Edwyn Collins | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Best known for his tenure fronting the Scottish pop revivalists Orange Juice as well as his international solo hit "A Girl Like You," singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Edwyn Collins was born in Edinburgh in 1959. He spent his youth absorbing the pop music of the day and learning how to play guitar. In 1976, he formed the Nu-Sonics with guitarist James Kirk, bassist David McClymont, and drummer Steven Daly and began working on creating a sound that blended the Byrds, the Velvet Underground, and Chic with the energy, if not the snarling attitude, of punk. After the quartet renamed themselves Orange Juice in 1979, Collins and his friend Alan Horne formed the Postcard label to release the bands debut single. "Falling and Laughing," recorded for less than 100 pounds, was issued in 1980 to massive critical acclaim, and subsequent releases like "Blueboy," "Simply Thrilled Honey," and "Poor Old Soul" further established the group as a major new talent. Sessions began for a full-length album, but in the midst of recording, Orange Juice left Postcard to sign to Polydor. That label funded the completion of You Cant Hide Your Love Forever, which hit record store shelves in 1982. Also released that year, the groups second album, Rip It Up, was a more ambitious affair than its predecessor, veering from the buoyant Motown tribute "I Cant Help Myself" to the energetic pop of the title track, which reached the Top Ten of the U.K. singles charts. Another LP followed, 1984s self-titled affair, but the multiple lineup changes and lack of chart action led the group to disband. A solo career seemed like the obvious next step, but Collins struggled to find a label willing to release his records. Only after a pair of sold-out London performances did Creations Alan McGee sign him to the labels Elevation off-shoot in 1986. The singles "Dont Shilly Shally" and "My Beloved Girl" followed, but the label proved to be a short-lived venture, and when McGee decided not to shift Collins over to Creation, the singer was again left without a contract. Some months later, Collins accepted the opportunity to record at a small German studio run by a group of devoted Orange Juice fans. Cut with the aid of old friends Dennis Bovell and Aztec Cameras Roddy Frame, the resulting LP, Hope and Despair -- a brooding, ambitious collection spotlighting Collins smooth, soulful baritone -- was eventually picked up by the Demon label and issued in 1989. The album proved quite successful on the independent charts, and soon Collins returned to the studio to record 1990s Hellbent on Compromise; when the LP failed to repeat its predecessors good fortune, Demon dropped him from their ranks, and another long sabbatical followed. Collins spent much of the decades first half in the producers seat, overseeing sessions from artists including longtime pal Paul Quinn, the Rockingbirds, A House, and the Frank and Walters. He finally earned another shot as a performer when he signed with the U.K. indie Setanta, which released the album Gorgeous George -- a scathing, shimmering set of retro-pop highlighted by the single "A Girl Like You" -- in 1994. Slowly, the song became a massive hit throughout Europe as well as the U.S. and returned Collins to the charts for the first time since the 1983 Orange Juice smash "Rip It Up," finally establishing the longstanding cult hero as something of a household name. The success of "A Girl Like You" also gave Collins the financial means needed to build his own studio, which he did in West Hampstead with the help of engineer Seb Lewsley. The duo recorded many artists at West Heath Studio, including Robert Forster, the Cribs, and the Proclaimers. Collins also used the studio to record his solo records. 