Radio Birdman: Ritualism (1996)
Track list:
A1 01. Burned My Eye
A2 02. Smith And Wesson Blues
A3 03. Anglo Girl Desire
A4 04. Hanging On
A5 05. TV Eye
A6 06. Revelation*
A7 07. Aloha Steve & Danno
B1 08. Alone In The Endzone
B2 09. 455 SD
B3 10. Walk The Earth*
B4 11. What Gives?
B5 12. New Race
bonus tracks [2000, Red vinyl LP, Sweden]
B6 Not Right [Deniz Tek Group 1995]
B7 Alien Skies [Instrumental, Rockfield Studios, Wales 1978]
* – new tracks
Personnel:
Rob Younger – vocals
Chris Klondite Masuak – guitar
Deniz Tek – guitar
Pip Hoyle – klavier
Warwick Gilbert – bass
Ron Keeley – drums
Recorded at Seed Studios, South Melbourne
Released: 1997
Label: Crying Sun Records – CSR01 (A5 limited Edition)
Crying Sun Records – CSR001 (Jewel case)
Crying Sun Records/ Citadel Records – CRS 001
also released in 2000 as:
Radios On!: Ritualism – The Reunion 1996
Label: Crying Sun Records
[vinyl, LP, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release, Sweden]
[Limited to 500 copies, hand numbered]
Producer:
Recorded by Dave Warner and engineered by Jim Johnston
Mixed by Chris Masuak and Rob Young at Electric Avenue Studios, Sydney
Mix engineered by Wayne Connolly
Mastered by Don Bartley at Studio 301
Photography:
Design:
Two versions of this CD exist: a normal jewel box one & a Digipak book format one
” These tracks were first broadcast on Triple R’s live music feature “Caught In The Act” May 1996
This Studio recording was performed before an invited audience. No overdubs – totally live! ”
*****
January 1996 saw the reformation of Radio Birdman after an 18 year hiatus.
The band themselves were as surprised as everyone else by this development.
At the time there was no thought of an ongoing future, only a wait and see approach with the focus being solely on a successful completion of the tour.
After all, this was the tour that should have taken place way back in 1978 after their well documented break up and they wanted it to be as good as possible with no damage to their mythology.
During the pre-tour rehearsal time, there had been discussion as to whether recording live material for strictly archival purposes should be considered but nothing definite agreed upon.
When Melbourne’s Radio Triple R approached the band’s management regarding an appearance on their Caught In The Act live music feature, a window of opportunity opened.
This was a workable way to obtain quality live material without the headache of organising a fully blown live recording.
Although there were no specific plans for a release, things went well and Ritualism became the end result.
Ritualism contains 10 new versions of standard Radio Birdman material as well as two new tracks, Revelation and Walk The Earth.
The session was recorded over a six hour period at Seed Studios in South Melbourne on a day off between Melbourne shows.
A small but lively audience of 25 hardcore fans attended, these being the winners of a Triple R phone-in competition.
They were stuffed into the corridor and control room of the studio where they were randomly captured by an overhead mike.
The production was recorded fully live and without overdubs.
No efforts were made to cover up mistakes or doctor the performances.
If it sounds like only a dozen people yelling at the end of the song, that’s because it is.
The option to edit in a raucous crowd response was dismissed by the band as being misleading.
Two days only were spent on mixing the tracks some months after the recording.
Only two songs from the session didn’t make it onto Ritualism giving some indication of the playing prowess of the group.
To facilitate this new release Crying Sun Records has been created by the band in association with Citadel Records to handle all current and future recorded work.
Radio Birdman will again exist and be completely independent of record industry support or influence.
This is seen as essential to maintaining the band’s commitment to quality and fairness for the people who choose to listen.
Freedom from conformity was a priority 20 years ago, the same attitude today marks the ongoing Radio Birdman re-unification.
Ritualism is packaged in a booklet with an accompanying 12 page insert containing live full colour shots from the Radios On tour.
This exclusive format will only be available by mail order or at selected shows on the forthcoming tour in January.
Radio Birdman have taken every care to present their new record at a reasonable price in a superlative packaging.
~[http://www.divinerites.com/dk_ritu.htm]
*****
Empty Chair 