Marquee Moon (1977)
Adventure (1978)
A Wiry, Unsettling Product Of The Television Age Itself
They were always considered the thinking man’s punk band, but they were never punk at all. Television were basically a good old fashion guitar beat group, just like the kind Decca Records famously said (of The Beatles) were “on the way out.” But, Television sounded like a wiry, unsettling by-product of the television age itself, a flickering, jittery, nervous buzz that epitomized a 3am restlessness there was no relief from. Infused with paranoid NYC street cred, these two albums captured a moment in time, pretty much independent of the moment in time they were actually in. But it was over almost before it began. In retrospect, Adventure seems calmer, and less intense, than the debut, as if a year of touring gave the band’s personalities a much needed respite from their bottled up East Side existence. But, Marquee Moon – especially the dual-guitar communication between Richard Lloyd and Tom Verlaine - still crackles with intensity some 35 years (is that possible?) later. I actually thought I had already posted these years ago. Guess not. Marquee Moon and Adventure are the 2003 bonus track versions, nicely priced by Amazon sellers, with stellar sound and nifty extras.
MARQUEE MOON
See No Evil (3:59)
Venus (3:54)
Friction (4:46)
Marquee Moon (10:47)
Elevation (5:11)
Guiding Light (5:37)
Prove It (5:05)
Torn Curtain (7:10)
Little Johnny Jewel (Parts 1 & 2) (7:09) – (Bonus Track)
See No Evil (4:40) – (Alternate Version)
Friction (4:52) – (Alternate Version)
Marquee Moon (10:55) – (Alternate Version)
Untitled Instrumental (3:22) – (Previously Unissued)
ADVENTURE
Glory (3:12)
Days (3:14)
Foxhole (4:49)
Careful (3:19)
Carried Away (5:14)
The Fire (5:57)
Ain’t That Nothin’ (4:53)
The Dream’s Dream (6:45)
Adventure (5:38) – (Previously Unissued)
Ain’t That Nothin’ (3:56) – (Remastered Single Version)
Glory (Early Version) (3:39) – (Previously Unissued)
Ain’t That Nothin’ (Run-Through) (9:48) – (Previously Unissued/Hidden Track)
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Let’s all raise a glass for one of the most underrated bands of the “punk” era — saw them play CBGB’s and as a live band they were truly in their element.
“Adventure” falls into the category of “Most Disappointing Followup”, along with The Clash’s “Give ‘Em Enough Rope”, and Cheap Trick’s “In Color”.
I’ll at least still listen to In Color on occasion. Couldn’t make it through Adventure myself for this post.
I like the ‘Albini’ “In Color”.
Marky Moon is one of my all time faves, though.
Be careful, I have editing power here. I could easily change that to Marky Mark.
I always liked Marquee Moon, but I wish someone else was the singer.
Love Marquee Moon—also the live “Blow Up” is pretty good. Never heard “Adventure” before…but now I can give it a spin.
Excellent. Personally, I consider “Marquee Moon” nothing less than a masterpiece. As for “Adventure”, suffice it to say that it contains “The Fire”, one of the – to me – most awesome songs ever written and performed. Thank you Willard. Congrats and keep up the amazing work.
Marquee Moon is great. I have to listen to “Adventure”. Thanks for the heads up.
Ok, the bonus tracks on “Adventure” are better then the album tracks to my ears.
My favorite band in a dismal decade – thanks!
Never understood the near universal dissing of Adventure. If you can listen to Foxhole at volume (in the car is always good) and not feel your pulse quicken just a little… I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. The guitar solo in Glory alone is worth the price of admission. Carried Away for its pure melodic beauty? Ah well, I remain a fan.
I think it has more to do with the debut being such a solid surprise. Maybe the old sophomore jinx in action… 20 years to make your first album and 6 months to make your second.
I agree with Willard on the last assessment.. this very often happens when a musician who previously had years to perfect his art is forced to rush out a very fast followup for the record company’s sake. There’s certainly no way Verlaine could have upped the “innovation” factor; the best he could do was make his seconds sound acceptable in quality enough to put his name on and sell. I think Adventure’s a fantastic album, but it suffers in comparison next to an uber-masterwork like its predecessor, like almost any album would. I haven’t heard any of his solo records except Cover, which I think contains even better guitar playing than Marquee Moon. (Yes, he was a questionable singer but the same could be said about Dylan).
The songs on Adventure don’t have the variety and quirkiness of Marquee Moon, but Ain’t That Nothin’ is forever. If you can find the Portland 78 bootleg prepare to be astounded.
i love this band. thanks
Marquee Moon was a fave from my college days, when the album was shiny and new and everything was exciting. Thanks for the chance to slap it on the iPod to drown out cubicle noise at work… :-) I never got into the Adventure album but I will have to give it another chance.
I have been collecting rare Television for a long while now and as well as a dozen or so gigs from 1975-1978, I have studio demo versions of Marquee Moon (in FLAC or 320) and Adventure (320). Email me me if you would like me to provide them in thanks for the great music I have got from you in the past. Cheers, Dave Sez.
Thanks Dave Sez. If the demos are good, sound-wise, I’d be interested. Unfortunately, I have zero patience for anything that’s hard to listen to. 320 would be great. We could make a mirror post of this one. Thanks for the offer.
Happy to oblige. Both sets of demos are top-quality studio recordings – the now-unfindable CD bootlegs “Double Exposure” (1974-75 demos of Marquee Moon tracks) and “I Need A New Adventure” (Adventure studio outtakes). I will include the very rare 1973 Television single as the Neon Boys and Richard Hell’s 1976 Ork/Stiff EP, as they are relevant and also top-quality. I use WeTransfer to transfer files; I would need an email address to send you the files if you could email me one I can reply to. Cheers, Dave Sez.
VERY cool. Email on the way. Let me know if you don’t get it. Thanks again.
The Portland bootleg mentioned above, and some dozen gigs from 1975 (with Patti Smith) until 2007 are available on request. Cheers, Dave Sez.