Vivian Stanshall

b. 21 Mar 1943
d. 5 Mar 1995

VIVIAN STANSHALL was an English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, and the voice of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Bryan Chandler will host a tribute to this true zany, and whimsical Dada artist. Hold on to your trousers!

KUSF 2009-09-20 6-7 PM - Spotlight - Vivian Stanshall - Hour 1

KUSF 2009-09-20 6-7 PM - Spotlight - Vivian Stanshall - Hour 2

Musician and performer Neil Innes discusses the life of his Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band colleague and friend Vivian Stanshall. Neil recalls the moment he met Vivian Stanshall in London: he was wearing Billy Bunter trousers, a Victorian frock coat and horrible purple pince-nez glasses and carrying a euphonium. So began a friendship and a musical partnership that exploded into life with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, culminating in tours and TV series. Vivian's second wife, Ki Longfellow, joins the discussion to help explore the man behind the colourful public persona.
Broadcasts:

1.Tue 22 Dec 2009
16:30
BBC Radio 4
2.Fri 25 Dec 2009
23:00
BBC Radio 4


In the 1970s Stanshall recorded numerous sessions for BBC Radio 1's John Peel show which elaborated, with a fine mixture of eloquence and irreverence, on the weird and wonderful adventures of the inebriate and blimpish Sir Henry Rawlinson, his dotty wife Great Aunt Florrie, his "unusual" brother Hubert (who, for speed, stature and far-seeing habitually, goes on stilts), old Scrotum the wrinkled retainer, Mrs E, the rambling and unhygienic cook, and many other inhabitants of the crumbling stately home Rawlinson End and its environs. In fact, the Rawlinson family had been populating Vivian's imagination for quite a while, their very first appearance (in name, at least) being on the Bonzos' 1967 number "The Intro & The Outro": "Great to hear the Rawlinsons on trombone" .

Peel Session 1

Includes
The Unbridled Suite
Aunt Florrie Remembers
Christmas At Rawlinson End
An Absence Of Whelks (Part 34)

Peel Session 2

Includes
The Road To Unreason
Fall Of Felt Hats
Cabbage Looking In Mufti
The Crackpot At The End Of The Rainbow




Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead (1974)

A1 Afoju Ti Ole Rain
A2 Truck-Track
A3 Yelp, Below, Rasp Et Cetera
A4 Prong
A5 Redeye
B1 How The Zebra Got His Spots
B2 Dwarf Succulents
B3 Bout Of Sobriety
B4 Prong & Toots Go Steady
B5 Strange Tongues

Backing Vocals - Barry St. John , Doris Troy , Madeline Bell
Cabasa - Deryk Quinn
Choir - Ayus Ape , Gani , Gaspar Lawal
Congas - 'Reebop' Kwaku Baah (tracks: B4) , Gaspar Lawal
Drums - Gaspar Lawal (tracks: B1) , Jim Capaldi
Euphonium - Vivian Stanshall
Guitar [Bass] - Steve Winwood
Guitar [Electric] - Bubs White
Guitar [Slide] - Neil Innes
Organ - Neil Innes (tracks: B1) , Steve Winwood
Piano - Neil Innes
Recorder - Vivian Stanshall
Talking Drum - Gaspar Lawal
Ukulele - Vivian Stanshall
Violin - Ric Grech*
Vocals - Vivian Stanshall
Xylophone - Gaspar Lawal



Sir Henry At Rawlinson End (1978)

A1 Aunt Florries' Waltz
A2 Interlewd
A3 Wheelbarrow
A4 Socks
A5 The Rub
A6 Nice 'N' Tidy
A7 Pigs 'Ere Purse
B1 6/8 Hoodoo
B2 Smeeton
B3 Fool & Bladder
B4 Endroar
B5 Junglebunny
B6 The Beasht Inshide
B7 Rawlinson & Maynards
B8 Papadumb

Cello, Accordion, Fiddle, Banjo, Violin - Pete Moss
Guitar, Fiddle, Violin, Mandolin - Julian Smedley
Horn [Hunting Horn] - Jim French
Organ [Pipe Organ], Organ [Celeste], Banjolin, Mandolin, Piano, Synthesizer [Mini Moog], Accordion, Balalaika - Steve Winwood
Saxophone [Bass], Saxophone [Soprano], Clarinet, Recorder, Flageolet - Jim Cuomo
Vocal, Banjolele, Cornet, Trombone, Percussion, Jew's Harp, Harmonica [Bass], Sarrusophone, Recorder, Euphonium, Talking Drum, Tuba, Flageolet, Guitar, Kazoo, Melodica, Trombone, Ukelele, Balalaika - Vivian Stanshall




Teddy Boys Dont Knit (1981)

1. King Kripple - The first of many boldly honest & unflattering self-appraisals. Also a snide aside at the depressing celebration of valetudinarianism. So mush a Sane of the Tames, doncha think?

