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Teenage Archangel Be-Bop Deluxe single - 1973 Singles Menu Future Past TRACKS: A) Teenage Archangel B) Jets At Dawn ORIGINALLY: "Teenage Archangel" and "Jets at Dawn" (in the early version) were originally both non-album cuts - although the latter was re-recorded for Axe Victim (1974). NOTES: Teenage Archangel was the debut release by Be-Bop Deluxe, and Nelson's final independent release until "Do You Dream In Colour?" (1980). The single was issued in a plain white sleeve, and was a limited edition intended to be sold in Wakefield Record Bar and at local gigs. PAST RELEASES: The single would be re-pressed in 1979 and 1980 in limited pressings, but without the knowledge of the artist. Both tracks appeared on the Postcards From the Future CD compilation (2004, now out of print). CURRENT AVAILABILITY: The single is long deleted, but both tracks can be found on the Cherry Red/Esoteric Recordings reissue of Axe Victim (2020) - both in physical form and as a digital download. Singles Menu Future Past

Excellent Spirits Channel Light Vessel album - 30 July 1996 Albums Menu Future Past TRACKS: 01) The Invisible Spectator 02) Footsteps 03) Haiku Detour (Bop Kyoto) 04) Birdie 05) Loose Connections 06) Eternal Lightbulbs (For The Infinite Stars) 07) Slow Jig And Whirligig 08) Stone In Your Palm 09) Accordion Night 10) The Offering 11) Same Shape, Different Meaning 12) Everything Everywhere 13) The Century That Dared To Dream Bonus Tracks (Japanese release only) 14) Decode Me Baby 15) Clear Controls Confirmed ALBUM NOTES: Excellent Spirits is the second and, to date, most recent album issued by Channel Light Vessel. The album was recorded at Fairview Studios, Hull. The album features most of the musicians as on their debut, Automatic , with Bill Nelson, Roger Eno, Kate St. John, and Laraaji being joined by Ian Leese, who provided bass guitar on most tracks. The original CD edition of the album was issued in the UK (on All Saints Records), USA (on Gyroscope), and Japan (on Polydor). Japanese copies contain 2 exclusive bonus tracks (listed above). Unusually for a Nelson related release, the download edition on the US iTunes site includes the 2 bonus tracks included on the Japanese CD issue. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: A repackaged version of the album was issued in the UK in 2006 in revised artwork and with new catalogue number, but with the standard track listing. This title is out of print, but still available as a download through major online retailers. BILL'S THOUGHTS: "Channel Light Vessel...was one of the most interesting and satisfying collaborations of my career, along with my work with Harold Budd. "Both album's are, in my obviously biased opinion, excellent. I tend to favour the second one over the first...but only slightly. I co-wrote the songs with the other members of the band and produced the albums too...The record label was 'All Saints', run by Dominic Norman-Taylor, Brian Eno's brother-in-law. And of course, Brian's brother Roger was one of the band along with Kate St. John, Laraaji, Mayumi Tachibana and myself. We also had fun making a low-budget promotional video, (which I directed), for the song "Testify". We were, I think, ahead of our time. Thoughtful but warmly romantic music that embraced and united all sorts of styles and genres as a cohesive whole. (Something that my own work has done for many years)." _____ "CLV was an unlikely but, in retrospect, extremely fruitful collaboration between people who genuinely had a lot of love and respect for each other. I'm very proud to have been associated with the project." _____ From a Roger Eno Interview: Eno does nevertheless shed light on some aspects of the magic ingredients that went into Excellent Spirits . Bizarre instrument credits on the inlay, like 'spookshow keyboards', 'falling stars', 'space birds', 'lickety loops' and 'bagpipes from Venus' were the product of Bill Nelson's fertile imagination, while some of the wackier repeated vocal samples on the album, like "make your vision your mission", or "accordion night" were all courtesy of Laraaji, who apparently is heavily into spiritual things. The track "Accordion Night", which features the aforementioned Laraaji sample, and is made up of Spanish and dance hall music elements, serves as a good example of how the four members drew all these disparate elements together: "Laraaji had to leave before the end, so we tried to get everything off him that we needed before he left, including several vocal samples. We took the "accordion night" one, then Bill would have a tape loop, I may have given a chord sequence, and Kate a melody." "After that, one thing sparks off another. The pieces write themselves really, although I know that sounds a bit stupid. But we're really making it up as we go along. It's like knitting without a pattern, and then suddenly you realise it starts to look like a glove." [Laughs out loud.] [ Sound on Sound Magazine, October 1996 ] FAN THOUGHTS: Tony M: "The variety of style and the musicianship really stand out, unlike anything released during the mid 90's and even now for that matter. "Bill's Last Waltz", "Everything Everywhere" and "The Invisible Spectator" are favorites amongst the other great songs. "For those here at the Forum that have yet to experience Channel Light Vessel, I believe that both CDs have been reissued. You will not be disappointed." OlderJoe: "Kate on her website is very complimentary about how Bill would play a certain bit of ebow then just let others develop the tune, always a winner in collabs and such. Those guys worked so well together and should have been more of a 'commercial' success than they actually were. "Of all the 'Bill' related CDs I own, these are 2 of my most favourites, no, they are my 2 most favourite...No Bill Nelson fan should be without these 2 masterpieces. Hmmm - time for some "Bubbling Blue" me thinks!!" Albums Menu Future Past

