Puneet Varma (Editor)

Marjory Razorblade

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
October 1973

Producer
  
Steve Verroca

Release date
  
October 1973

Genre
  
Rock music

Length
  
78:40

Artist
  
Kevin Coyne

Label
  
Virgin Records

Marjory Razorblade httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen880Kev

Marjory Razorblade (1973)
  
Blame lt On The Night (1974)

Similar
  
Kevin Coyne albums, Rock music albums

Kevin coyne marjory razorblade


Marjory Razorblade is a double-LP by artist Kevin Coyne and was one of the earliest releases on Virgin Records, which had launched four months earlier in 1973. The double album includes the track Marlene, which was issued as a single, and Eastbourne Ladies, which was featured among the selection of tracks played by John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten at the height of the Sex Pistols notoriety on the Capital Radio show A Punk & His Music, broadcast in London in summer 1977.

Contents

The gatefold album sleeve was designed by prominent graphic artist Barney Bubbles utilising photographs of Coyne by Phil Franks; Bubbles also designed the distinctive logo carrying the album title and credit, though was content not to receive a credit.

In 1998 Virgin's financial director Ken Berry recalled that on his first day at the company's west London offices he was presented with artist royalty statements scrawled on the back of Bubbles' invoice for the Marjory Razorblade design.

Reviewing the album for the BBC in 2010, Mike Diver described the album as "a synthesis of individual ability into one effective, enchanting end product ".

Kevin coyne marjory razorblade live 1979


Reception

Awarding the album a B+, Robert Christgau wrote:

Another British eccentric with a voice scratchy and wavery enough to make Mick Jagger sound like Anthony Newley, only this one can write songs. The annoying kid-stuff tone of the perversity here purveyed is redeemed by the fact that there isn't a chance it will sell, not even with the Brit double-LP condensed down to one. Also, "House on the Hill" is as convincing a madman's song as I know."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Kevin Coyne except where indicated.

Side 1
  1. "Marjory Razorblade"
  2. "Marlene"
  3. "Talking to No One"
  4. "Eastbourne Ladies"
  5. "Old Soldier"
Side 2
  1. "I Want My Crown" (Traditional)
  2. "Nasty"
  3. "Lonesome Valley" (A. P. Carter)
  4. "House on the Hill"
  5. "Cheat Me"
Side 3
  1. "Jackie and Edna"
  2. "Everybody Says"
  3. "Mummy"
  4. "Heaven in My View" (A. P. Carter)
  5. "Karate King"
Side 4
  1. "Dog Latin"
  2. "This Is Spain"
  3. "Chairman's Ball"
  4. "Good Boy"
  5. "Chicken Wing"

Personnel

  • Kevin Coyne - vocals, guitar
  • Gordon Smith - guitar, mandolin
  • Jean Roussel - piano
  • Tony Cousins - bass, bass tuba
  • Chili Charles - drums, congas
  • Steve Verroca - acoustic case and piano
  • Malcom Healey - synthesizer
  • Dave Clague - guitar
  • Ed DeGenaro - guitar
  • Producer: Steve Verroca at The Manor and at Saturn Studios
  • Engineers: Tom Newman, Simon Heyworth, Phil Newell
  • Sleeve design (uncredited) - Barney Bubbles
  • Photography - Phil Franks

    • US release

    The record was also released, as a single LP, in the US (Virgin VR 13-106) with a truncated track listing of: "Eastbourne Ladies", "Old Soldier", "Marlene", "Everybody Says", "Lovesick Fool", "House On The Hill", "Nasty", "Talking To No One", "Dog Latin", "I Want My Crown" and "Marjory Razorblade".

    Songs

    1Eastbourne Ladies4:37
    2Old Soldier3:53
    3Marlene2:44

    References

    Marjory Razorblade Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA