Solo albums

Words For The Dying

About this album

Released in 1989. Land LAND 009.

Tracks:

1. Introduction
2. There Was A Saviour
3. Interlude I
4. On A Wedding Anniversary
5. Interlude II
6. Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed
7. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
8. Songs Without Words I
9. Songs Without Words II
10. The Soul of Carmen Miranda

Live world premiere of The Falklands Suite with the Metropole Orkest and Stedelijk Helmonds Concertkoor at the Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands on November 14 and 15, 1987. The second show was taped and broadcasted on Dutch TV. Cale wrote a short text for the premiere of The Falklands Suite.

All music by John Cale. On A Wedding Anniversary, Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed and Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953).

"Songs Without Words was originally written for a ballet, and Carmen Miranda was one of three collaborations recorded between Brian and me. The actual album was originally for piano and voice and then I decided to go in and orchestrate it. Brian got a video copy of the Amsterdam premier and later I sent him a Canadian documentary about the Falklands war that used the suite, Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed was used as a tribute to the dead on both sides of the war.

Brian was initially impressed by the idea of me sitting at a piano and singing this classical piece. Ironically, the piano parts were dropped. There was a pedal steel part too that was also dropped, which was a result of hearing it played well for the first time by Soviet musicians, when we finally went to Moscow to record it. They dug out every inch of expression from the music. It was amazing, really... total discipline.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night was the one that worked best. It's kind of a camp version set to a tango. I knew it couldn't be rock 'n' roll; I was after doing something that would help me come to terms with Schubert and Hugo Wolff."

2023 reissue om clear vinyl

The album is reissued on clear vinyl in 2023 via All Saints Records. The album had not been available as an LP since its original release in 1989.

Musicians:
The Falklands Suite - The Orchestra Of Symphonic And Popular Music of Gosteleradio (Russia), conducted by Alexander G. Mikhailov; The Choir of Llandaff Cathedral Choir School (Swansea, Wales), conducted by Michael Smith.
John Cale: vocals, piano, guitar, bass, organ, viola
Brian Eno: keyboards on "The Soul of Carmen Miranda"
Nell Catchpole: viola and violin on The Soul of Carmen Miranda

Other credits:
Producer: Brian Eno
Front cover photo: Deborah Feingold
Other photos: Eduard Basilia
Art direction: Hugh Brown
Design: John Heiden, Hugh Brown & Jeri Heiden

The Falklands Suite recorded at Gostelradio Studios, Moscow; engineered by Sasha Karasiov.
The Choir of Llandaff Cathedral Choir School, Swansea, Wales; Choirmaster: Dr. Michael Smith. Choir members: James Elias (Dean's Scholar - Head Chorister), David Butler (Dean's Scholar - Head Chorister), Christopher Parsons, Andrew Richley, Darren Roberts, Richard Jeremy, Edward Jones, Edward Adams, Stephen Moss, Gareth Campbell, Benjamin Halsey, Benedict Davies-Jenkins, Charles Jeremy, Jonathan Robson.
John Cale; recorded at The Strongroom, London and Wilderness Studios, Woodbridge, Suffolk, England; engineered by Stephen Taylor and Brian Eno

Songs Without Words I & II recorded at the Living Room, New York City, USA; engineered by Paul Rice and Blaise Dupuy

The Soul Of Carmen Miranda recorded at Wilderness Studios, Woodbridge, UK

Words For The Dying documentary

This documentary follows the composing and recording of The Falklands Suite in Moscow, Wales and London, with Brian Eno acting as producer. Directed by Rob Nilsson. Originally released on VHS in 1989. Re-released on DVD by Provocateur Pictures in 2008 with a few extras.

© 1999- Hans Werksman