1997s Im Not Following was the first; it featured the single "Magic Piper (of Love)," which reached the Top 40 of the U.K. singles charts and was also on the soundtrack for the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. The album was recorded with his core band of drummer Paul Cook of Sex Pistols fame, bassist Clare Kenny, and keyboardist Sean Read, along with the inimitable vocals of Mark E. Smith on one track. Collins turned mostly to producing other artists for the next few years, working on records by Vic Godard, Astrid, Terrorvision, and Space. When he did get back behind the mic, it was to work on the album Doctor Syntax. Released in 2002, the record was built around samples culled by Seb Lewsley with almost all the instruments played by Collins. After its release, Collins moved back to the producers chair. Albums by Little Barrie, HAL, and Dave Couse were recorded at West Heath between 2002 and 2005. He also began working on a more acoustic and introspective solo album, but the sessions were cut short when Collins suffered two severe cerebral hemorrhages that left him unable to walk, move his left arm, or remember words. His stubborn nature and the undying support of his wife (and manager), Grace Maxwell, kept him on the road to recovery as he learned to walk, then talk, and finally sing again. After a brief attempt to return to the studio to mix the album he had recorded, Collins took extended time off to recover. During that period, he worked on drawing, quickly becoming a master of depicting birds and woodland creatures. Eventually, he and Lewsley went back to West Heath (which had been used by Collins friend Bernard Butler while he convalesced) and finished mixing what became Home Again. The album, which showcased Collins introspective side and soulful croon, was released on Heavenly Recordings in September 2007. In 2010, Collins released Losing Sleep, his first new collection of songs since his illness. The album featured guest appearances from a wide range of collaborators -- including members of the Cribs, the Drums, Franz Ferdinand, and Little Barrie -- and showed that Collins was well along the road to recovery. As Collins continued to get stronger, he and James Endeacott, a former A&R; man at Rough Trade, formed a new record label, Analogue Enhanced Digital, to release further records by Edwyn, new artists, and old chums like Roddy Frame. He also maintained a regular schedule of playing live shows, and in March of 2013 he released a new album for AED titled Understated. The LP was made with the core band of multi-instrumentalists Carwyn Ellis and Sean Read, Rails guitarist James Walbourne, and long-time drummer Paul Cook. At the same time, he and Maxwell were working with filmmakers James Hall and Edward Lovelace on a documentary that charted Collins comeback. Titled The Possibilities Are Endless, a phrase that Collins repeated over and over while in his hospital bed, it was released in 2014. A soundtrack album featuring old songs and newly recorded instrumentals was issued at the same time. Around this time, Collins and Maxwell decided to leave London and West Heath behind and move to the Scottish Highlands, where they built a new studio complete with breathtaking views of the Moray Firth. Once constructed, it was used to record albums by bands like Hooton Tennis Club, Tracyanne & Danny, Spinning Coin, and many others. Collins himself also worked there, and with Ellis and Read assisting him again, he recorded his third post-stroke album, Badbea. It was released in March 2019 by AED, after which Collins undertook some live shows to promote it. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 13 Title: Dont Shilly Shally Released: 1987 Tracks: 3 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Dont Shilly Shally (?) 2 If Ever Youre Ready (?) 3 Queer Fish (?) |
 | Album: 2 of 13 Title: Hope and Despair Released: 1989 Tracks: 14 Duration: 55:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Coffee Table Song (04:51) 2 50 Shades of Blue (03:55) 3 Youre Better Than You Know (04:12) 4 Pushing It to the Back of My Mind (03:47) 5 If Ever Youre Ready (04:21) 6 Darling, They Want It All (03:42) 7 The Wheels of Love (04:54) 8 The Beginning of the End (03:57) 9 The Measure of the Man (03:38) 10 Testing Time (03:51) 11 Let Me Put My Arms Around You (04:06) 12 The Wide Eyed Child in Me (02:51) 13 Ghost of a Chance (04:08) 14 Hope and Despair (03:22) |
