So Tuesday I made my way down to Alleycats Music & Art
here in Orillia as I do most weeks to dig through the bins of vinyl and see
what catches my eye, and see which one (or two) I might want to add to the
collection. As I was unearthing a few pieces of choice vinyl here and there that
I had not come across before (I like that) I then notice a milk crate on the
floor filled with black gold, as I begin flipping through the crate the usual
suspects start rearing their heads, you got your Boston's, your Kim Mitchells (did
you ever go for that soda?) but then a few PRINCE records jump out and slap me right
back into consciousness, they've got a copy of 'Around the World in a Day' right now that's in near mint shape
(you better snap it up before I do).
As I resumed digging
I notice a copy of 'Arias & Symphonies'
the second album from The Spoons, I was
a little shocked to see it there (how could anyone part with this record? I
thought) but then just behind it their 1983 album 'Talkback' makes its debut, again I'm stunned to see more Spoons…but then I notice it, the record
I've been combing the bins year after year for; the soundtrack to the 1984 Ron
Mann film 'Listen to the City'. Now I
don't know if this is really that hard to find in the vinyl circles (for all I
know someone might have 5 copies in their collection) but to me this was one of
those records that has had a spot waiting for it these many years. Of course 'Listen to the City' came home with me,
and after I had placed it on the old reliable Technics I got to finally hear it
like it was meant to be heard. As I was relishing my latest (greatest?) find I
started putting together in my head the post that would be wrapped around this
record, I wanted it to be something a bit different, then it struck me; I'll interview
Gordon Deppe (lead vocals and guitar) of The Spoons about 'Listen to the City'….So I did, read the complete interview below.
The following is an
interview with Gord Deppe talking about 'Listen to the City'
SMM-Hi Gord,
thanks' for agreeing to talk Sonic More Music about Listen to the City, the
1984 soundtrack to the film of the same name. How did this project get its
start?
GD: We were
approached by Ron Mann to do the soundtrack for his new film. I'd always
thought our music lent itself to cinema, especially the dramatic instrumentals
like Trade Winds and Unexpected Guest At A Cancelled Party. He also approached
Sandy about acting in the movie. We were between albums, so it was a good time
for a different kind of project.
SMM: How long did
it take for you to complete it?
GD: The new
instrumental tracks for the soundtrack were written and recorded over a two
month period, as I recall. Romantic Traffic and Tell No Lies had already been
released on an extended play dance record. It was decided later to add them to
the movie, since they hadn't appeared on a proper full length album yet.
SMM: As far as
direction went with Listen to the City,
how much influence did Director Ron Mann have? Or did he just give you free
rein?
GD: Ron Mann gave
me free reign. I would receive scenes every week and pretty well compose
spontaneously to the footage. I decided to stay primarily with keyboards, not
my first instrument, as well as a lot of ambient sounds.
SMM: Were you
working on Listen to the City during
the recording of the Talkback album?
GD: The TalkBack
album had already been out some time when I commenced with writing the Listen to
the City soundtrack.
SMM: During the film Sandy is shown singing the track "Take Me Walking", was the
music recorded before or after filming?
GD: The song
Sandy performs in the movie is "Sundown". It was written before the
movie was filmed.
SMM: Other than
the two Nile Rogers produced tracks (Romantic Traffic and Tell No Lies) and Rob
Preuss and Sandy Horne playing and singing on Sundown and Take Me Walking
Listen to the City is pretty much regarded as a Gordon Deppe record, at the
time of its release do you think it confused Spoons fans ?
GD: I don't think
Listen to the City confused many people. It was pretty clear that it was a
soundtrack to a movie with a couple of Spoons singles in it. It also filled the
gap between changing record companies and the release of the next proper Spoons
album. That would be Bridges Over Borders. It would also be with two new band
members on board.
Just want to say a
big thank you to Gord Deppe for taking the time to answer a few questions
regarding 'Listen to the City', hope
that gives a bit of insight into a record that in my opinion never got the recognition
it deserved.
See you next Wednesday in the Vinyl Bins
Joe Cornelisse-SMM
You can find Alleycats Music & Art on Facebook
Some other unique finds that I came across this week
at Alleycats were:
The Doughboys - 'Happy accidents' on purple vinyl
Tom Waits - 'Swordfishtrombones'
Sex Pistols - 'Better Live Than Dead'
Pete Shelley - 'Homosapien'
Jimi Hendrix - 'Good Times'
Gordon Lightfoot - 'Best of Vol 3' (I added this in because for as long as I can remember all I have ever seen is either 'Gord's Gold' or the 'Best of Vol 1' )
95 Mississauga St. E, Orillia, Ontario
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Sun: 12:00 - 4:00 PM
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