Updated 2 March 2002
February 2002 -- further
news from COUNTER
PRODUCTIONS: Sorry, there has been yet another
delay. ... I got the new raudelunas website address, which
Ron 'Pate was very keen was mentioned in the artwork - this has
held things up a little.
I will send a circular when I have
the discs back from the factory, in time we hope for the 27th
anniversary, March 2002. Thanks for your patience.
December 2001 -- news release from COUNTER
PRODUCTIONS:
Dear friend,
Thanks for your recent enquiry and /or order of Raudelunas
'Pataphysical Revue. The release of this has been delayed a
little, but the good news is that we now (as of 23.12.01) have Ron
'Pate's sleeve notes in hand and a couple of new artworks that
will go in the booklet, so the lost time has not been in
vain. What's a few weeks when it comes to what has accurately been
described as "the best thing in the world"? So we can now
(and will) go ahead with the CD release in January 2002.
To receive a copy the moment it comes back from the pressing
plant, and before it reaches the shops, send your money to us
at Alcohol, PO Box 556 London SE5 0RL,
England. The CD costs twelve pounds sterling
worldwide including postage for individual customers.
You can pay us by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or
Switch). Let us know your Card Number, its Expiry Date, your
name as on the card; and (for Switch only) the card issue
number. And of course let us know your address. If you are
worried about electronic security, by all means post us these
details,
or
instead send a cheque payable in pounds sterling and drawn on
a British bank only, to: Alcohol, PO Box 556, London SE5 0RL,
England. Thanks again for your interest in this recording. And
apologies for this delay.
As Fred Lane once said, "Now let's all synchronize our watches
and look forward to a better tomorrow." Starting in 2002.
Sincerely
Ed Baxter
Alcohol
July 2001 -- Ed Baxter's label Alcohol Records is releasing an extended version of Raudelunas on CD. For more details, e-mail cproductions@britishlibrary.net. Trade distributors or shops should phone Ed on 020 7403 1922 (UK), +44 20 7403 1922 (International) or 011 44 20 7403 1922 (USA -- watch the time difference!).
Review by Ed Baxter from The Wire magazine's "100 Records That Set The World On Fire" (Issue 175: Sep 1998):
Ron 'Pate's Debonairs featuring Rev Fred Lane
Raudelunas 'Pataphysical Revue
(SAY DAY BEW RECORDS 1977)
A document of a single evening in the university town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, March 1975, at the Second Raudelunas Exposition. Dominating proceedings is Fred Lane, towering alter ego of flautist and whirlygig sculptor Tim Reed, who comperes with a series of hilarious lateral jokes and weird monologues. His cover versions of "Volare" and "My Kind Of Town" backed by Ron 'Pate's Debonairs - a hot, swinging, meandering big band - set new standards as melody gives way to controlled, impassioned and deeply humorous improvisation. This monumental work also features Anne LeBaron's superb "Concerto For Active Frogs"; Mitchell Cashion's charming setting of Julius Caesar's "The Chief Divisions Of The Peoples Of Gaul"; Industrial noise from The Captains Of Industry; and wild Improv combo The Blue Denim Deals Without The Arms. No other record has ever come as close to realising Alfred Jarry's desire "to make the soul monstrous" - or even had the vision or invention to try. It's all over the place. The sleeve notes describe it as "the best thing ever" - time has not damaged this audacious claim.
If you want a taste of what was going on in Tuscaloosa at the time, Davey Williams spoke to Ed Baxter about it in this interview.
Ron 'Pate's Debonairs:
Ron 'Pate- Trombone
Rev. Fred Lane- MC, Star, Vocalist, Comic
Abdul "Ben" Camel- Bass
Omar Bagh-dad-a- Piano
Cyd Cherise- Guitar, Alto 'Pataphone
Don "Pretty Boy" Smith- Trumpet
Dick Foote- Oboe, Musette, Tenor Sax
Bob "Cheapskate" Cashion- Trombone
"Bill" The Kid Dap- Drums
Johnny Fent-Lister- Alto Sax
Nips "Napes" Newton- Harp, Percussion
(All lyrics/samples/artwork copyright © the original artists. Reproduced for review/promotional purposes only.)
Huge thanks to Craig Nutt for scanning the first edition album cover and keying the track listing.