Demonstrations Of Affection Bill Nelson album box set - December 1989 Albums Menu Future Past CD 1 - Chimes And Rings: 01) Lady You're A Strange Girl 02) Kiss Goodbye 03) Call Of The Wild 04) Lost To Me 05) Dangerous Lady 06) Working Man 07) Giving It All Away 08) Ice And Fire 09) Wonder Where We Go 10) Dreams Of Yesterday 11) Sell My Soul 12) Back To Dreams 13) I Wait For You 14) Walking Away From Paradise 15) Playing Jesus To Her Judas 16) Something's Going On 17) The Miracle Belongs To You CD 2 - Nudity: 01) Feels Like Up To Me 02) Prize Of Years 03) Still Waiting 04) Lover Boy At Heart 05) The Wonder Of It All 06) Devil In Me 07) A Little More Time 08) What's It All About? 09) Thunder On The Wing 10) Shake It Up 11) Love To Win 12) Running 13) If Love Were Gold 14) I Want You 15) Kiss It Off 16) Angel Like You 17) Crying All Night 18) Only Love Can Tell CD 3 - Heartbreakland: 01) You Know How To Hurt 02) Broken 03) You Make Me Cry 04) Mess Around 05) Why? 06) Insanity 07) Confused 08) Heartbreakland 09) Lucky Star 10) Heartbeat Thru The Telephone 11) One Day At A Time 12) Tip The Wink 13) Shadow Haunting Me 14) Raining 15) Love's Immortal Shining Angel Purchase this download Purchase this download Purchase this download CD 4 - Details: 01) Maybe It's The Future 02) Wondering 03) Wasted Lives 04) The Best Of You 05) Stay With Me 06) Love And A Bucket Full Of Holes 07) Prisoner Of Love 08) Don't Wait 09) Man On Fire 10) Visionary 11) The World To Me 12) Strong Enough 13) Everything Permitted 14) Aeroplane Wings 15) One For You 16) Let It All Pass You By Purchase this download ALBUM NOTES: Demonstrations of Affection is a 4CD box set issued on Cocteau Records. It was also released on cassette. Both versions came with a free T-Shirt alongside the 4 albums of new material. This was the final official release by Cocteau Records. The recordings that make up Demonstrations of Affection were commenced at The Echo Observatory in 1988, but span a very difficult period of time for the artist, who was going through separation, leading ultimately to divorce. This resulted in him moving to a new home in 1989, rechristening his domestic recording facility Studio Rose Croix in the process, where the recordings were completed. PAST RELEASES : The set had just one pressing and has been out of print since 1990. Note that each CD forming the set was issued separately, but again went out of print with the demise of Cocteau Records. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: All four albums are available to purchase individually as digital downloads here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "It's a fairly straight, song-oriented album with pop overtones rather than an experimental/abstract instrumental affair. Of course many of the songs dealt with an uncomfortable time in my life when I was troubled by marriage breakdown and management/financial problems...I guess the music was, in some instances, a cathartic response to this and could be interpreted as an involuntary expression of personal angst. But, it has what I'd consider some nice songs on it, emotional and direct." _____ "I'd say that there are lots of songs in the set that work independently of the situations that inspired their writing. Perhaps if you didn't know the context they would be little more than fairly straight-ahead pop songs...as most pop songs deal with love or loss and the complications of relationships. There are a handful of songs in the set that I think are very good, particularly when I think back to the basic recording equipment I had at the time. But a lot of it I find marginally embarrassing as my life has long since moved on and, as always happens with these things, you look back and wonder what all the fuss was about and why you couldn't see the bigger picture. It doesn't take long to realise that these sort of changes are always going to be for the better. My life is infinitely more fulfilled and happy now that it ever was all those years ago. So, the album, if it documents anything at all, is a demonstration, (not so much of affection), but of the human inability to see beyond the moment to a much brighter tomorrow." FAN THOUGHTS: TheMikeN: "The songs - they are excellent, belonging to a phase of Bill's work that works for me completely. They are also unusually direct and heartfelt and so seem to be more immediately memorable than those from albums just before or after the set was released. Some very simple catchy melodies are included as well. I can hum most of them from memory and they turn up in my head unbidden surprisingly often." weirdcritter: "I've just got to say that DOA is my favourite of all the 'box sets'. Features some of Bill's best songs I reckon." Marshall: "The recordings do jump off the speakers, with saxophones and massive drum arrangements: much more ambitious stuff than I remember." Tony Raven: "I have to plug for Chimes and Rings . Wonderful tunes, perfect synth, breathtaking moments of varied guitar. Pop elements with subversive jazz sensibility. After dozens of plays, the whole CD still sounds great, whether at close listening or in the background, on the stereo rig or in the car." steve lyles: "I really love the Demonstrations of Affection material." "I have never thought of any of your songs as demos Bill...I prefer the 'sketches' term myself, the content has always been of more importance to me than the gear or place it was recorded." zebrapolish: "Been away from this set for far too long. Some really terrific tunes here." TwentySmallCigars: "I know that this was recorded at an exceedingly tumultuous and stressful time in Bill's life, and I have always found it remarkable how gifted musicians and composers can produce such beauty out of such dark circumstances. When I have trouble and stress in my life my work tends to suffer, not thrive." tommaso: "At the time I found it an incredibly 'stylish' and typically Nelsonesque thing. I mean, other people simply write one or two songs to cope with losing a lover and/or trying to get her back, Bill made a set of four albums! And I found the idea of 'spontaneous' music-making quite interesting, and it's something that Bill continued to do with later albums, of course...Those who dismiss Demonstrations should listen again to tracks like "Wondering", "Let it All Pass You By", "Love's Immortal Shining Angel", "Giving it All Away" or "Strong Enough". And the list can easily be continued. As always with Bill, each of these discs has some true gems." hong_kong_simon: "The album that affects me most on an emotional level has always been Demonstrations of Affection . The songs and music seem to me the most heart-felt of all Bill's works, covering love, pain, anger, hurt...Now, I've never gone through a divorce, but at the time of release of that album my wife and I had just suffered a tragic loss, and many of the feelings in that work were very similar to feelings I was experiencing (for very different reasons). It helped me to be able to feel some form of emotional connection through the music." John Fisher: "There's a temptation to view Demonstrations of Affection like several of the other box sets in Bill Nelson's long career (Trial by Intimacy , the My Secret Studio sets, Noise Candy ) - as a collection of like-minded songs. Sketchbooks collected from a period of several years. But Demonstrations is unique in this regard. It's really more like a diary - one that chronicles a particularly difficult and emotional period of the artist's life. Coming through the dissolution of his marriage, moving house, management problems, and financial strain, some might be tempted to lay open a vein. But instead, Bill Nelson lays open his soul. The music on this set seems to explode from his chest as if it cannot be contained. Where Chances Encounters in the Garden of Lights features music quickly bourne from a state of spiritual meditation, these songs sound like compositions freed from spontaneous combustion. It a wild ride thru heartache, anger, resentment, bewilderment, passion, lust, elation, resignation, nostalgia, and finally - hope. Yet, despite having a catharsis as catalyst, these are some of the most melody-driven pop songs of Bill's long career. Although one can point out that they betray their origin as demonstration recordings, and that you can hear the influence of the 80's loud and clear, Bill wrote some cracking good pop songs here. In fact, many of the best songs from Demonstrations were not included on What Now, What Next? and Practice of Everyday Life box sets." Albums Menu Future Past

Arcadian Salon Bill Nelson album - 14 October 2006 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Premium Standard No.1 02) The Girl In The Galaxy Dress 03) Take It Off And Thrill Me (Jazzy Option) 04) Memory Skyline 05) Distant Town With Different Lights 06) The Song My Silver Planet Sings 07) Spaceport 08) Superadventure (Sound-On-Sound) 09) Playful 10) Transparent Towers At Dusk 11) El Swingo Collapso 12) The Rest Of The World Rolls By 13) Wind Chimes Of Memory 14) Take It Off And Thrill Me (Rock Option) 15) Sequinned Skeleton Blues 16) Snow Is Falling 17) A Buddha For My Brother ALBUM NOTES: Arcadian Salon is an album mixing vocal and instrumental pieces issued exclusively for Nelsonica '06 in the then customary limited pressing of 500 copies on the Discs of Ancient Odeon label. As soon as Nelsonica was over the remaining 250 or so copies of Arcadian Salon were sold through SOS, and on 25 October 2006 (11 days after release at Nelsonica ) an announcement was made on the Dreamsville Forum that the album had completely sold out. The frenzied speed at which this title went out of print, together with some intense feelings expressed by members on the forum, would lead to a change of policy for the following year's convention CD. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "The first six tracks are all from the Return to Jazz of Lights sessions and have a very jazzy feel. I couldn't find space for them on that album so they are presented here instead." _____ On the digital reissue: "I haven't listened to Arcadian Salon for several years, (due to my inescapable, constant, upward and onward work momentum,) but I have to admit to being somewhat astonished by the quality of the songs when listening to the album after its re-release in digital form. This is definitely an album I can feel proud of." FAN THOUGHTS: RJR: "For those of you who do not have this collection of songs for whatever reason, I HIGHLY recommend that you download it ASAP. I am a regular lurker on this board, and when I come out of cyber-hibernation it has to be for a good reason. This is definitely one of those occasions. Arcadian Salon is, in my humble opinion, in the top five of ALL of BN's releases (and I have been a follower since 1977). Each and every song grabs and stays with you. "The Girl in the Galaxy Dress" is gold. "Both versions of "Take It Off" are excellent...This is truly an awesome song. In fact, the whole CD contains some of BN's finest guitar work bar none." "You should be proud, Bill -- this collection is magical. As I said: DOWNLOAD THIS CD or forever regret it." adancetothemusicoftime: "I'd heard it for the first time...and it had that WOWEEEBLOODYHELL reaction. In fact, listening along we missed the turning on the A19 and ended up East of Ipswich, well, Wetherby." BobK: " Arcadian starts off cool, jazzy and groovy becoming, stylistically, more rock/pop in the second half. There are so many instantly loveable tunes on this." Radium Girl: "The vocals on Arcadian Salon are absolutely stunning! Thank you Bill, the whole CD is just gorgeous!" paul.smith " Arcadian Salon has so many great tracks which have become 'standards' for me over the years..."The Girl in the Galaxy Dress" is simply stunning...utterly beautiful vocals/guitar/instrumentation...I never fail to be astonished by the qualities of this classic track. "Transparent Towers at Dusk" is another track that hit with me soon after some repeated plays...and, of course, "The Song My Silver Planet Sings"...absolutely sublime!!!" old_goat: "Listening to "Take It Off and Thrill Me", "Memory Skyline" beginning...I'm so blown away!! OMG, it feels sooooo good!! The vocals are very playful, very jazzy guitar, and the "flute"...I'm am sooo loving this!!!" chromiumlad: "Got a kick out of Kansas being mentioned in "Transparent Towers at Dusk". And love "El Swingo Collapso" after just one listen. Fabulous playing Bill. You could play alongside whatever musical hero you desire." thunk: "Gotta say 'The Rest of the World Rolls By' is a 'corker' - gonna blast that one up in the car & drum the steering wheel 'till, well, the lights change!" mthom: "Two classics on this one: "Memory Skyline" and "The Rest of the World Rolls By". Essential listening to these ears. (oh yeah, don't forget "Snow is Falling"!)" tommaso: "Snow is Falling": "is a truly stand-out track, not just on this album, and the final "A Buddha for my Brother" is a very, very beautiful farewell gift to Ian. Oh, and GREAT cover design!" Flying: "There is an emotional and profound communication going on here that hits a deeper note, simply because it is obviously straight from the heart - and not going through the filter of a jazz or any other kind of theme. Genius is effortless." damien dale: "Bill, this is with out a doubt one of your finest albums ever. Take it from your fans; we would not lie to you! Albums Menu Future Past

