TELEVISION Marquee moon 1977 Elektra 320 kbps
See no evil / Venus / Friction / Marquee moon / Elevation / Guiding light / Prove it / Torn curtain / Little Johnny jewel (bonus).
Produced by Andy Johns & Tom Verlaine.
TELEVISION : Tom Verlaine : lead vocals , guitar /Richard Lloyd : guitar , vocals / Fred Smith : bass, vocals / Billy Ficca : drums.
In the early '70s, Television began as the Neon Boys, a group featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist Richard Hell. At the end of 1973, the group reunited under the name Television, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, the band made its live debut at New York's Townhouse theater and began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB's to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith's first single, "Hey Joe/Piss Factory," as well as wrote a book of poetry with the singer.
Television recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after the recording of the demo tape, forming the Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by the Voidoids, releasing a debut album, Blank Generation, in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith and Television recorded "Little Johnny Jewel," releasing it on their own Ork record label. "Little Johnny Jewel" became an underground hit, attracting the attention of major record labels. In 1976, the band released a British EP on Stiff Records, which expanded their reputation. They signed with Elektra Records and began recording their debut album.
"Marquee Moon", the group's first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the U.K., it reached number 28 on the charts, launching the Top 40 single "Prove It." Television supported Blondie on the group's 1977 tour, but the shows didn't increase the group's following significantly.
Television released their second album,"Adventure", in the spring of 1978 .
Months later, the group suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. F. Smith rejoined Blondie, while T. Verlaine and R. Lloyd both pursued solo careers. R.Lloyd also played on John Doe's first solo album, as well as joined Matthew Sweet's supporting band with the 1991 album "Girlfriend".
Nearly 14 years after their breakup, Television re-formed in late 1991, recording a new album for Capitol Records.
In 2001, Television again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K., as well as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago.
In 2007, Richard Lloyd announced he would be amicably leaving the band after a midsummer show in New York City's Central Park. Unfortunately, owing to an extended stay in hospital recovering from pneumonia, he was unable to take his place with the band for this concert. His place that day was taken by Jimmy Rip. Rip has since been asked to stay on as a band member replacing Lloyd, and, as of December 2007, the group has been busy recording a new record.
V/A RIOT ON THE ROCKS Volume 2 Scandinavian rock'n'roll compilation Safety Pin records 320 kbps
