real piano on that.

Listen closely to Village Green Preservation Society grasshopper, there be plenty of mellotron there argh ah ha ha arghh me hearties argh.

Oi indeed, Phenomenal Cat be nearly all mellotron! and Berkley Mews, I'd never have guessed that sax was a mellotron... Animal Farm too methinks!

Slightly off-topic, but I'll get back to it. On the Dissociatives album (Daniel Johns from Silverchair, and paulmac), they use a mellotron on almost every song. Why don't bands use them more often? Anyway, how can I tell which version my "Matinee Idol" is?

I think, and i'm probably wrong, it's been a while since I did that dissertation, but that the Chamberlain concentrated on String samples a little more - Or maybe it's that Chamberlain String samples are more commonly used than Mellotron ones. I don't really know.

quote:

Originally posted by Pengi:
[qb]how can I tell which version my "Matinee Idol" is? [/qb]

The BOTE version of Matinee Idyll has the line "Playing Romeo you make your debut, yes you do". The ST version has "Playing Romeo you make your debut - Ha!"

I prefer the ST version, it seems more sophisticated.