The TLG Collection by Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin is now in stock and shipping worldwide.
The album is a 66-minute, 14-track compilation of rarities including demos, bonus tracks, alternative mixes and TV soundtrack songs recorded between 1983 and 2001 (click here for a track listing). The CD was originally sold in a limited edition to the audience at Tokyo's TLG club in 2001 and has not been available since; the music remains unchanged from the Japanese edition but the artwork now includes a new sleeve design by artist Mike Inns, photos from the duo's personal archive, full track credits and extended sleeve notes by Dave Stewart. The CD ships in a 4-page colour Digipak with a 12-page colour booklet. Musical contributors include Andy Reynolds (guitar), Jakko Jakszyk (guitar), Porcupine Tree / King Crimson drummer Gavin Harrison and Annie Whitehead (trombone)
Dave Stewart says: "After the long delay in releasing our recent album Green and Blue we wanted to keep the ball rolling and get more material out there for our listeners. Barbara and I really enjoy the music in this collection so we decided to make it available as an interim release while we work on new songs for our next album."
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Green and Blue (nine tracks, 67 minutes) is the long-awaited new album by Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin. In a departure from style, the CD contains only one cover version. This is the most varied Stewart/Gaskin album to date, combining heart-rending ballads, poppy toe-tappers, lengthy musical explorations and a heavy metal thrash, but the diverse material is united by the duo's trademark musicality. Green and Blue features long-time collaborators Andy Reynolds (guitar), Gavin Harrison (drums), Peter Blegvad (narration) and the amazing Amorphous Choir of Wales. The CD ships in a 4-page Digipak with a 12-page colour booklet containing the song lyrics and a short sleeve note by Dave.
Accompanying Green and Blue is the CDR Hour Moon, featuring five bonus tracks, two of which were originally intended for the album. Also included are a cover of a classic '60s instrumental and a version of 'Henry & James' which appeared on a Flexidisc in a 1980's issue of Keyboard magazine (USA). Thanks to all the people who wrote to us about this track! Hour Moon ships in an eco-friendly cardboard wallet with its own artwork and explanatory notes.
Some accolades for Green and Blue and Hour Moon:
"Green and Blue has the duo sounding more confident and accomplished than ever before. Stewart’s brilliance as an arranger is showcased at every turn..." Sid Smith
(read full review)
"It strikes, in fact, a perfect balance, with an eminently accessible veneer that's layered on top of an album of strikingly thoughtful arrangements and orchestrated textures... an undeniably accessible pop album that's got the kind of depth that will also appeal to those looking for more detail and challenge."
John Kelman (All About Jazz)
(read full review)
Dave Stewart started his career in 1969 as 18-year-old organist with the experimental UK rock group Egg and went on to play keyboards with Hatfield & The North, National Health & Bruford. He is recognised as one of the UK's leading keyboardists and rock composers, has written a large number of songs and instrumental pieces and is the author of two books on music. In the early 70's Barbara Gaskin was vocalist with the English folk-rock group Spirogyra. The two first met in 1969 and Barbara subsequently appeared as guest vocalist on some of Dave's bands' LPs in the 70s. After the break-up of Spirogyra Barbara travelled in Asia for a few years, returning to the UK in 1978.
In 1981 Dave struck out on a solo career, recording a version of the Tamla classic 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted' with Colin Blunstone on guest vocals. The single (catalogue number 'Broken 1') reached the top twenty in the UK. Dave and Barbara then recorded a tongue-in-cheek version of the old Lesley Gore classic 'It's My Party'. Released on Stiff Records, the single roared to the top of the U.K. charts and stayed there for 4 weeks. 'It's My Party' (cat. no. Broken 2) went on to become a hit worldwide, selling over a million copies.
Encouraged by these events, Dave and Barbara decided to stick together and record more tracks. In late 1981, they went into the studios and emerged six months later with their first LP, the ominously-titled Disappear. Unfortunately, Stiff and other record companies felt it was 'uncommercial' - faced with a choice of making musical changes or staying true to their artistic instincts, Dave and Barbara opted for the latter and continued to release records independently on their own Broken Records label. Disappear was temporarily put on hold . . .
From 1982 to 1985, Stewart and Gaskin released an excellent series of singles on Broken Records, some of which reached the charts. Dave and Barbara's fame spread to the USA and Japan, and in 1986, US company Rykodisc released the 14-track compilation Up From The Dark in the USA, making available for the first time the recordings from the Disappear sessions. Midi Records in Japan produced their own compilations Broken Records - The Singles (a collection of the first six Stewart/Gaskin singles plus their 'B' sides) and As Far As Dreams Can Go, consisting of the remainder of the Disappear tracks plus two extra songs, 'The Locomotion' and 'Make Me Promises'. In 1987, Dave and Barbara started work on a new album, their first to be conceived as such since Disappear - this epic work was finally finished in May 1989 and christened The Big Idea.
Having spent the best part of a decade in the studio the duo decided to venture out and perform live, and achieved this objective (with the aid of guitarist Andy Reynolds and a mountain of equipment) with a 12-date tour of the USA East Coast and Midwest in October 1991. The cheers of the Americans still ringing in their ears, they returned to the UK and polished off a new album Spin. After the release of Spin, Dave, Barbara and Andy Reynolds played a massively successful concert tour of Japan, then in November 1991 topped the bill at Keyboard magazine's Cyberarts festival in Los Angeles. The duo then retreated back to the safety of the studio to begin work on a new album, emerging in 1996 to perform at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall and in 2001 to play two concerts in Tokyo. For the latter gigs the trio were joined by drummer Gavin Harrison.
Dave and Barbara would like to thank their listeners for their loyal support over the years.
You can download all of Dave and Barbara's back catalogue and purchase their CDs from the
Stewart / Gaskin online store.
Ola DSBG! Love love love the new Green and Blue album Played it many times now. And the e.p. Great songs. Still think a 3 minute edit of Shakin All Over would make a great single! (sorry!) and I'd add a photo of an Amy Winehouse Scarecrow here, but i can't...o you'll have to go see it in my pics. Well worth the trip tho?! Bless and Thank you for Still Making Music. Scorchio and Gorgeous! looking forward to the Next album. nice strawb x
Hi Dave & Barbara, thanks for the add and your kind message! I'll definitely be adding my Email address to the list! It would be great to see you in concert... All the best. Doc
Greetings to two of my favorite musicians on Planet Earth!
Your music has had a profound influence on me, in fact was the first music I bought... so glad to hear you've produced long-awaited new material which is sounding as fresh and vibrant as ever.
Sending love and hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you very much for da Link Up & Sharing the Music Nice to meet you through cyber link! Luv your tunes & keep up da Great Work! Wishes you All da Best in 2009! Enjoy your Friday &Weekend