| Hope and Despair : Allmusic album Review : Collinss post-Orange Juice debut album has the familiar trappings of one of Glasgows most celebrated songwriters -- a man whose main fallbacks seem to be lovelorn pessimism and cynicism toward the entertainment industry. Still, when you prepare the same feast as lovingly as Collins does, youll never be short of house guests. The songwriting craft here is as keenly evident as youd expect, with reggae hero Dennis Bovell (previously a member of Orange Juices inner circle) providing production help and bass. Aztec Cameras Roddy Frame also contributes guitar. Highlights include "The Beginning of the End," which is downcast even by Collins world-weary standards, as the artist treads carefully through everything from blue-eyed pop to rustic country in his resolutely surefooted manner. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 13 Title: Hellbent on Compromise Released: 1990 Tracks: 11 Duration: 51:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Means to an End (05:14) 2 You Poor Deluded Fool (04:56) 3 It Might as Well Be You (03:26) 4 Take Care of Yourself (06:48) 5 Graciously (03:46) 6 Someone Else Besides (04:37) 7 My Girl Has Gone (03:45) 8 Now That Its Love (03:28) 9 Everything and More (04:59) 10 What’s the Big Idea? (05:02) 11 Time of the Preacher/Long Time Gone (05:04) |
| Hellbent on Compromise : Allmusic album Review : Following the demise of Orange Juice, the solo Edwyn Collins took some time to build a commercial platform -- at least, he did in his native Britain. Fans of his wistful yet terse songwriting were mainly scattered around central Europe, but his debut effort, 1989s Hope and Despair won a series of glowing reviews. Sadly, he largely squandered those good impressions with this follow-up, which too often lacks the strength of arrangement to carry through Collins lyrical ideas and projects. "You Poor Deluded Fool" and "Whats the Big Idea?" would certainly have benefited from a proper band setting, instead of the largely predictable studio keyboards that dominate. The cover of Smokey Robinsons "My Girl Has Gone" does no one any favors either. The campaign for real songwriting, to paraphrase a later Collins track, would have to wait until his next album for a second significant, by-election victory. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 13 Title: Gorgeous George Released: 1994-07-01 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:14:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Campaign for Real Rock (06:36) 2 A Girl Like You (03:56) 3 Low Expectations (03:59) 4 Out of This World (05:37) 5 If You Could Love Me (05:31) 6 North of Heaven (03:39) 7 Gorgeous George (04:09) 8 Its Right in Front of You (06:26) 9 Make Me Feel Again (04:23) 10 Ive Got It Bad (04:41) 11 Subsidence (05:44) 12 This Music Wont Take You Higher (03:26) 1 If Ever Youre Ready (05:50) 2 Come to Your Senses (04:31) 3 A Girl Like You (Victorian Spaceman mix) (06:09) |
| Gorgeous George : Allmusic album Review : Edwyn Collins made a remarkable and unexpected comeback with Gorgeous George, and its not hard to see why. The album represents a consolidation of Collins skills as a songwriter, demonstrating both his vicious wit and his effortless melodicism. Working with former Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook and bassist Claire Kenny, he develops the hardest-hitting musical attack of his career, but its also surprisingly versatile, capable not only of glam rock, but also jangle pop, folk-rock and blue-eyed soul. And while Collins can occasionally be accused of lyrical sniping -- the attack on Guns N Roses in "North of Heaven" is simply silly -- theres no denying that when his words and music hit the same target, such as on the darkly catchy Iggy Pop tribute "A Girl Like You," the results are wonderfully cerebral pop music. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 13 Title: Im Not Following You Released: 1997 Tracks: 12 Duration: 55:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 It’s a Steal (05:22) 2 The Magic Piper (of Love) (03:50) 3 Seventies Night (04:57) 4 No One Waved Goodbye (04:34) 5 Downer (04:05) 6 Who Is It? (04:11) 7 Running Away With Myself (04:18) 8 Country Rock (04:33) 9 For the Rest of My Life (04:16) 10 Superficial Cat (05:10) 11 Adidas World (02:27) 12 I’m Not Following You (07:29) |
