Television, part II

brianlux

There is another thread about the band Television but is fairly old now and it seems to have more disparaging comments than complementary (a puzzling feature of that thread), so I figured maybe we could go with Television part II.

Television's first album, Marquee Moon is hands-down the bands best effort and widely regarded as a masterpiece.  Their follow up album, Adventure, is not as well regarded, and although it may not rise to the same level as Marquee Moon, I have found that repeated and attentive listening reveals qualities that a more casual listen might miss.  I would rate it just a half-notch below Moon.

I've never heard all of the only other studio the band made, a self-titled album that resulted from a brief reunion, but it's said to be more like a Verlaine solo album and not up to the level of their other two albums.  I probably should get that one and make a better assessment myself.

The only other Television record I have is their Live at the Old Waldorf, June 29th, 1978, a San Francisco date released in 2003.  I'm not a fan of their Stones "Satisfaction" cover, but overall, I think that double LP is a real gem.  What I would give to go back in time and catch this band live!

So this brings up a question another Television fan might be able to answer.  The band released one other live album called The Blow-up which was also recorded in 1978.   I'm wondering if any of you know how much of this record contains the same performance on the Old Waldorf release.  I'd really like to get The Blow-up, but only if it contains different performances.  Thanks in advance for any insight on this!

CarryTheZero

Edit: the credits in Blow Up on Apple Music say live at CGBG’s, so technically they are different performances. And upon and very quick listen, the sound quality is a bit better on the Waldorf release.

I don’t have extensive knowledge of Television. I only discovered Marquee Moon about 4 years ago, and it’s fantastic. The guitars are reminiscent of You In Reverse era Built to Spill which I love (I mean Built to Spill’s guitars are reminiscent of Television!).

Fun fact, one of the Television guitarists was part of the Matthew Sweet’s studio/touring band for Girlfriend and 100% Fun. I saw him live once and was shocked at how great the guitar playing in the band was. Credit Sweet and Richard Lloyd!

I did find this on Apple Music. It makes no mention of the other live album, so maybe they are different?

brianlux

CarryTheZero said:

Edit: the credits in Blow Up on Apple Music say live at CGBG’s, so technically they are different performances. And upon and very quick listen, the sound quality is a bit better on the Waldorf release.

I don’t have extensive knowledge of Television. I only discovered Marquee Moon about 4 years ago, and it’s fantastic. The guitars are reminiscent of You In Reverse era Built to Spill which I love (I mean Built to Spill’s guitars are reminiscent of Television!).

Fun fact, one of the Television guitarists was part of the Matthew Sweet’s studio/touring band for Girlfriend and 100% Fun. I saw him live once and was shocked at how great the guitar playing in the band was. Credit Sweet and Richard Lloyd!

I did find this on Apple Music. It makes no mention of the other live album, so maybe they are different?

Thank you, CTZ!  Yes, from what you found, it's great to see The Blow-up has different performances.  Great news!   I had read that the Waldorf versions were better recorded, but I'm excited about getting a copy of Blow-up, even if the sound quality is not the best.  That was amazing band that didn't put out a whole lot of recordings, so it's good to know there is something different out there that I don't have yet.  I feel the same way with another favorite band, Lee Ranaldo and The Dust.  They only put out a few albums. I wish there were more, but happy for what there is.

And how cool that you got to see Richard Lloyd, a truly fine guitarist.  Nice!

Thanks for the information!

CarryTheZero

👍

GlowGirl

When I worked for Legs McNeil I became friends with Richard Lloyd. We used to AOL instant messenger for a while (that’s how long ago it was). I remember driving to Baltimore with him when he performed with his band. Last I saw him he came over to my apartment to give me his CD he had just recorded. This was well over 10 years ago. We have since lost touch but he was fun to hang out with for a while. Great guitarist. 

brianlux

GlowGirl said:

When I worked for Legs McNeil I became friends with Richard Lloyd. We used to AOL instant messenger for a while (that’s how long ago it was). I remember driving to Baltimore with him when he performed with his band. Last I saw him he came over to my apartment to give me his CD he had just recorded. This was well over 10 years ago. We have since lost touch but he was fun to hang out with for a while. Great guitarist. 

OK, I don't mean to gush... but how can I not?  You worked with Legs McNeil?  You befriended Richard Lloyd?  That's just plain cool!  

