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I don’t typically have time to join in on these discussions, but Jon Hassell was special, and these warm tributes and recollections of others have reminded me of how I came to Jon’s musical cathedral and why I love his music so deeply. I guess like some others, I learned about Jon Hassell because of Brian Eno, so “Fourth World Vol. 1” joined my collection as soon as I could buy it. But that album was much more than Eno. Hassell had me at the first sound of his breathy trumpet and gurgling undertow of electronics and percussion. I can hear it in my mind’s ear right now as I’m sitting here typing in silence. So, as soon as I found a copy of “Earthquake Island” (Charlemagne Records, Birmingham, Alabama, 1981 or ‘82), I picked it up and was immediately taken by (what I heard to be) the post -“Bitches Brew” influence. I haven’t listened to “Earthquake Island” in a while so I don’t know whether I was just superimposing my own limited musical references at that time, or whether I would still hear that bloodline running through that album. Whatever the case, Jon was hitting all the right buttons to pique and encourage my desire for new sounds. Oddly, I’d kind of bypassed Japan and had not been aware of David Sylvian’s solo work until I was made aware that Jon Hassell figured prominently on a 1985 12” ep by Sylvian (“Words With the Shaman”). That became a whole other thread to follow - discovering Japan (thanks Graham Parker) and the eventual depth of Sylvian’s solo career. In a backwards way, Jon Hassell led me to Japan and Sylvian’s solo material! I only learned later that Hassell played on Terry Riley’s original 1968 recording of “In C.” I‘d had the record for years, but never studied (or recognized) the personnel. Being a completist (or OCD or something), seeking out Hassell appearances has brought years of enjoyment and discovery (Bill, your recorded output has definitely stumped and frustrated my completist collector tendencies!). And like Bill and others here have mentioned, I‘ve had my own “dream teams”of fantasy musical collaborations that have never happened, one of which was Jon Hassell, Bill Nelson, and Ryuich Sakamoto (etc.). That kind of thing. The possibilities are limitless! Sorry for running on, but thanks for helping to pull some old musical memories out of the cobwebs for me! Walter

Steve’s been in the US for so long now...I don’t know how much treacle is left in him!😉

World and His Wife

The Liverpool gig was at The Polytechnic, I have a couple of blown up photos of the night, not brilliant but a photos all the same. Bill playing the guitar and the marimba? in front of a huge bank of tv screens. In the audience was a few of the new Liverpool music scene Ian McCullough, from the Bunnymen, Holly Johnson, from Frankie goes to Hollywood and Andy McClusky from OMD Was a hell of a gig

Would it be possible to get you to send the on demand link, once it's available? It would be greatly appreciated. 😋

His best Album. "Glow world" is stunning.

Just made it through all of the discs....how come no band samples on the modern music intro?

1956

poisonous toads ... poisonous toads

Mary Osborne - I surrender dear

Trini Lopez has passed away. Legendary American singer, guitarist, actor and Gibson signature artist dies at the age of 83 https://guitar.com/news/trini-lopez-dead-at-83/

Hi Bill, Have you ever owned a white Rickenbacker 360/12 ? This has popped up on eBay ...

All unique and beautiful. Magnificent!! I have five in total and storing them is space full lol!! How many eye brows has Emi raised lol !!

Gary Numan - This Is My House

Rickenbacker girls of the world unite!

LOOKS LIKE LES PAUL SHOULDN'T HAVE PUT THOSE GUITARS IN A HIGH TEMPERATURE WASH!

Thaks for posting this Alec!...I can't remember having ever seen this before. Bill's responces just shone as usual and he's always great to watch in such situations. He really would/should be every interviewer's dream-guest...and the couple of bits of humour thrown in, effortless and clever...Yes, I could watch Bill 'all night long' in situations like this, and on that kind of form..and looking really cool too! (great hair)...It's a good job he was there, or the whole thing would have fallen rather flat. However, I was rather surprised by the comments made by guy who posted this video on TY, where he says it was "Sylvian's bad luck sadly" re the three guests chosen to critique his BT album...Bill's comments were excellent, and overall, very positive... he was honest and open, very fair in overall evaluation and he did say how much he ended up enjoying the album after several listens, which is always a good sign, especially in relation to showing the depth of a piece of music, etc.......Gary Kemp was honest too, and you have to respect that, people's individual views, but he also did say he liked the album and Sandie basically just said how much she liked it...So how he says that was Sylvian's bad luck is a little beyond me...You have to be able to listen to and accept people's criticisms/point of view, as well as their positive thoughts and responces. It was Sylvian's good luck Bill was there to give his thoughts, which were, overall, very positive. The reality was it was Bill Nelson that gave the connoisseur's appraisal in this TV interview and I would imagine David Sylvian would have been very pleased and happy with Bill's musings.

I think Bill used his usual 100w Carlsbro p.a amps on crying to the sky with a Wem copicat & his usual pedal board, hopefully he will reply, yes he had a great sound at the Metropolis gig I was fortunate to be there, I remember he did say his monitor mix was poor.

Thanks for the reply! That leaves just 54 tracks left to remaster. 😆

A comprehensive breakdown. I’ve wondered and speculated about these. Perhaps you could create similar for Noise Candy.

Mike, thanks for the radio sessions lead, which demonstrates more errors in my groupings/chronology. Is it safe to assume that these are the versions of songs we know (E.G., that the "Rooms with Brittle Views" single is from the '81 Jenson session)? And if this is the same "Jazz" I know, I've always wrongly thought it was from considerably later... I am obviously not much of a BN scholar!

My wife ordered me this as my main Christmas present and tells me she had an alert from Burning Shed that release date has been pushed back again, to 28 February.

Delayed now until the end of February. Wee bit miffed as they took my money only the other day. Still, hopefully it will be worth it.

This is everything I hoped for: Multi-track remixes that include World and His Wife and Dancing Music, all the singles material brought into some kind of sonic uniformity (more robust than Two-Fold, I expect - but from what sources?), plus the radio sessions. Unclear why "Dream Car Romantics (in Death's Garage Antics)" is excluded, but that's okay. Ordered and optimistic.