| I'm Not Following You : Allmusic album Review : Having found himself back in the commercial limelight with Gorgeous George, Collins followed it up with the equally -- possibly even more -- delightful Im Not Following You. Trademark wit blended with passion intact and with key sideplayers drummer Paul Cook and bassist Clare Kenny helping out among many others -- including a wonderfully scabrous vocal cameo by Mark E. Smith on the very disco "Seventies Night" -- Collins tries all sorts of different things and more often than not comes up with the goods. "The Magic Piper (Of Love)" was the understandable lead single, catchy and with more than a little bite to it, drawing from finger-snapping hep-lounge Vegas sources and his own fun lyrics: "My girlfriend she got blotto/Half cut in Santas grotto/It turns out hes a dirty old man." Add to that some just right flute and a clever brass sample that suddenly turns into an orchestrated sample from the Velvet Underground, and the man still has it. Its one of many joys throughout, with Collins showing a musical heterodoxy that would probably stupefy most other bands or acts. "Seventies Night," for example, is followed up by the sweet orchestration and quick acoustic fingerpicking of "No One Waved Goodbye," a regretful look at a relationship in pieces. Theres full-on feedback and pounding drums, theres sly, compressed production touching quirky keyboards and Euro/cabaret arrangements, and even the self-explanatory Hammond-tinged "Country Rock." The hint of wistful nostalgia is often matched by the lyrics, with asides like "Im going back to my old school/Cause to tell you the truth/All those songs of my youth/Move this old fool." Not many musicians so readily and easily allow for the hints of the passage of time. Leave it to Collins to find a number of ways to do just that. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 13 Title: A Casual Introduction: 1981/2001 Released: 2002 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:13:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 A Girl Like You (03:56) 2 What Presence?! (03:58) 3 The Magic Piper (of Love) (03:17) 4 Rip It Up (intermediate edit) (04:57) 5 A Sad Lament (04:43) 6 The Witch Queen of New Orleans (long version) (04:04) 7 Johnny Teardrop (single mix) (03:49) 8 Gorgeous George (04:17) 9 Ghost of a Chance (04:06) 10 The Campaign for Real Rock (06:37) 11 Hope and Despair (03:24) 12 Falling and Laughing (03:51) 13 Keep on Burning (04:06) 14 Adidas World (02:29) 15 Felicity (02:35) 16 Tenterhook (05:01) 17 Witchcraft (04:25) 18 Graciously (03:37) |
 | Album: 7 of 13 Title: Doctor Syntax Released: 2002-04-29 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:07:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Never Felt Like This (04:15) 2 Shouldve Done That (04:23) 3 Mine Is At (04:58) 4 No Idea (04:51) 5 The Beatles (05:24) 6 Back to the Backroom (05:15) 7 Splitting Up (06:21) 8 Johnny Teardrop (single mix) (03:49) 9 20 Years Too Late (05:06) 10 Its a Funny Thing (04:23) 11 Calling on You (04:48) 12 Message for Jojo (04:10) 13 After All (I Live My Life) (04:47) 14 Stars in My Eyes (04:59) |
| Doctor Syntax : Allmusic album Review : Edwyn Collins sounds more relaxed and assured than ever on Doctor Syntax, his fifth solo album. Responsible for virtually every single sound on the album, other than some treatments and programming from Sebastian Lewsley and drums by Paul Cook, Collins focuses all of his energy into crafting fascinating postmodern tunes. Though theres a lo-fi feel to the beats and samples and only a modest amount of texture added to the guitars, its a remarkably lush and layered-sounding album. Indeed, it even brings to mind the quasi-medieval rumblings of Momus and the mystical frivolity of Baby Bird, without those artists trademark lunacy. Themes of Beatles adulation, condemned ex-lovers, and introspective questioning fit nicely with Collins moody, quirky vibes. Gone is the rage and noise of Im Not Following You, and in its place is a focus on sometimes gentle melodies and emotions. "Splitting Up" might be the most