Naughty Boys album - 1983 Yellow Magic Orchestra Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Guitar, e-bow and synthesiser guitar. Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Caliban And The Chrome Harmonium Bill Nelson album - 18 August 2001 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Fontana 02) Beautiful Big Boobies 03) American Moderne 04) Sweet Dead Bunny 05) My Pal Hal (For Mr. Budd) 06) Grand Arcade 07) Filigree 08) Suburban Pearl 09) Chiffon 10) Years From Now 11) A Short History Of The Future 12) Bell Bird 13) Pink Poodle Parade (Organ Version) 14) Disneyland After Dark Digital download version bonus tracks: 15) Thematix 16) The Piano Lesson 17) Radium Cocktail 18) In The Rain ALBUM NOTES: An extremely limited item, Caliban and the Chrome Harmonium was a privately produced mini-album given to the artist's close friends and associates, some of whom had helped to organise the first of what would be an annual event called Nelsonica . Nelson then also rewarded around 20 fans with a copy of the album, in slightly revamped artwork, who had contributed funds to his transition from analogue to digital recording facilities. It is believed that the official production line of this CDR ran to somewhere around 30 copies, although unofficial copies have circulated. This release unveiled a new label in the shape of Almost Opaque, this release being a "Custom Culture Edition" for Almost Opaque Records. Almost Opaque would be reserved for the exclusive convention albums released over the period 2001-04. At the Nelsonica 01 event, held in 2001, two further copies of Caliban and the Chrome Harmonium were auctioned and were purchased for several hundred pounds apiece. At least 1 copy of the official run of CDRs has appeared for sale on eBay and this too reached an impressive price. PAST RELEASES: Three of the tracks from Caliban , namely "American Moderne", "Filigree" and "A Short History of the Future" would re-appear on Noise Candy (2002), with another track, "Pink Poodle Parade", appearing in an alternate version on the same release. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: In August 2025, Caliban And The Chrome Harmonium was released for the first time officially as a digital download. This specially extended version contains four additional tracks which were recorded Between 1987 and 1989. Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "Caliban And The Chrome Harmonium is a collection of related piano and vibraphone pieces, created as ‘spontaneous compositions’, or ‘semi-organised’ improvisations. The mood is mid-20th century instrumental ‘moderne’, and somewhat American in flavour. The music aims at a kind of ghostly Gershwin piano roll ambience, although this is merely a starting, or ‘reference point’ for some of the pieces. A spirit of cartoon futurism permeates much of the work and there has been no attempt to separate the low from the highbrow. On this planet, Morton Feldman and Chico Marx share the same piano." _____ "Caliban and the Chrome Harmonium will be issued properly/officially before too long as part of a projected box set of all the Nelsonica limited edition recordings. AND it will be given a proper mastering process, something which the original didn't receive. There will be no rarity value in any of my recordings, before long, as none of them will ever be permanently out of print." FAN THOUGHTS: Peter: "This is a special album, in many ways. Not only is it rare, having only been released in very limited quantities, but it stands apart in content as well. A collection of compositions for piano and vibraphone, it shows a side to Bill's creative genius that is glimpsed elsewhere, but seldom indulged to a large degree. The sparseness of the instrumentation lays bare the compositions, revealing their structures and raw beauty. A very interesting and rewarding look at Bill from another angle." Albums Menu Future Past

Custom Deluxe Bill Nelson album - 3 October 2004 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) My Electrical Empire 02) Hank Marvin Goes To Mars 03) Kitchenette 04) The Home, The Light And The Third 05) Boyhood Rockets 06) Ocean Afternoon 07) All Aboard The Skylark 08) Spacesuit Parade 09) I Remember Circus Boy 10) Synchromatic 11) Country Cola 12) Scenic Elevator 13) Dreams Returning To The Night 14) Hostess Twinkie Vapourised 15) Until The Blue Whenever ALBUM NOTES: Custom Deluxe is an album of guitar instrumentals issued in a one-off print run on the Universal Twang label. It is unconfirmed whether 500 or 1000 copies were pressed. The album was one of three simultaneous released albums, issued at the start of the Be Bop Deluxe and Beyond tour. At the end of the tour the album was sold exclusively through S.O.S. Custom Deluxe sold out within 12 months of its release, and Nelson retired the Universal Twang label with this release. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "The Home, the Light and the Third": "I'll let you in on the secret of the title on that one: The tune's title refers to three old, (now non-existent), BBC radio stations from the 1950's that I was familiar with as a boy:- 'The Home' refers to the 'BBC Home Service'. 'The Light' refers to 'The Light Programme' (another BBC station which was a '50's equivalent to today's Radio One). 'The Third' refers to the BBC's 'Third Programme', which was a '50's version of today's BBC Radio 3, (a mostly classical music channel). For those of us of a certain age, and from a working class background, the tune's title will evoke childhood hours spent listening to radio before our families could afford the luxury of television." _____ "Hank Marvin Goes to Mars": "This piece not only hints at Hank's glistening-chrome sound, but features a Duane Eddy style reverbed tremolo too. The tune begins with cute electronic satellite bleeps and beeps before settling into a gentle melody underscored by arpeggio chords and a synthesised beatbox rhythm. There's a nice harmonised guitar section with an almost Polynesian feel followed by a more overdriven, sustained section. The piece ends with a looped reverse guitar coda and the return of the opening electronic bleeps." FAN THOUGHTS: Holer: "One album that has really snuck up on me is Custom Deluxe. Has anyone else noticed how incredible this album is? I think Bill just pulls out all the stops with this one, combining every possible guitar style he has ever entertained, along with a whole bunch of new ones. The way songs like "I Remember Circus Boy" drift effortlessly from acoustic to electric, from jazz to rock, it's just amazing. Every single track is an absolute standout. I want to call this a monster Jazz guitar album but that simply does not do it justice. This music can only be classified as Bill Nelson music and that is that. Anyway, if, like me, you may have given this record short shrift in the wake of Romance of Sustain and Whimsy and all the other wonderful stuff Bill released last year, I heartily recommend that you give this an immediate listen. And if you don't own it, you are missing out on a real treat! Pure, blissful ear candy! I would even go out on a limb and say that this is easily one of Bill's best guitar albums EVER!" steve lyles: "Custom Deluxe has just grown and grown. I find myself playing it on walks - in the tub - in the car - at work." Dar: "I made myself a captive audience to Custom Deluxe today in the auto-mobile-stereo, and hey, you know what (?), it's full of tasty treats." Johnny Jazz: "Custom Deluxe is crammed full of goodness. Being drawn myself to the 'darkside' of Jazz music, I find "I Remember Circus Boy", and "Synchromatic" particularly memorable (a shiver down the spine every time I listen to them)." juninho: "Playing Custom Deluxe in the car this morning, "Country Cola" came on and this track makes me feel I'm riding in the wild west as a cowboy." BenTucker: "Hostess Twinkie Vapourised"..."Absolutely magical." UrbanCanvas: "Ocean Afternoon": "from Custom Deluxe is just a magical piece of music and is so dreamy. As I close my eyes, I can imagine them far off summer days with ice cream footballs." Albums Menu Future Past

The Jingler Free Christmas download single Click image for cover Artwork FREE Christmas download single - Released December 2009. THE JINGLER Currently unavailable on any album "I was hoping to make a short Christmas video for Dreamsville but, unfortunately, time is against me. But....instead, I've recorded a sweet little Xmas instrumental track which I will ask Paul to make available as a free download for everyone. It's a cute, 2 minute piece titled 'The Jingler'. (Complete with sleigh bells, of course!) Merry Christmas everyone..." Performed, recorded and produced by Bill Nelson. All rights Bill Nelson 2009.

