KEVIN COYNE WITH JON LANGFORD & THE PINE VALLEY COSMONAUTS: One Day in Chicago

Kevin Coyne with Jon Langford & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts

One Day in Chicago

© 2005 Buried Treasure Records (881626100325)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

First spied in 1974 on the Whistle Test with his guitar on his lap moaning and yelling, fretting the chords with his thumb Kevin caused a stir at my school on a par with Alvin Stardust's dramatic TOTP debut.

tracks

1 Monkeyheart
2 Britisher Cowboy
3 Over Land & Sea
4 Money Like Water
5 Way Of The World
6 Happy Island Girl
7 Scene Of The Crime
8 She's Not There
9 You You You
10 Angel
11 Saviour
12 Blame It On The Night (Live)
13 Fat Girl (Live)
14 Money Like Water (Version) (Live)
15 Karate King (Live)

notes

The phone rings in the mixing room at North Branch Studio in Chicago and my wife breaks the news that Kevin died this morning. We're busy finishing off an album he started with my band the Pine Valley Cosmonauts on his last visit to the states. It's the last day of mixing and I'd been excited to send him the final product. I talk to his wife Helmi in Nuremberg and she tells me he died at home in her arms. This is the only good news; Kevin's been slogging around Europe with an oxygen tank and breathing tubes in tow for the last few months playing blinding shows but living in constant terror of dropping dead in some hotel room all alone. He was diagnosed with fibrosis soon after to returning from the Chicago trip. It's a vicious disease that turns your lungs to concrete and places an unbearable strain on your heart. Kevin downplayed the seriousness of his condition and continued playing and recording, painting and writing 'til the end. He had a gig in Vienna the night he died and shows booked well into December.

First spied in 1974 on the Whistle Test with his guitar on his lap moaning and yelling, fretting the chords with his thumb Kevin caused a stir at my school on a par with Alvin Stardust's dramatic TOTP debut. Apart from a slew of great Reggae albums, Kevin's Millionaires And Teddy Bears and Babble were the only thing worth nicking out of the Virgin Records press office when we were briefly label-mates back in 1979. John Lydon once confessed to pilfering from his arsenal of crazed squawks and wails and my pal John Hyatt unashamedly channeled Kevin for The Three Johns. In 1990 The Mekons covered his song Having A Party, a unsubtle stab at Virgin's owner (reportedly a huge Coyne fan to this day) that mirrored our sorry situation on A&M at the time. One night at the Duchess Of York in Leeds I handed him a copy and he looked a bit baffled.

For a man who turned down the job as Jim Morrison's replacement in The Doors, was billed as the English Beefheart and refused to write lyrics for Tubular Bells, Kevin Coyne spent a remarkably long, yet fruitful, time in the rock wilderness. Brutally neglected in Britain and never even on the radar in the USA he made his home in Southern Germany where he found love and respect and created wonderful artwork, books and albums that are out there just waiting to be discovered.

Advance ticket sales were so bad for his last Chicago show I had to beg, bribe and threaten people to turn up. Kevin was charming, rude and hilarious, vogue-ing for the crowd like some mad medieval friar while ad-libbing whole songs with masterful ease and precision. The crowd was amazed (Kevin was amazing) and I got phone calls & e-mails for days from grateful friends I'd bullied into coming. Paul Morley predicted a Kevin Coyne revival earlier this year but maybe in death he's still to willful, wild and cantankerous for your average conservative rock fan.

Jon Langford


Reprinted courtesy of MOJO magazine

reviews

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  • highly recommended
    author: ted billups

    the songwriting is very heartfelt and truly interesting, which is consistent from Kevin Coyne. This was my first experience listening to Jon Langford & the PVC - they chose perfectly suited instruments and played very addictive melodies with a bluesy backbone. The whole sound is tight and experienced, and great recording quality. so, i guess that's a thumbs up :-)

  • We're all happy here!
    author: hobs

    Great! Another proof of the fantastic artistic ability of the man. The recording shows the advanced style of a performer with a 30+years rock history without getting famous and/or bitter.

  • This CD is again brilliant. One can hear that KEVIN enjoyed playing with Langfo
    author: pieter greidanus

    Again a brilliant CD. One can hear Kevin enjoyed playing with Langford. So much humor in it and beautifull ballads even a bit country. Please give us some mare material

  • author: Tony Janes

    Well ! what can one say? it's just 'Kevin' and his wonderous brilliance ' God bless him ' If he farted I would sing along - also great backing from Jon and the boys- can we not have the whole live show ??? -peace kevin-

  • So glad this was made
    author: Ivan Beavis

    A collaboration of infinite good quality bringing together two artists of immense talent. A record Kevin would have been proud of and Mr Langford should revel in a job well done. Thanks a lot you two

  • great stuff, all Kevin Coyne fans will love it
    author: Goodie Sweeney

    This CD is another great output from Kevin Coyne, a very strong record, and recommended to all KC fans

  • Excellent album showing the great Kevin Coyne at his best!!!!
    author: tony donaghey

    The CD is superb showcasing the excellent Kevin Coyne and Jon Langford's great band.The live version of Money Like Water just makes you want to hear more of their live shows together.It's just hoped that this release brings more fans to the work of Kevin Coyne,

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