2. Slave Valse - After a good deal of Seutonius-sapping and Graves-digging - your historical roman. Still discombobulated? You won't be when you hear: SLAVE VALSE.

3. Gums - Strangely smug anag. fans... Anyone out there notice that 'The Rub' was the only unusual Hubert? From the film and book: 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End' GUMS

4. Bewilderbeeste - A song of love for Ki (a West Calif. biter of soft centres). A song of hate for Ik (an East Afric tribe of hard screens)

5. Calypso To Colapso - Students of slang should solve the (anything for a rhyme) line 'lapin 'til the pips go' in under half a cock. Then it's scrolls, gowns, and turbans all around.

6. The Tube - About my kid (yours too I shouldn't wonder, tho' I pray she does - wonder that is - all her life). Musically, this one must be okay - because she bounces & shouts to it - the real test. Went wobble to wubbish... Whether she'll love me for this rather personal paean when she's old enough to appreciate its rather personal functionalism - I dunno. But it's the only way I can put tears of joy & pride & big softy cuddles on record. So it's fer me then? There's loads of boink, bink & bung and other nippers are chuffed when they hear it. If I can do that - don't care what you say.

7. Ginger Geezer - The juke-box stops like the Patriotic Shortener, leaving you singing a diminuendo gobbledegook 'cos you don't know the bloody words. V. embarrassing! So - an air of Babel 'cept this'n is in the argot of the costermonger. Also from the film/book 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End'. What jinks for you to work it all out. You know it makes sense.

8. The Cracks Are Showing - The whole fabric of Society rant? A socio/politco/mephitico/satirico-Chirico-co the Clown? O no - just Hubert's way of describing the lightning. As well & at last from the film/book 'Sir Henry...' "A metaphysical observation of Tartarean profundity, Ma'am" (Mr. Slodden)

9. Flung A Dummy - A true story given me - as was the title - by 'Screamin' T. Simmons, editor of the Rock 'n' Roll Camel-Walker, mate & rock historian. A fast-paced waxing involving no more than 3 chords (one of which remains the same for over 60 bars before the fluff & we all follow). Legs splitfully astride, no inversions, heads down on the f shape. The cellist was brusquely booted out for introducing an element of melody - this is totally unacceptable. An ideal beginner for the advanced & well past it.

10. Possibly An Armchair & Fresh Faced Boys - You are what you eat - you are what you seat. Really! I've watched this sort of thing happening in my own family.

11. Terry Keeps His Clips On - THOCK for short (Terry His On-going Clips Keeps) Young Cumberpatch maintains a family tradition & jolly sensible too! A little something to soft-pedal in the age of oaken thighs. Sir Walter Raleigh was a stupid git not so much because he brought back the wrong shag; but because he didn't use his wampum to start his splendid bike factory the sooner. The Pipes of Peace now constitute the frame....

12. Brass Macaw And Broken Bottles - How like the Widows of Laughter to mourn in such jolly colours. Song for a Barby-Doll I once knew & hope is now well & singing.

13. Nose Hymn - Always wanted to be 'one of the boys'. Always riveted by the 'Back-Up Singers' (good name for an angry close-harmony group?) - it's the huge suits moving and the, the choreography. So screw the lead: let's hear it for the doo-wahs, the doo-wops & the greasy doo-dagos.

14. Everyday, I Have The Blows - "Lucille, send me some tissues - Man-size I pray-ay-ay" S'not entirely - a song about tunnels.

15. Smoke Signals At Night - Bags of hope here for the spiritually inclined or horizontal. While you enjoy a night out at the Grand Circus of Infinities: Big Buddha is watching you.

16. Nouveau Riffe - Shades of Uriah, Caliban & Tartuffe - as roadies? Big Johnnie cashes yet another cheque - "is 'e? Bluddy 'Eck I thought t'lad were from Salford... Aye tha's right - 'E were a tufted-carpet salesman er summat afore t'King made 'im 'is 'personal' like. Never 'ad thought 'e'd turn nasty...... "

Featuring Neil Innes, Roger Ruskin Spear, Jim Cuomo, Rosko Gee, Ollie Halsall, `Admiral' John Halsey, Pete Moss, Lennox Langton, Charmain Sheenhan, Richard Thompson, John Kirkpatrick and Rick Wakeman

Bio

VIVArchive

Ginger Geezer