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 William's Study (Diary Of A Hyperdreamer) September 2009 Jan Jul Aug Oct Nov Dec Thursday 24th September 2009 -- 8:20 pm This diary entry begins in almost exactly the same way as the previous entry of 20th August, that is to say with Emiko departing, once again, for Japan. She left very early this morning and will be away for an indefinite length of time, looking after her seriously ill mother in Tokyo. (I'll write in more detail about this latest trip towards the end of today's diary entry.) Emi was away, last time, for two weeks, but, even though I had a long list of Nelsonica preparations to occupy me, her absence felt more like two months. As always, I missed her terribly and found it very hard to fulfill my Nelsonica duties whilst having to deal with various home commitments plus responsibilities to my own mother. For Emi, the situation in Tokyo was very difficult. Her mother came home from hospital where she had become very depressed and insular. It seems that there's little that can be done for her in physical terms but it was hoped that the return to her apartment, coupled with Emi's presence and personal care, would raise her mum's spirits. It did so, noticably, but required constant attention on Emi's part and a daily care routine that hardly allowed Emi to leave her mother's apartment the whole time she was in Japan. Nevertheless, Emi WAS able to briefly return to the U.K, just in time to help with the final period of my convention preparations, taking care of domestic issues whilst I concentrated on the work remaining to be done. This included the selection, assembly and mastering of my live performance backing tracks and the last minute creation of several drawings for the Nelsonica auction along with the custom decoration of an Eastwood 'Ichiban' guitar, (generously donated by Eastwood boss Mike Robinson), for the Grand Prize Draw. I also took time out to arrange some essential guitar repairs with Gordon White at Music Ground in Leeds, the very nice man who does all my guitar set-up work for me: (www.singlecoil.co.uk ) I had Gordon apply his talents to the Gibson 'Black Beauty' Les Paul Custom guitar generously gifted to me by the late Michael Grime and his very kind wife Kate, (I had a new nut and heavier strings fitted and a general set-up). Gordon also worked on my Campbell Nelsonic Transitone signature guitar, (a slight lowering of the action and an intonation adjustment in this case). Two days before Nelsonica I'd spent a busy afternoon in a Leeds rehearsal room with guitar tech Pete Harwood and sound engineer Ian Thorpe, making sure that my full stage equipment set-up was functioning properly whilst reminding myself of its myriad features. Unfortunately, I don't have enough space in my home studio to accomodate this rather complex live performance rig, so it's essential that I hire a room big enough to wire everything up and get to grips with its various pedals and sounds before I give any concerts. As I only perform live once a year these days, an awful lot rides on that brief afternoon of rehearsal. Whilst Emi had been away in Japan, (from 20th August until the 4th September), I'd individually signed 250 special presentation tins that were designed to hold the Nelsonica convention album and various other 'welcome pack' items. (The autographing of these tins took far longer than I'd originally anticipated. In fact it took me several evenings and two permanent marker pens to complete the task!) During this time I also put finishing touches to the two new presentation audio-visual pieces created for the convention, ('Materialisation Phenomena' and 'Welcome To The Dream Transmission Pavilion'), as well as beginning and completing an eight minute long video piece designed to accompany a new 'Orchestra Futura' live performance track titled 'Machines Of Loving Grace.' Along with the above, I also managed to record 12 new backing tracks for the Nelsonica concert. However, I found it impossible to fit them all into the set list as I needed to leave enough space to include several older pieces alongside the newer material. I actually spent a few fraught days assembling draft running orders and changing them around until eventually arriving at a version that came close to satisfying me...but even then, I was forced to leave out several other pieces that I'd hoped to perform. Nevertheless, the final result was a live solo set lasting over 70 minutes and consisting of 14 numbers with a further three tracks on reserve as potential extras, plus seven extended improvisation 'Orchestra Futura' pieces for the separate live trio set. 'Orchestra Futura' musicians Dave Sturt and Theo Travis each contributed their own starting points/backing tracks to add to my own two Futura pieces, so this year we had a full set to present to the audience rather than the brief 'taster' of last year. Another unique feature of this year's convention was a live on-stage interview with legendary record producer John Leckie and myself. John and I co-produced Be Bop Deluxe's recordings from the 'Sunburst Finish' album onwards, plus the Red Noise 'Sound-On-Sound' album and also my 'Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam' solo album. We've kept in touch over the intervening years and I count John amongst my dearest friends, even though his busy schedule and my own crazy work ethic makes it difficult to actually meet up as often as we'd like. Luckily, this year John had a gap in his usually packed diary and contacted me to say that he'd like to come up to Yorkshire to attend Nelsonica. I immediately asked him if he'd be willing to take part in an on-stage interview alongside me and he very kindly accepted. Plans had already been put in place for me to take part in a live interview, (to be conducted by Nelsonica team member Ian Haydock), on the subject of Red Noise's 'Sound-On-Sound' album, but a last minute adjustment switched the theme over to the broader topic of the work that John and I had accomplished together in the past, plus some more general questions about John's extensive post Be Bop Deluxe production career. It was lovely to see John again...we always seem to resume where we left off, no matter how much water passes under the proverbial bridge in between our meetings. I guess we've always had a natural rapport which made the experience of working together a happy and comfortable one. The actual convention was very well attended and enthusiastically received. My two nephews, (my late brother Ian's two sons), came along, as did my mother and my cousin Ian. Guitarist/singer/artist Brendan Croker also was a guest, as was Kate Grime and Michael Grime's sister Sheila and her husband Brian. Kate had travelled from France to attend. Ian Gilby of 'Sound-On-Sound' magazine joined in with his brother Paul to enjoy the day too. My only regret with these things is that I'm so constantly 'on-call' throughout the event that I don't get enough time to properly attend to the needs of my guests. My mind is always whirling around, thinking ahead to the next part of the day's programme, stressing out about one thing or another, racing to get clothes changed between live performance sets, trying to speak to fans who come up to me with compliments or questions, etc, etc. However hard I try to relax and enjoy the day, I always end up worrying that I've not given enough time to everyone as a result of my pre-occupation with the event's performance and presentation duties. Anyway, the live music performances apparently went well, despite some very frustrating on-stage monitor problems encountered by myself during my solo set. Working with pre-recorded backing tracks, plus direct to pa system guitar feeds means, for me, that every single component of my performance exists only in the monitor speakers at my feet. There are no guitar amps, drums, acoustic instruments, etc on stage with me...the entire 'virtual band,' as it were, along with my live guitar playing and vocals, are only audible to myself via those basic on-stage monitors. This always presents problems of one sort or another, particularly as rock band pa monitors do not behave like studio monitor speakers. Bass frequencies and high frequencies tend to become over emphasised whilst the middle frequencies, (where much of the important detail resides), often gets overlooked or simply muddied by the extended low bass drones. Couple this imbalance with a hollow wooden stage that inadvertantly acts as a kind of huge, boomy bass cabinet, plus a hall that throws the front of house sound back at the stage as if from a long reverberant tunnel and you end up with a guitarist struggling to guess exactly where he is in the track. It was very difficult, on Saturday, for me to hear the cues and chord changes essential to finding my way through the music. Unsurprisingly, my playing always suffers because of this problem and so I ended up being a very disheartened bunny indeed. But, judging by the many positive comments I later recieved from the audience, it seems that the front-of-house sound was more than fine. This was, I'm sure, due to the care applied at the mixing desk by my good friend John Spence who was looking after the sound mix in the hall itself. I just wish I could have had something more comfortable to work with on-stage. 'In-ear' monitoring has been suggested as one possible alternative to the problem...but it's an expensive solution and one I'm not sure of. Actually, one of the best live performance experiences I've had was at two Leeds University School Of Music concerts when the on-stage monitoring was handled by a pair of in-house Genelec recording studio speakers, rather than the usual rock n' roll monitors. The sound was clear, detailed and inspiring to play to. My own selfish concerns aside, Nelsonica 09 was a big success and the friendship, warmth and kindness of everyone involved, from the fabulous and talented Nelsonica team, through to the various guests and the fans themselves, made it a wonderful day. I've said it before but these conventions have evolved to the point that they're more like extended family gatherings than fan conventions. I'm very lucky to have found such loyal and enthusiastic support for my music and I'm extremely grateful to everyone involved. But now, only four days since the hustle and bustle and human interaction of Nelsonica, I'm once again alone in the house, typing these words in an empty silence and wondering how long it will be before I see my wife again. Emiko's mother is still very ill but it seems that there is no way to estimate the speed of the disease's progress. Her condition has fluctuated, some days being worse than others but with occassional flashes of respite. We simply don't know what the future holds, other than an inevitably sad conclusion. When Emi returned to England on the 4th September, her mother went back into hospital, but now that Emi is, once again, on her way back to Japan, her mother will come out of hospital so that Emi can take care of her at her mum's Tokyo apartment. There is no social or free health care in Japan, everything has to be paid for and hospital costs are high. Emi's mum has no health insurance, nor enough money to deal with extensive and expensive medical costs, so being cared for at home by her family and friends as long as possible seems like the only practical solution. In any case, Emi's mum has not felt happy in hospital and prefers to be at home with Emi looking after her. And Emi is glad to be able to spend some time caring for her mother at this depressing and painful time. This morning, we were both up at 5 am to get ready for Emi's departure. Last time, she flew from Yeadon airport to Japan, via Amsterdam. As I noted in my previous diary entry, Yeadon (Leeds/Bradford airport) is very convenient for us but we just couldn't get a suitable flight from there this time. The only alternative was for Emi to fly to Tokyo via Helsinki from Manchester airport. And the most comfortable way to get to Manchester airport from here is by train, although the journey takes a while. So I drove Emi to York station at 6 am this morning and put her on the Manchester Airport train. After waving goodbye to her from the platform, I drove back home feeling predictably miserable and lost. Walking into our home, these sad feelings were magnified. It's just not a home without Emiko, only bricks and mortar. Since beginning this diary entry, Emi has called me from Manchester airport to let me know that she'd arrived safely there and checked in at the departure desk for her flight to Finland. Then, just over three hours later, she called again from Helsinki to say that she was awaiting her connecting flight to Tokyo. It is now 3:35 pm, (U.K. time), and Emi will be 15 minutes into her flight from Helsinki to Japan. This leg of the journey will take around 12 hours so she will arrive at Narita airport sometime around 3:20 am tomorrow morning. I've told her that it's o.k. to telephone me at any time, night or day, so I'm hoping to be woken in the early hours by her calling to let me know she's arrived safely. Then she will have to take the more than two hour coach ride from Narita airport into Tokyo itself, then a taxi to her mother's apartment. All told, a frustratingly long and exhausting journey. It is Emiko's 61st birthday next month, (4th of October), and it will be the first time since we've been together as a couple that we will not be able to celebrate her birthday together. I bought her two birthday gifts on Tuesday...one of which she has opened already, the other which I've insisted she pack in her suitcase and not open until October 4th in Tokyo. It's going to be tough, one way or another, because we will be apart for a much longer time than on her previous trip. Emi has an open-ended return ticket and the earliest she can estimate coming back home is the 19th of October. She also has a prestigious flower display commision for the Lord Mayor's Mansion House in November so will need to return to deal with that at some point anyway. But, meanwhile, I must keep my chin up, telephone her every day in Tokyo, take care of our cats, remember to feed myself properly, keep the house clean, help my mother with her still unresolved legal matter, try not to panic or stay awake all night worrying about this and that...and so on. Oh, and maybe make a start on the final preparations for my next two album releases, 'Non-Stop Mystery Action' and 'Picture Post.' There's packaging artwork to come up with for both of these projects, plus running orders need to be finalised and tracks mastered at Fairview studios with John Spence. And maybe, because time passes more quickly when I'm making music, I should also turn my recording equipment on, pick up a guitar and see what loneliness might bring to my solitary musical table. ***** The images accompanying this diary entry are as follows:- 1: An outake from 'The Love That Whirls' photo session. 2: A filtered outake from the 'Do You Dream In Colour' photo session. 3: Bill on stage in the 1980's. 4: Bill passport photo from the '80's with goatee beard. 5: Bill's photography for Nelsonica '09. 6: Bill's old resonator guitar which he painted in the mid 1960's. Top of page

Astral Motel Bill Nelson album - 7 September 2002 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Whistleworld 02) Noonday Venus 03) Unsaid (Starry Lamps And Blazing Comets) 04) Autumn And Spring 05) Dippety-Doo 06) Nothing Up My Sleeve 07) Incident At Astral Motel 08) Beyond Recall ALBUM NOTES: Astral Motel is an album issued on the Almost Opaque label exclusively for Nelsonica '02 . Astral Motel was the first of Nelson's albums to be restricted to a single print run of 500 copies, a situation that in time would become the norm. After Nelsonica '02, the album was sold exclusively through the Rooms With Brittle Views website, where it remained on catalogue for approximately 1 year. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . FAN THOUGHTS: Marshall: "A terrific and very coherent piece of work with a little bit of everything -- kitschy pop tunes, gorgeous ambient pieces, soaring guitar instrumentals, all in one tasty package." Dar: "Astral Motel is a true gem, nothing less." Mick Winsford: "My favourite song at the moment in all of this is a fairly obscure track called "Beyond Recall" (final track on Astral Motel which is currently haunting my conscious and unconscious mind). That little keyboard motif that is used throughout the song just keeps spinning around my head and I can't get rid of it." paulnery: "It has one of Bill's best tunes - "Beyond Recall" - simply wonderful!" dbodom: "Nothing Up My Sleeve": "In my top five best BN tracks. The guitar work is fantastic and it's so Bill, if you know what I mean. "Here...I'll set the metronome...". " Peter: "This album is worth it for the solo on "Nothing Up My Sleeve" alone. I also really like "Beyond Recall". Very majestic and uplifting. And the rest of the album is pretty damned good too!" Alan: "Beyond Recall": "is wonderful, as are all the tracks. I have to say I listened to Astral Motel all weekend and every track is fantastic." Albums Menu Future Past