beautiful song Collins has ever recorded, as tender guitars paint tone poems over beckonings of "Im feeling down/Im splitting up"; just when the song appears to be over, three minutes of even more personal soul-revelations drive it into the stratosphere. Theres certainly less studio processing, polish, and trickery on Doctor Syntax than on his previous albums, and that might be why Collins is so successful in conjuring moods here. Even when he indulges a bit on "20 Years Too Late" by mixing Pet Shop Boys neo-disco with witty rapping, it just sounds right. Confident, serene, and fitted with superb melodies and choruses, Doctor Syntax is a brilliant, consistently thrilling work of art and perhaps the high point of Edwyn Collins solo career. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 13 Title: Home Again Released: 2007-10-01 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 One Is a Lonely Number (05:22) 2 Home Again (03:13) 3 You’ll Never Know (My Love) (03:38) 4 7th Son (03:52) 5 Leviathan (04:29) 6 It’s in Your Heart (02:49) 7 Superstar Talking Blues (02:58) 8 Liberteenage Rag (03:28) 9 A Heavy Sigh (05:27) 10 Written in Stone (04:05) 11 One Track Mind (03:39) 12 Then I Cried (03:18) |
| Home Again : Allmusic album Review : Recorded in 2004 and mixed in 2006 -- in between which he unfortunately suffered two cerebral hemorrhages and a bout of MRSA -- Edwyn Collins sixth studio album follows 2002s Doctor Syntax, and is a triumph of songwriting. Lyrics of struggles and hope, blended with nostalgia of Scottish youth, ring above bass-heavy soul music and beautiful acoustic work. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 13 Title: Losing Sleep Released: 2010-09-20 Tracks: 12 Duration: 42:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Losing Sleep (03:20) 2 What Is My Role (04:21) 3 Do It Again (03:13) 4 Humble (03:22) 5 Come Tomorrow, Come Today (02:59) 6 Bored (04:25) 7 In Your Eyes (04:07) 8 I Still Believe in You (03:33) 9 Over the Hill (03:36) 10 It Dawns on Me (03:54) 11 All My Days (03:16) 12 Searching for the Truth (02:16) |
| Losing Sleep : Allmusic album Review : The 2010 album Losing Sleep is Edwyn Collins first since the stroke and subsequent complications that almost took his life in 2005. His long recovery was remarkable and the record finds him in fine voice, with undiminished songwriting skills, throughout. Still deeply resonant and rich, his voice is a treasure and to have it stilled would have been a tragedy. Losing Sleep is a document of Collins recovery, his strength, and the love his fellow musicians feel for him. It’s dotted by appearances by famous chums like Johnny Marr and Roddy Frame, members of bands influenced by his work (like Franz Ferdinand and the Cribs), and young upstarts (the Drums). They co-write songs, sing with him, and play with the core band (including longtime collaborator Paul Cook on drums) to great effect, but at the core of Losing Sleep is the soul of Collins. He sings movingly of the changes he’s been through, the confusion and helplessness, the success he’s had, and the struggles yet to conquer -- all with the clear-eyed sensibility and honesty you’d expect from one of the best songwriters of the past 50 years. With the help of his cohort Sebastian Lewsley, Collins loose and punchy production gives the songs a kick, rocking hard at times, bouncing like an old Northern soul classic at others. Quite a few of them will fit in nicely on the next hits collection: the title track is a charging rocker that will get feet moving at an indie disco; "Come Tomorrow, Come Today" (a Marr co-write) has a lovely melody and an inspiring chorus; and the jangling "Do It Again" features a storming Alex Kapranos vocal. The rest aren’t far behind either, with all the guests bringing their best efforts and never elbowing Collins out of the spotlight. Indeed, the record could have been a star-studded mess if it weren’t for the sympathy and love they show Collins, and for his own indomitable strength and spirit. As it stands, Losing Sleep is a heartwarming tribute to Collins and a statement that, although he’s still on the mend, he’s still got a lot more to give. Those who have ever fallen in love with a Collins vocal, been sideswiped by one of his melodies, or had their breath knocked out by a lyric will be glad to hear that, and should definitely make sure they hear Losing Sleep. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 13 Title: Understated Released: 2013-03-25 Tracks: 11 Duration: 41:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dilemna (03:26) 2 Baby Jean (03:27) 3 Carry On, Carry On (04:05) 4 31 Years (03:58) 5 Its a Reason (04:06) 6 Too Bad (Thats Sad) (03:20) 7 Down the Line (04:29) 8 Forsooth (04:10) 9 In the Now (03:46) 10 Understated (03:01) 11 Loves Been Good to Me (03:21) |
| Understated : Allmusic album Review : Edwyn Collins 2013 album Understated is another milepost in his recovery from the cerebral hemorrhage he suffered in 2005 that almost took his life, and did take away almost all of his language. More than that, its a great record that stands with his best work from the past. Unlike his 2010 effort Losing Sleep, which was filled with friends and guests helping out, this time out Collins takes all the lead vocal chores himself, and he and co-producer Seb Lewsley rely on a core band that includes Little Barries Barrie Cadogan on guitar and former Sex Pistol Paul Cook on drums. Thanks to this focus, theres a satisfying uniformity to the sound and the group is crackingly good throughout. Collins really couldnt ask for a more solid musical group to back him. Together they bust through stomping Northern soul-influenced rockers that jump out of the speakers with a rambunctious fever ("Dilemna," "Carry On, Carry On"), rock out very hooky modern indie pop (the title track, "In the Now"), lay back on thoughtful ballads (the soulful "Its a Reason), and take the occasional left turn like on the midtempo blues "Baby Jean" or the C&W; crooner "Down the Line." The marvelously peppy break-up jam "Too Bad (So Sad)" even sounds like a hit record, as it bops along like the Supremes on Muscle Milk. Collins vocals are clear and powerful, with that trademark deeper-than-deep growl firmly in place, and his lyrics are moving as he looks back on life, observes the world around him, and celebrates being alive. Two songs in particular stand out lyrically: "31 Years" is a life-affirming look at his career and features the perfectly Edwyn sentiment "What the heck Im living now," and a cool keyboard solo nicked from a Del Shannon record, and "Forsooth," with a Velvet Underground ("Sunday Morning") feel and Edwyn singing quite convincingly about his luck in being alive and his joy in feeling reborn. Many artists sing about that feeling but few of them have meant it as literally, or transmitted it as movingly, as Collins does here and throughout Understated. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 13 Title: Studio Live Session: Liechtenstein Released: 2014-05-19 Tracks: 9 Duration: 42:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Falling and Laughing (04:44) 2 Make Me Feel Again (05:12) 3 Understated (04:10) 4 Losing Sleep (03:27) 5 Home Again (03:41) 6 It Dawns on Me (04:27) 7 Down the Line (05:28) 8 Rip It Up (06:03) 9 Girl Like You (05:29) |
 | Album: 12 of 13 Title: The Possibilities Are Endless Released: 2014-11 Tracks: 13 Duration: 42:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Leviathan (instrumental) (04:20) 2 Quite Like Silver (02:51) 3 Home Again Harmonies (00:47) 4 Home Again (03:13) 5 Quite Like Silver Piano Refrain (01:37) 6 Viewed From All Angles (05:03) 7 One Note Wonder Part I (03:00) 8 Closing Time at the Punk Rock Hotel (2014 version) (03:43) 9 Down the Line (04:28) 10 One Note Wonder Part II (01:34) 11 Dont Shilly Shally (2014 version) (04:19) 12 Two Steps Back (03:09) 13 Ive Got It Bad (04:41) |
 | Album: 13 of 13 Title: Badbea Released: 2019-03-29 Tracks: 12 Duration: 40:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples AlbumCover | 1 Its All About You (03:37) 2 In the Morning (03:25) 3 I Guess We Were Young (03:24) 4 It All Makes Sense to Me (02:54) 5 Outside (01:57) 6 Glasgow to London (04:00) 7 Tensions Rising (03:17) 8 Beauty (02:48) 9 I Want You (03:43) 10 Im Ok Jack (02:57) 11 Sparks the Spark (04:22) 12 Badbea (04:27) |