Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1 explained

Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1
Type:compilation
Artist:various artists
Cover:Leader_of_the_Starry_Skies.jpg
Genre:Psychedelic rock
Length:73:56[1]
Label:Believers Roast

Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1 is a compilation album featuring cover versions of songs by Tim Smith, the songwriter behind Cardiacs, The Sea Nymphs, Spratleys Japs and his solo project OceanLandWorld.[2] It was released on CD on 13 December 2010 on the Believers Roast label (via Genepool distribution). The release date for download, via iTunes, was 20 December 2010.

All contributing artists and bands have either stated a strong Cardiacs influence in their music, profess sincere admiration for Smith's work, or feature at least one person who has at some time been involved with Cardiacs.[3] Contributors to the project include The Magic Numbers, Robert White of The Milk and Honey Band with Andy Partridge (XTC),[4] Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree,[5] Katharine Blake of Mediaeval Baebes, progressive rock band Oceansize,[6] Julianne Regan of All About Eve, 1990s Britpop band Ultrasound (who reunited especially to record their cover version), Jason Pegg of Clearlake and no less than five current or former Cardiacs members - former keyboard player William D. Drake, former drummer and keyboard player Mark Cawthra, former guitarist Bic Hayes (under the project name of mikrokosmos), current guitarist Kavus Torabi (with his Knifeworld project) and former drummer Peter Tagg (with the Trudy).

The album was recorded as a response to Tim Smith's hospitalisation in 2008[7] (following a combined heart attack and stroke in London) was released on Torabi's Believers Roast label[8] in order to raise funds for his care and recovery.[9] [10] All profits from the album sales went directly to help Tim Smith.[11] A bonus disc, called A Loyal Companion, was free with CD preorders.

Track listing

All titles by Tim Smith

  1. "Savour" - William D. Drake
  2. "Big Ship" - Ultrasound
  3. "Fear" - Oceansize
  4. "Let Alone My Plastic Doll" - Mark Cawthra
  5. "Day Is Gone" - The Trudy
  6. "Foundling" - Stars In Battledress
  7. "Will Bleed Amen" - Max Tundra featuring Sarah Measures
    1. "Shaping the River" - Julianne Regan "The Stench of Honey" - Knifeworld
  8. "A Little Man and a House" - The Magic Numbers
  9. "Is This the Life" - mikrokosmos
  10. "March" - North Sea Radio Orchestra
  11. "Lilly White's Party" - Robert White with Andy Partridge
  12. "Wind and Rains is Cold" - Rose Kemp vs. Rarg
  13. "Up in Annie's Room" - Katharine Blake
  14. "Stoneage Dinosaurs" - Steven Wilson
  15. "Home of Fadeless Splendour" - The Scaramanga Six

A Loyal Companion

  1. "Spell With a Shell" - Silvery
  2. "Arnald" - Eureka Machines
  3. "Gloomy News" - The Gasman
  4. "My Trademark" - Bug Prentice
  5. "Victory Egg" - Sidi Bou Said
  6. "To Go Off and Things" - Panixphere
  7. "I Hold My Love in My Arms" - Local Girls
  8. "Dirty Boy" - Sterbus
  9. "Tree Tops High" - Jason Pegg
  10. "Everything Is Easy" - The Scaramanga Six
  11. "Joining the Plankton" - a/c woods
  12. "Dead Mouse" - Spiritwo
  13. "All Spectacular" - Agency
  14. "Nurses Whispering Verses" - Idiot Box
  15. "The Barnacle Tree" - Sarah Cutts (hidden track)
  16. "Odd Even" - Local Girls (digital only, hidden track)
  17. "Dead Mouse" - Ham Legion (digital only, hidden track)
  18. "A Duck And Roger The Horse" - Stephen EvEns (digital only, hidden track)

Personnel

Songbook 1

"Savour"

"Big Ship"

"Fear"

"Let Alone My Plastic Doll"

"Day Is Gone"

"Foundling"

"Will Bleed Amen"

"Shaping the River"

"The Stench of Honey"

"A Little Man and a House"

"Is This the Life"

Featuring:

"March"

"Lilly White's Party"

"Wind and Rains Is Cold"

"Up in Annie's Room"

"Stoneage Dinosaurs"

"Home of Fadeless Splendour"

A Loyal Companion

"Spell With a Shell"

with:

"Arnald"

"Gloomy News"

"My Trademark"

"Victory Egg"

"To Go Off and Things"

"I Hold My Love in My Arms"

"Dirty Boy"

"Tree Tops High"

"Everything Is Easy"

"Joining the Plankton"

"Dead Mouse"

"All Spectacular"

"Nurses Whispering Verses"

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rowden . Jez . 20 February 2011 . Issue 2011-009 • Album Reviews . 31 August 2023 . DPRP.net.
  2. Web site: Unsworth . Cathi . Cathi Unsworth . 21 January 2011 . A Little Man, a House and the Whole World Window . 1 September 2022 . .
  3. Web site: Sgrignoli . Marco . 20 July 2022 . Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto . 17 June 2023 . . it.
  4. Web site: 14 December 2010 . BBC - Magic Numbers and XTC raise funds for Salisbury musician . 17 June 2023 . BBC News.
  5. Web site: 15 December 2010 . Porcupine Tree raise funds for Cardiacs Tim Smith . 17 June 2023 . BBC News.
  6. Web site: Fullerton . Jamie . 26 October 2010 . XTC, Oceansize for Cardiacs' Tim Smith tribute album . 26 March 2023 . NME.
  7. Web site: Shepherd . Sam . 26 November 2010 . Various Artists – Leader Of The Starry Skies: A Tribute To Tim Smith. Songbook 1 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20101128213050/http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/11/various-artists-leader-of-the-starry-skies-a-tribute-to-tim-smith-songbook-1/ . 28 November 2010 . 17 June 2023 . The Line of Best Fit.
  8. Web site: Mr. Spencer . 20 April 2011 . The Cardiacs - an epic overview by Mr. Spencer with help from Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Captain Sensible . 17 June 2023 . Louder Than War.
  9. Web site: Gittins . Ian . 3 February 2011 . Cardiacs tribute album to raise money for paralysed singer Tim Smith . 17 June 2023 . The Guardian.
  10. Web site: 12 December 2010 . Album: Various artists, Leader of the Starry Skies (Believers Roast) . 17 June 2023 . The Independent.
  11. Web site: Fullterton . Jamie . 26 October 2010 . XTC, Oceansize for Cardiacs' Tim Smith tribute album . 17 June 2023 . NME.