Here To Go single - 1987 Cabaret Voltaire Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Guitar Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Fantasmatron Bill Nelson album - 8 August 2011 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) When God Was A Rabbit And Buddha Was A Mouse (Over The Moon Two) 02) The Captain's In The Wheelhouse (Fabled Quixote) 03) Everything Changes With The Weather 04) Fantasmatron 05) Melancholia Lagoons 06) Signal Destinations 07) Slinky Incantations 08) Kaleidoscopic Windows 09) Lights Shine When We Dream 10) Lampdownlowland 11) A Reliable Bicycle And A Map Of The Heart (Trip Two) 12) My Wild Atomic Wedding Day 13) The Thought That Counts 14) Art Is Long And Time Is Fleeting ALBUM NOTES: Fantasmatron is an album of vocal pieces released on the Sonoluxe label issued in a single print run of 1000 copies. The album was first mentioned by that name in a diary entry posted in April 2011, but in fact had slowly taken shape over the previous seven months, having begun life as Lamplowdownlowland . Progress on the album had to compete with other priorities including overseeing reissues (for Esoteric/Cherry Red and EMI) and preparing material for live performances included a projected tour in November that unfortunately never took place. The album sold out in July 2019. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "The closest I can come in an attempt to describe the music it contains is 'neo-psychedelic' pop-rock with a subtle hint of twisty electronica. (One clue is in the album's title:- a combination of the words 'fantasy', 'phantasm' and 'electronic.') It's a melodic, 99.9% vocal based guitar and keyboard driven album with plenty of colourful textural details and semi-surreal twists and turns." _____ "Fantasmatron ? Ooooh, darling! Pop via strange antennea...Crystal Set music for sensual supermen, erotic noise for sexy sailors and sailorettes, big blue dreams for dig it now, kids, rough and tumble for the refined of mind. Be there with it, or forever be square!" "Lampdownlowland": "a rather emotive track for me too...It attempts to capture those moments of quiet melancholy sitting in front of a fire on a cold winter's night when our thoughts turn to matters of mortality and the poignant beauty and suffering of the human condition. Ghosts of the past, distant memories, a kind of universal garden of eden from which we have all been, too soon, expelled." FAN THOUGHTS: neill_burgess: "Just had my first listen to Fantasmatron , and I have to say I am blown away. This is the album I've wanted Bill to make for years (even if I could not have defined what I wanted before hearing it!). "While still recognisably a BN album, to my ears it goes somewhere new, combining some of the spikey instrumental pieces we've heard previously with matching, edgy vocals. In some ways, it could be seen as a successor to the similarly "experimental" vocal album Golden Melodies , but whereas that had pastoral instrumentation the music here is more avant-garde rock... So, from me it's definitely a big thumbs up from the first listen - well done Bill!" steve lyles: "I am absolutely blown away by Bill's new album. I love the atmospheres and "feel" of this music...I find myself getting huge emotional surges as I am listening....no drugs required - just me and the music and it's a chemical romance. The track "Signal Destinations" is so truly epic...it's like a 21st century hymn...as I have thought hundreds of time before with Bill Nelson's music...just how does it get better than this ?...and then it does...extraordinary..." BobK: "Must say, I am blown away as well. This well and truly hits the spot. "I suppose you could describe the album as a collection of melodic, almost trippy, tunes. The word 'ethereal' springs to mind. Has hints of Golden Melodies and Fables about it and a suitable amount of strangeness. There are so many beautiful melodies here and some great stuff going on behind the top line melody, (listen on headphones!). "What more can ya say? Bill sings wonderfully, some terrific guitar playing, beautifully produced and mastered and loads of jolly nice weird blippy noises. I love it!" alec: "I'm all about Fantasmatron lately. Can't get enough of it. Can't make up my mind what my favourite track from it is!" Holer: "Holy crap! This one caught me completely by surprise. It's nice going into a new BN record with absolutely no idea as to what to expect. Honestly, I thought it was going to be another trippy instrumental record, which would have been more than alright with me, but POW! So much more! "I enjoy all of Bill's releases at some level, but every few years, he releases an album that really makes a statement - Sailor Bill , Golden Melodies , the Mazda trilogy, Non-Stop Mystery Action , among others. I think Fantasmatron is one of those records. Another classic, and one of Bill's weirdest pop albums to date! Hey, that's a GOOD thing!" Chimera Man: "Everything Changes with the Weather": "is simply gorgeous and I can't stop playing it... I do love it when Bill hits us with a laid-back vibe (is that adjective still in use?!), a sumptuous melody line and a really rich sounding composition." JohnR: "My favourite albums from Bill's recent output change with time, but there is still one that stands out for me as the No. 1, and that is Fantasmatron . It's got everything, including my favourite spine-shivering track - "Everything Changes with the Weather". Andre: "Art is Long and Time is Fleeting": "and your voice is untouched by time. Your voice sounds as warn as it did 40 years ago!" "Fantasmatron , to me, has got to be easily the best Bill Nelson has put out." "It kills me, because something like "Everything Changes with the Weather" should be all over the radio. We live on one strange planet!" Serge Ruel: "What an absolutely superb fusion and development of your musical avenues. Wow, am I ever so glad to be around to hear this...a dream come true." Alan: "Once again, Bill takes us along on his musical journey through new regions in Nelsonic lands. Like so many of Bill's albums, this one has its own personality." "Definitely one of my favorites. If you don't have this one, do yourself a favor and buy it now." Returningman: "My own favourite (and choosing one is not an easy task) is the album I just keep returning to - Fantasmatron . In my eyes (and ears) it is Bill's most rounded and complete set of musical statements in many years." "Like a fine wine this album gains depth with age (and playtime). Worth digging out the headphones for this one as there is lots of stuff deep in the mix. "Most artists of a "certain age" recorded their best work many moons ago. Bill seems to be in a golden phase of his artistic career at present, and is releasing some absolute gems." novemberman: "Fantasmatron instantly hit me as exceptional. I didn't want it end!" Albums Menu Future Past

The Essoldo Cinema Welcome to Bill's private cinema. Pull up a seat, select your film and enjoy the show! Christmas Greetings Videos Films Created For Nelsonicas And Live Shows Bill's Solo Videos Be Bop Deluxe Miscellaneous

Bill Nelson Live Events Unfortunately, Bill has no live shows planned at the moment and due to health issues it is unlikely that he will perform live in the future... Make sure you have subscribed to this website's mailing list for news and updates. We would like to build a comprehensive archive gallery of Bill's shows. If you have any great pictures or memories that you would like to share... Please contact us HERE Previous Live Show Archive

Earthly Paradise album - 1994 Joe Hisaishi Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Guitar and Vocals Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

The Rumbler/Perfidia 2017 Free download single Click image for cover Artwork FREE download single to celebrate the launch of the new Dreamsville - Released October 2017. A-Side: THE RUMBLER (For Duane) Currently unavailable on any album B-Side: PERFIDIA 2017 Currently unavailable on any album Performed, recorded and produced by Bill Nelson. All rights Bill Nelson 2017.

Rosewood Volume Two Bill Nelson album - 29 July 2005 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Tinderbox 02) Aliumesque 03) Little Cantina 04) Rolling Home (Yorkshire Raga No.1) 05) Sunbeam 06) Bramble 07) William Is Wearing The Cardigan Of Light 08) The Autumn Tram (Yorkshire Raga No.2) 09) Hi Lo La 10) Rising Sap 11) Blue Cloud 12) See-Through Nightie 13) Ordinary Storm, Waiting For Rain 14) The Light Is Kinder In This Corner Of Corona 15) Your Whole Life Dreaming ALBUM NOTES: Rosewood Volume Two was written and recorded alongside Rosewood Volume One , and like its predecessor, comprises a similar selection of acoustic guitar instrumentals. Issued in a single print run of 1000 copies, the album took approximately 7 years to sell out. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . IF YOU LIKED THIS ALBUM, YOU'LL PROBABLY ENJOY: Rosewood One , And We Fell Into A Dream , Quiet Bells , Dreamland to Starboard , Illuminated At Dusk , Silvertone Fountains , Neptune's Galaxy , New Northern Dream BILL'S THOUGHTS: "A perfect companion piece to Rosewood Vol. One , still based around acoustic guitars but with a slightly different feel, featuring more percussion and a slightly more 'mainstream' approach." _____ "On the Rosewood albums, there's a combination of miked-up acoustic guitar parts and acoustic through my Line 6 Vetta 2 amp's effects, (fed direct to the mixing desk). I wanted to use both a natural and treated acoustic sound. In that respect, it's not really a pure acoustic album but then, nothing I ever do on my albums could be considered particularly pure or fundamentalist." _____ "The Light is Kinder in This Corner of Corona": "A pastiche Tex-Mex acoustic twanglomania from the Rosewood Volume 2 album. Tongue in cheek but warm and wonderful. Reminds me of US tours back in the '70s and the illusions we post-war English boys harboured about the romance of American border towns...not the most sophisticated track from the album but one of the sweetest." _____ "I'm very proud of the Rosewood albums...They're definitely on my small list of 'albums I'd like to be remembered by'." FAN THOUGHTS: TomR: "This is really excellent. On first play a much jauntier record than Vol 1 . There are not many players than make me think of Roy Smeck, Steve Howe, John McLaughlin and Andy Roberts in the space of sixteen bars. I've laughed out loud a few times already, and that doesn't happen with a CD very often." John Izzard: "As others have stated, I found it much more immediate than Volume 1 . Some real surprises in there too. It twists and turns, introducing new ideas and themes, almost all the time. Yet for all of its diversity, it remains a coherent and ultimately lovely piece of work." paulnery: "Vol II is less calm than Vol. I . Some tension can be noticed in the tracks...and the tracks are faster, people can dance to these tunes...While Vol. I is more Yin , Vol. II is more Yang." "The Light is Kinder in This Corner of Corona": "is very nice, reminded me of The Shadows in some moments. Beautiful instrumental." alec: "Listening to Rosewood Volume 2 for the third time and I'm struck by how, though it's instrumental, I hear voices in some of the pieces -- like the first piece for example, "Tinderbox"." PhilK: "Seriously though it is a beautiful piece of music, I initially started to pick favourite tracks ("Sunbeam", "Blue Cloud", "Bramble") but by the third listen I came to the conclusion it is an album to listen to completely rather than odd tracks out of sequence." Mr.Ilektrik: "Both albums are beautiful, I can't pick a favourite out of the two albums or even pick out favourite tracks. They are ALL wonderful ornaments & graces." JovialBob: "I've just been playing Rosewood while some friends were here, and they wanted to know who was responsible for the wonderful music, so there's another two fans to add to the ever growing number..." swampboy: "I have grown to really love both discs, and find the guitar sound very appealing, but isn't that just like Bill, to give us something that is both familiar, yet unique. I was really hesitant to buy either of these discs, as I wasn't sure if I'd like Bill doing acoustic, but I find myself returning to them again and again. I've heard a lot of acoustic guitar over the years, but nothing that sounds quite like this." wadcorp: "The Rosewood volumes should be next on the list of 'Catching up to Bill' albums?" "Without question. Those discs contain some of the most amazing acoustic guitar. You will not be disappointed." Albums Menu Future Past

