Purple Onion

Amazon.com
One year after erstwhile Primus leader Les Claypool reemerged as the leader of the jammy Les Claypool's Flying Frog Brigade, the bass wrangler throws another curve. With Purple Onion, Claypool reigns in much of the free-floating improvisation of FFB's initial releases in favor of something more akin to a proper Primus album, complete with bizarre comic voices, eccentric scenarios, and funky interludes. But this isn't a true Primus album, since there are absolutely no seafaring references on any of the 12 songs. In fact, many of the numbers are less songs than loosely connected chapters of a concept album somewhat akin to Alice Cooper's grim 1975 classic, Welcome to My Nightmare. But instead of Cooper's disturbed Steven, Claypool chronicles David Makalster, "a 10 o'clock newscaster" whose broadcasts of doom are worthy of Frank Zappa in his prime. Claypool here demonstrates that he has the daring to take Pink Floyd's excesses and fuse them with his own nerdy paranoia to create a singular album. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description
Eclectic 2002 album reminiscent of old Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits and Pink Floyd. Featuring guest artists Warren Hayes, Fish Fisher of Fishbone, Norwood Fisher and Lonnie Marshall. 12 tracks. Digipak.

Purple Onion,Les Claypool's Frog Brigade,Prawn Song,Alternative Pop/Rock,Funk Metal,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Purple Onion

Average customer rating:

I'm a jazzer, so what can I say?
A must have!!
Claypool Is A Visionary...(4 and 1/2 stars)
Outstanding...
another from the great mind of les claypool

Purple Onion
Les Claypool , and Frog Brigade
Manufacturer: Prawn Song
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006IT6C
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

Purple Onion
David Makalaster
Buzzards of Green Hill
Long in the Tooth
Whamola
Ding Dang
Barrington Hall
D's Diner
Lights in the Sky
Up on the Roof
David Makalaster II
Cosmic Highway

Amazon.com

One year after erstwhile Primus leader Les Claypool reemerged as the leader of the jammy Les Claypool's Flying Frog Brigade, the bass wrangler throws another curve. With Purple Onion, Claypool reigns in much of the free-floating improvisation of FFB's initial releases in favor of something more akin to a proper Primus album, complete with bizarre comic voices, eccentric scenarios, and funky interludes. But this isn't a true Primus album, since there are absolutely no seafaring references on any of the 12 songs. In fact, many of the numbers are less songs than loosely connected chapters of a concept album somewhat akin to Alice Cooper's grim 1975 classic, Welcome to My Nightmare. But instead of Cooper's disturbed Steven, Claypool chronicles David Makalster, "a 10 o'clock newscaster" whose broadcasts of doom are worthy of Frank Zappa in his prime. Claypool here demonstrates that he has the daring to take Pink Floyd's excesses and fuse them with his own nerdy paranoia to create a singular album. --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description

Eclectic 2002 album reminiscent of old Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits and Pink Floyd. Featuring guest artists Warren Hayes, Fish Fisher of Fishbone, Norwood Fisher and Lonnie Marshall. 12 tracks. Digipak.

Customer Reviews:

I'm a jazzer, so what can I say?.......2007-01-18

Les Claypool is one of those individuals who does music for the sole purpose of doing music. It sounds to me like he digs to the core of music itself and tries to pull the creative, not to mention dark, musical forces that HAVE to be running through his head. These forces are transformed into something progressive, on its own level, that leave you with a band like Primus and a product like "Purple Onion." This CD is something that I'm certain not everyone will like, but I enjoyed it because it tickled the musical muses flowing through MY head and left me with a perspective on music that I had never before experienced. I hope that gives you a better encite into what Purple Onion is all about...

A must have!!.......2006-12-27

my son bought this cd and put it in the car stereo on the way home, i fell in love with this cd EVERY song is great and very catchy, i had to burn a copy from his for my own use.
i played this cd every day for over a month it was so catchy and great then we got to see him in boulder at a show and he is just a great performer and very talented bass player

Claypool Is A Visionary...(4 and 1/2 stars).......2006-08-08

This is one Les Claypool's many side projects from Primus,this one callled "The Flying Frog Brigade".But this doesnt sound much like Primus.It is much less heavy than Primus,and alot more experimental and jammy.This is definately Claypool's work though,containing all the quirky sense of humour and story telling elements that he is associated with.And as with every band Les is involved with,the musicianship is excellent.
The best songs are "David Makalaster","Buzzards Of Green Hill","Whamola","Ding Dang","Lights In The Sky","Up On The Roof",and the best song on the album:"Cosmic Highway".I think a few of the songs couldve been effectively cut("David Makalaster II","Barrington Hall")but this is a great offering either way.
This album is highly reminiscent of Frank Zappa,and propably the next best thing nowadays...so I would suggest this album,if your familiar with Claypool's work,or are a fan of Zappa.
Pick this up,along with any Primus album.

Outstanding..........2005-11-06

You have to wonder at a world where a cd like Purple Onion is overlooked. While far from perfect, there are so many great songs that the cd easily earns five stars.

Where to start? Well, how about "David Makalaster", the ten o'clock newscaster, who reminds us that "anarchy is back in style"? Or, perhaps, "Whamola" - which I like to think of as Les' cautionary tale about conformity, though the song is almost without lyrics! "Buzzards of Green Hill", "Long in the Tooth", "Ding Dang" and the closer "Cosmic Highway" are all outstanding tracks. The rest of the songs are...um...merely good.