I know we tend (at least I do sometimes) idolize people and forget that they're human with all the same little flaws and foibles we all have, but it's hard not to be wowed by great talent.  How I would love to be able to write like McNeil, or play guitar like Lloyd.  Or even simply be able to sit down and talk with them about their craft.

Did you ever get a chance to see Television live?  I would have loved that.  Their records are great, but I've read that the real magic happened on stage.  I would have loved to have seen them (and might have been able to go to the Old Waldorf show had I not been living in Chautauqua County, NY in '78).

GlowGirl

brianlux said:

GlowGirl said:

When I worked for Legs McNeil I became friends with Richard Lloyd. We used to AOL instant messenger for a while (that’s how long ago it was). I remember driving to Baltimore with him when he performed with his band. Last I saw him he came over to my apartment to give me his CD he had just recorded. This was well over 10 years ago. We have since lost touch but he was fun to hang out with for a while. Great guitarist. 

OK, I don't mean to gush... but how can I not?  You worked with Legs McNeil?  You befriended Richard Lloyd?  That's just plain cool!  

I know we tend (at least I do sometimes) idolize people and forget that they're human with all the same little flaws and foibles we all have, but it's hard not to be wowed by great talent.  How I would love to be able to write like McNeil, or play guitar like Lloyd.  Or even simply be able to sit down and talk with them about their craft.

Did you ever get a chance to see Television live?  I would have loved that.  Their records are great, but I've read that the real magic happened on stage.  I would have loved to have seen them (and might have been able to go to the Old Waldorf show had I not been living in Chautauqua County, NY in '78).

Yes. I worked for Legs. He lived around the corner from me and I was between jobs so I was his personal assistant for a summer. It was fun. But had to do things like wait at his apartment for the cable guy to show up and things like that. I also transcribed interviews for another oral history he was writing. I never saw Television. They were before my time. But saw Richard Lloyd’s solo band play several times. I even got to go to the studio once when the album was being mixed. I wish I hadn’t lost touch but life happens. Legs moved to LA. Last I saw him was about 6 years ago. He was in NYC for an event. I didn’t think he would remember me - I was a brunette at the time I worked for him. But he did. We caught up for a few minutes. All of this seems like another lifetime. But I have really fond memories of that time in my life. 

I do remember that Richard Lloyd was pretty angry about Please Kill Me. He thought some of the quotes about him and others were written out of context. He did not like the way he was portrayed in that book. 

brianlux

GlowGirl said:

brianlux said:

GlowGirl said:

When I worked for Legs McNeil I became friends with Richard Lloyd. We used to AOL instant messenger for a while (that’s how long ago it was). I remember driving to Baltimore with him when he performed with his band. Last I saw him he came over to my apartment to give me his CD he had just recorded. This was well over 10 years ago. We have since lost touch but he was fun to hang out with for a while. Great guitarist. 

OK, I don't mean to gush... but how can I not?  You worked with Legs McNeil?  You befriended Richard Lloyd?  That's just plain cool!  

I know we tend (at least I do sometimes) idolize people and forget that they're human with all the same little flaws and foibles we all have, but it's hard not to be wowed by great talent.  How I would love to be able to write like McNeil, or play guitar like Lloyd.  Or even simply be able to sit down and talk with them about their craft.

Did you ever get a chance to see Television live?  I would have loved that.  Their records are great, but I've read that the real magic happened on stage.  I would have loved to have seen them (and might have been able to go to the Old Waldorf show had I not been living in Chautauqua County, NY in '78).

Yes. I worked for Legs. He lived around the corner from me and I was between jobs so I was his personal assistant for a summer. It was fun. But had to do things like wait at his apartment for the cable guy to show up and things like that. I also transcribed interviews for another oral history he was writing. I never saw Television. They were before my time. But saw Richard Lloyd’s solo band play several times. I even got to go to the studio once when the album was being mixed. I wish I hadn’t lost touch but life happens. Legs moved to LA. Last I saw him was about 6 years ago. He was in NYC for an event. I didn’t think he would remember me - I was a brunette at the time I worked for him. But he did. We caught up for a few minutes. All of this seems like another lifetime. But I have really fond memories of that time in my life. 

I do remember that Richard Lloyd was pretty angry about Please Kill Me. He thought some of the quotes about him and others were written out of context. He did not like the way he was portrayed in that book. 

Great stories (though ouch re. Lloyd in Legs' book!).  Thanks for sharing!