Are You Receiving Me? single - 1982 Yukihiro Takahashi Production/Contribution Menu Future Past TRACKS: A) Are You Receiving Me? B) And I Believe In You BILL: Guitar and backing vocals on the track 'Are You Receiving Me?' Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Chimera Bill Nelson mini-album - 6 May 1983 Albums Menu Future Past TRACKS: 01) The Real Adventure 02) Acceleration 03) Everyday Feels Like Another New Drug 04) Tender Is The Night 05) Glow World 06) Another Day, Another Ray Of Hope ALBUM NOTES: Chimera is a vocal mini-album initially released on vinyl and cassette. It was originally to be called Sextet , but Nelson changed his plans when Ultravox issued their 'Quartet'’ album in late 1982, preferring a title that had no immediate associations. There was no lyric bag with the album, which presumably helped keep the retail price pegged at a give-away £2.99, but the lyrics were included in an issue of the fan club magazine Acquitted By Mirrors and on the initial UK CD release (Cocteau, 1987). Although there were no commercial singles issued off Chimera at the time of its release, a promotional 7" single coupling two of its tracks, "Acceleration" and "Tender is the Night", was pressed and distributed to radio stations. "Acceleration" was eventually released in remixed form as a single in 1984. PAST RELEASES: In 1987, Chimera was issued on CD (Cocteau) coupled with the Savage Gestures For Charms Sake mini-album as a 2-for-1 pressing. In the US the material was treated differently – see Vistamix (1984). CURRENT AVAILABILITY: In 2005, Mercury reissued Chimera as a remastered CD, producing the definitive edition of the album. The package is well presented with sleeve notes and photographs, and contains the original version of the album as released in 1983, together with four bonus tracks taken from singles issued contemporaneously with the album. Extra songs on the 2005 CD: 07) Hard Facts from the Fiction Department (from fan club ep of the same name, then the Acceleration single). 08) Acceleration (long version from 12" single). 09) Acceleration (dub version from 12" single). 10) Acceleration (short version from 12" single). The 2005 version of Chimera was re-issued in November 2021 on the Music On CD label and is available in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "Yuki [Takahashi of Yellow Magic Orchestra] simply sent me a selection of different beats, and I wrote the music to lay on top of them and overdubbed my parts to create the song. Nothing was worked out before." _____ "Another Day, Another Ray of Hope": "is one of those rare songs that I can still listen to without cringing. It's the one track that really endears Chimera to me. In fact, it's on my, 'proud of' list. I think it hasn't dated as much as some music from that era, for some reason, despite the '80's style instrumentation. Probably because it is completely without irony and is direct from the heart." "Can't recall if "Another Day, Another Ray of Hope" was ever considered as a potential single or not. To be honest, I wasn't really involved too much with commercial thoughts back then and even less so now. In fact, I'm probably the worst person anyone could consult regarding popular tastes, especially as getting a 'hit' has always been more to do with calling in favours and manipulating the media than the quality of the music itself. (Oh, the tales I could tell, kiddies!). Pop? It's an illusion, clever marketing strategies, cunning psychology, snake charming and sleight of hand. The 'general' public have long been puppets on the end of corporate strings, (though they rarely notice the deliberate yanking on their hearts, minds and wallets)." FAN THOUGHTS: Ed: "6 tracks, but enough ideas for a triple album. More invention than many a career that has ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame/Shame. Commercially neglected? Probably. Criminally un-promoted by its owners - to the extent that Tony Mitchell (journalist in Sounds newspaper) hijacked the singles review pages to lambast Mercury for not putting out a single from it. It's a mysterious melting pot of melody, rhythm, and powerful imagery. Greater than the sum of its parts. And what parts! The contributions - most famously from Yukihiro Takahashi and Mick Karn help to define the feel of the album." Wasp In Aspic: "It was a Saturday in the summer of '83 and I bumped into a friend in town who was carrying a copy of Chimera which he had just bought. I had never heard of Bill Nelson. In the evening we went to a disco and then went to his girlfriend's place and he put Chimera on. Although I didn't completely 'get it' it sounded very interesting so I went out and bought it myself. I was soon marveling at this fantastic and - in my experience - uniquely artistic music. And so began this continuing love affair." james warner: "Love this mini album to bits! Chunky, brash drum machine riffs and synth arrangements great guitar and a liberal sprinkling of E-bow and marimba..."Glow World" is probably my favourite track with Mick Karn's glorious bass, Yuki Takahashi's manic percussion and those great bursts of guitar from Bill in the bridges between verses." wonder toy: "Acceleration": "I just want to know if the lyrics were written before or after the purchase of the Porsche." Radium Girl: "The Real Adventure': "is one of Bill's finest and most arousing vocal efforts ever in my opinion! It makes my head spin so deliciously!" amok: "I was listening to "Another Day, Another Ray of Hope" in the car and I have to say it it one one my favourite pieces of Bill's work. I find the piece very uplifting: the tempo the range of instruments and yet the lyrics are somewhat sad: the passing of time but with the eternal optimism of the title." Peter: "Another Day, Another Ray of Hope": "which I wish was an hour long -- the ebow on this song is sublime, and that repeating series of descending synth notes just hooks me in like I can't explain." Chimera Man: "Every time I play "Another Day, Another Ray of Hope" (which is quite often) I find intensely "uplifting" and mood changing in a positive fashion. 29 years on and I think it (and the Chimera album generally) has stood the test of time brilliantly." "Give "Tender is the Night" a spin if you want to hear Bill playing a superb bass-line. So good I thought it was Mick Karn first time I heard it." wildanddizzy: "Another Day, Another Ray of Hope": "When the drum solo kicks in, there is some great energy happening, with Bill's guitar all over the place...the build up and crescendo on this track is beautifully orchestrated. If I were a castaway on a desert island...with me and poor Crusoe sharing the same fate, I would clearly want this one with me... I have played this track more times than most to introduce someone to BN. That and "October Man"." Mick Winsford: "If pushed to take just one recorded example of Bill's music to the end of the world I would still choose Chimera ." novemberman: "I had forgotten what a masterpiece it is. Nearly 30 years old and still as fresh as the day I bought it in 1983, and it's probably the album that made me think, Umm this Nelson bloke is worth taking note of!! So thanks Bill for giving me 30 years of musical pleasure, and after my dip into the past I look forward to what the future may bring. To copy the lyrics from a track on Chimera ...Every New Bill Nelson Album Is Like Another New Drug, Still Can't Get Enough!!" Albums Menu Future Past

Wings of the Dawn single - 1982 Monsoon Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: E-Bow Guitar on the A-side. Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

The Way Out Is The Way In album - 1995 Audio Active and Laraaji Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Guitar on one track: "Music & Cosmic (Feel Yourself)" Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

360° Album album - 1996 Gillcover & the monkey Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Producer and keyboard Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Infotainment single - 1990 The Rhythm Sisters Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Producer, Guitar, Sitar and Keyboard. Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Acquitted By Mirrors - Issue Six - Published August 1983 Back to Top

Eros Arriving Bill Nelson single - 23 April 1982 Singles Menu Future Past TRACKS: 7" Single: A) Eros Arriving (Single Version) B) Haunting In My Head 12" Single: A) Eros Arriving (Single Version) B) Haunting In My Head C) He And Sleep Were Brothers D) Flesh ORIGINALLY: A) is a remix of the song from the upcoming album The Love That Whirls. B, C, & D) were all non-album tracks. NOTES: Eros Arriving was the lead single from, and issued ahead of, The Love That Whirls album. This was Nelson's second and final double 7" in gatefold artwork, including 4 previously unreleased tracks that were all recorded during The Love That Whirls sessions. Note: there is an Australian pressing of this single on which "Eros Arriving" plays out to a natural end rather than fading out. PAST RELEASES: All four songs were included on The Two Fold Aspect of Everything comp (out of print). B, C, & D) were included on a US/Canada ep entitled Flaming Desire and Other Passions . C & D) were also included on the 1986 and 1989 CD issues of The Love That Whirls . CURRENT AVAILABILITY: B, C, & D) were added to the remastered 2005 CD of The Love That Whirls . Singles Menu Future Past

Acquitted By Mirrors - Issue Eight - Published January 1984 Back to Top

Bill Nelson - photography and diary archive. The Dreamsville Archive Diary Of A Hyperdreamer Dreamsville Rocket Magazines & Interviews Radio Interviews Museum Of Memory Live Show Archive Album Listening Notes Guitar TAB

Bill's Radio Interviews Bill has done countless radio interviews over the years. In an attempt to try to gather them together, we would like to add them to this page... If you have any audio recordings of Bill's interviews that don't appear here, please get in touch and we can hopefully add them to the list. February 1978 - Radio Hallam Bill visits the Radio Hallam Studio, based in Sheffield, England before heading off to do a show in the town... Much discussion about the new Be Bop Deluxe album 'Drastic Plastic'... The tracks played on the programme have been edited out, so you will need to spin them yourself if you want to recreate the show! 1980 - BBC Radio One A short interview where Bill talks about his Red Noise project, producing The Skids and his album 'Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam'. 23 May 1981 - BBC Radio One Another short interview, Bill talks about 'Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam', Cocteau Records, his current tour and the making of a couple of singles from the album. 28 November 1981 - BBC Radio One Bill talks to John Walters about working with the Yorkshire Actors, The Invisibility Exhibition, Cocteau Records and his love of the work of Jean Cocteau. 1982 - ABC Radio (Australia) Triple J Bill is visited at his home for this chat with an Australian interviewer. He talks about the 'Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam' album, plus the Cocteau Records label and releasing local bands like 'Last Man In Europe'. There's also a super-cute moment when Bill's daughter Elle pops in to say goodnight to her dad... 30 April 1983 - BBC Radio One Bill is the guest on BBC Radio 1's Saturday Live show, he discusses his album Chimera, his Cocteau record label and working with Fiat Lux and Gary Numan. 14 December 1985 - BBC Radio One With the release of the individual albums from the 'Trail By Intimacy' box set, Bill talks about the writing and recording process, working on David Sylvian's 'Gone To Earth' album, and his approach and ideas for video production. 19 May 1995 - WFMU Upsala College Bill is in the radio studio with Chris Beyer. As well as a nice long interview, Bill plays live in the studio to backing tracks of 'Moon Rocket Highway', 'Gloria Mundae', 'Signum Natura', 'Trance And Transcending', 'B-Movie Bug Boy' and 'Themis Aurea'. December 2002 - Noise Candy interview Bill talks with Alan Rowett about the Noise Candy box set which had just been released, plus his solo career, playing live and working alone. 13 January 2025 - House of Prog - Telephone interview Bill speaks with Ian Gregson from the Canadian internet radio station House Of Prog. The quality of the phone connection is not great, but well worth a listen. The host also plays a few tunes from Bill's career.

Fables And Dreamsongs Bill Nelson album - 26 November 2010 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) A Window Open Onto Eden 02) Wireless World 03) Machines Of Loving Grace 04) Indoor Astronomy (Bella Luna) 05) The Shining Staircase 06) My Wonder Book Of Wings And Sails 07) Beautiful Diamonds Are Falling From The Clouds 08) Stranger Flowers Now Than Ever 09) Way Back When 10) The Drawing Room 11) Pondering The Mystery 12) Moon Gold Palladium ALBUM NOTES: Fables and Dreamsongs (A Golden Book of Experimental Ballads) features a mix of vocal and instrumental tracks. It was released on the Sonoluxe label in a single print run of 1000 copies. The album had begun life with a working title of Moon Gold Palladium , but Nelson revised his plans in the summer of 2010. The album was initially made available on pre-release on the same day as Nelsonica ‘10 before going on general sale 5 days later through SOS. Fables And Dreamsongs sold out in September 2019. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "An album for thinkers, dreamers and poets, though not one that surrenders much to the mainstream." _____ "Fables and Dreamsongs was inspired, in part, from the 'Golden Wonder Books' that my mother owned as a child, and from which she read to me when I was a little boy. These thick, beautifully illustrated compendiums contained classic fables and stories by Britains best authors and artists. Looking at them now, what strikes me is how high the standard of writing was. The vocabulary used, (though they were children's stories), was so much more sophisticated than our modern day approach to children's literature. I suspect that many of these tales would prove difficult for contemporary adults to grasp, let alone children. There certainly was no 'talking down' involved. Back when these books were published, in the 1920s and '30s, the elegance, descriptive and emotive properties of the English language magically connected with children, even at an early age. (Well, they certainly did with me, thanks to my mother reading to me from these books when I was still an infant.) "So, whilst Fables and Dreamsongs is a book of experimental ballads, it is also firmly rooted in the feelings I had when I sat by my mother's side as an infant, as she read to me from these wonderful collections of classic children's literature." _____ "Two of the pieces, "Machines of Loving Grace" and "Stranger Flowers Now Than Ever" were actually premiered live as part of the 'Orchestra Futura' set at Nelsonica '09 . The versions on Fables and Dreamsongs are solo studio versions. "The Drawing Room" was first performed as part of my solo live set at Nelsonica '09 . Again, this is a studio version of the piece. None of the other tracks have been heard outside of my studio before." FAN THOUGHTS: BenTucker: "Totally different, unexpected, psychedelic and utterly mind-blowing is my reaction to this album after just a few listens. But really it's too early to comment for me, as this seems like a very complex, sophisticated masterpiece. The first track alone (a quite stunningly wonderful experience) contains enough richness to fill a whole album, but that's only the beginning..." " Fables and Dreamsongs is Be Bop Deluxe on acid. Unmissable." Andre: " Fables and Dreamsongs is definitely a trip. "For madmen only", as was the club found by the Steppenwolf. Complete with weeping werewolves and machines of loving grace. This is some great stuff!" jetboy: "I love this album to bits, the musical equivalent of Halloween orange flickering on the back parlour wall...a f@xxing classic!" Palladium: "A very accessible, beautifully melodic and satisfying record. "Moon Gold Palladium", for instance, could easily be Be Bop Deluxe from an alternative universe where some of the parameters have been tinkered with a little (in a good, weird way)." mthom: "Had a first listen last night and was pretty much blown away, and dare I say "surprised"? This is uniquely different for Bill. Not so much jazzy or bluesy with some beautiful, yet edgy, ambient soundscapes and some down right rockin' drums. Nice mix of vocals here and there. Fantastic sound quality. I seem to recall Bill saying this is a cross between Sailor Bill and Golden Melodies , and that is an apt description (if he didn't say it, then I did!). This is one to play for the friends who need converting. Great stuff!!!" Wasp In Aspic: "This one could just be one of Bill's most special albums. I would place it near the nexus of Sailor Bill , Golden Melodies of Tomorrow , and Non-Stop Mystery Action . It has a winning balance between enchanted instrumental tracks and passages and beautiful romantic songs." BobK: "Must say I am rather taken by Fables . One of those albums which is initially very likable and then after a few more plays starts to really hit the spot. How to describe it? Whilst it has moments that remind me of Sailor Bill and Golden Melodies , it is more pastoral and dreamlike and, in places, rather strange and mysterious... For some reason I keep thinking it could be the perfect soundtrack to accompany you whilst walking round an old stately home. One that is occupied, but you never see the occupants and one that carries many memories...Does that make sense?" tommaso: " Fables and Dreamsongs immediately gripped me. It seems indeed to be a continuation of Sailor Bill and Golden Melodies , but it is perhaps even more introspective and heartfelt. I like the slow tempo of the album, and its musical complexity, with some quite long tracks which nevertheless seem very accessible. "Moon Gold Palladium" is stunning, but it's only the final highlight of what seems to me one of the best Nelson albums of the last few years." felixt1: " Fables and Dreamsongs is a gem of an album, and "Beautiful Diamonds..." is one of my absolute favourite songs, by anyone!" "Completely blew my socks off!" Tourist in Wonderland: "I think, for the want of better words, Bill has really gone to a different level with this one, and for me, it is rapidly shaping to become one of Mr.N's greatest works. I do not use these words lightly, a masterpiece...and I would urge any Bill Nelson fan who hasn't got this one yet, to get a copy...you won't regret it." Albums Menu Future Past