I don't always know what Les is getting at, but I'm up for going along for the ride.

another from the great mind of les claypool.......2005-09-29

amazingly i first heard this from a copy that i found at my public library! amazed as i was i immediately went home to play this,expecting more of the same from the great mind of les claypool.and man did he meet my expectations.in my opinion the best songs come in the first half,"purple onion" and "whamola" being my favs.i want to give this a perfect score but the second half isn't as memorable,in my opinion,even if the tunes are still very good.i've always loved claypool's music and still do.he is one of those artists who really do stand out.i couldn't help but think of the late great frank zappa while listening to this as the humor and different music are somewhat similar,but never in ripping him off.for those unfamiliar with claypools work i wouldn't necessarily start here.instead i suggest familiarizing yourself with "sailing the seas of cheese" and "pork soda" by primus first.if you don't get it with those two than you more than likely will not get it here either.musicians should really appreciate this though.with any hope it will inspire some to produce more music that is different than the rest,instead of recreating whatever is in at the moment.oh and case you didn't know,les is the best bassist in the business and deserves to be considered one of the all-time best along side cliff burton and geddy lee.thank god that les didn't fill cliff's spot.could you imagine what that would have sounded like though? who cares.put down that god-awful emo and pick up a copy of this...it may do you some good.

Average customer rating:

If you do buy it, be patient.....
Fans of Lenny Breau will want to check out this CD
Another fine release from Art of Life Records!!
Great history, but not classic Lenny Breau.
Another Great LB Release from Art of Life Records

At the Purple Onion
Lenny Breau , Don Franks , and Eon Henstridge
Manufacturer: Art of Life Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Swingin' on a Seven String
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The Complete Living Room Tapes

ASIN: B00067Z2V4
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

Introduction
A New Electric Chair
The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
The Newspaper Song
Gum Addiction
Tea For Two
A Gentile Sings The Blues
Work Song
Oscar's Blues
Joey's Solo

Album Description

Following in the footsteps of Lenny Breau's-"The Hallmark Sessions" CD (Art of Life AL1007-2), "At The Purple Onion" captures Lenny performing in a live trio date recorded at the Purple Onion club in Toronto, Canada in August of 1962. This 68-minute previously unreleased live recording features Canadian singer/actor Don Francks on vocals and acoustic bassist Eon Henstridge. The original analog reel-to-reel master tapes have been in the possession of Lenny's former manager, George B. Sukornyk, for over forty years. Includes liner notes by Don Francks, Joey Hollingsworth, George B. Sukornyk and Ron Forbes-Roberts author of the forthcoming biography: One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau. All tracks have been professionally mastered using 24-bit digital technology.

Customer Reviews:

If you do buy it, be patient............2007-03-06

Some concerts should just be forgotten when they're over, and not preserved via live recordings. Yes, there is a teensy little bit of Lenny Breau guitar work here, but you sure won't hear it in the first 25 minutes of this lame, short-weight CD, which is mostly taken up with off-key singing and ham-fisted Canadian "humor" while Lenny waits -- and waits -- to play some music. This is definitely the least interesting Lenny Breau CD that I've ever heard, and one you could live without unless you're an absolute fanatical collector. If you take the plunge and acquire this CD, do be patient. And most likely, you'll never listen to it a second time.

Fans of Lenny Breau will want to check out this CD.......2004-11-26

The trio's approach to standards is a bit unusual. "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" has a bluesy flavor, along with Francks' improvised dialogue and a brief scatted detour into "On the Trail" (from Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite). Francks takes the same approach to "Tea for Two," slipping in and out of "Black Coffee" and adding a bit of scatting. Of more interest is the extended interplay between Breau and Henstridge. The last three tracks feature tap dancer and singer Joey Hollingsworth with Lenny Breau as his sole accompanist. Their interaction in Nat Adderley's soulful "Work Song" is amazing, with Breau providing a bit of percussion on his instrument as well. "Oscar's Blues" is a dazzling display of his tap dancing backed by Breau. All fans of Lenny Breau will want to check out this previously unreleased CD...

Another fine release from Art of Life Records!!.......2004-11-23

The Purple Onion is another great release from Art of Life. The chemistry between Breau and Francks is dynamic to say the least. Lenny follows Francks on his lyrical journey matching Francks' timing impeccably. One of my favorites is Tea for Two. It's also a real treat to hear Lenny laughing and doing what he does best.

Great history, but not classic Lenny Breau........2004-11-23

It's tough to be objective about a Lenny Breau release. As a die-hard fan, one is happy to have anything that features his distinctive playing, but this release has more historical than musical value. If you are interested in where Lenny came from, buy this novelty disc. But if you want the real deal, stick with his RCA (late sixties) and post-RCA work (especially his work on the Adelphi label). Having said that, Art-of-Life records does a great job packaging this stuff up, with ample liner notes and all the bells and whistles. One can only hope for another disc (or two or three!) wherein the music matches the packaging. Check out Art-of-Life's excellent 2-disc set of Lenny Breau's "Living Room Tapes" for more representative Breau.

Another Great LB Release from Art of Life Records.......2004-11-18

Another real treat from ALR this one featuring Lenny early on his career. Not as polished as their 1963 Kapp recording maybe but full of the same raw, creative energy and Lenny's brilliant guitar work. Francks' approach to jazz vocal improvisation is brilliant and unique and his ad hoc skits are hilarious and still vital after over 40 years. Lenny is with him every step of the way. And speaking of steps, who knew that Lenny once backed a tap dancer as he does on this fascinating recording. Yet another dimension of the greatest guitarist who ever lived. Thanks, ALR!!

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