Contacting
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water
MySpace URL:
http://www.myspace.com/whenpeoplewereshorter
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water: General Info
Member Since
9/12/2006
Band Members
BAND MEMBERS:
Joe Defilipps Trombone, Vocals.
Kim M. Rancourt Horn, Vocals.
David Raymer Guitar, Vocals.
Bob Meetsma Guitar.
Chris Xefos Keyboards, Vocals.
Dave Rick Bass, Guitar.
David Light Drums.
>>>>>>>>>>>guests:
Ned Hayden Guitar.
Alicia Svigals Violin. ______________________________________________________
DISCOGRAPHY:
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water EP7 (Trace Elements) 1987
Uncle Ben EP7 (Shimmy-Disc) 1988
Bobby (Shimmy-Disc) 1989
Porgy (Shimmy-Disc) 1991
Bill Kennedy's Showtime (Shimmy-Disc) 1994 ________________________________
and
"Let's Be Natural" Rutles Highway Revisited, A Tribute To The Rutles, (Shimmy Disc) 1990
"I've Got the Music in Me" (Evatone flexi 33 rpm from the Bob 38)
"The Natural High is the Best High in the World (Riki Tiki Tavi)" on Island of Circles, a tribute album to singer-songwriter Donovan (Nettwerk) 1992
"I Believe" on Surprise Your Pig, A Tribute To R.E.M. (Staplegun SG001)
____________________________________
SHAPIR-O'RAMA
El Mundo de Vapor y Valent¡a (Old Vienna) (Mind of a Child) 1995
JAD FAIR AND THE SHAPIR-O'RAMA
We Are the Rage (Japan. Avant) 1996
I Like Your Face (Wire Monkey) 1999
Sounds Like
................................In the 60's, nuns were hot. The contrast and geometry of their very habits was Op Art! There were nuns climbing ev'ry mountain, motorcycle nuns, peace sign nuns, elvis nuns, flying nuns, and The Singing Nun, Souer Sourire. Here nun-niks When People Were Shorter and Lived Near The Water chumify her massivo hit, "Dominique." The video was conceived by Catholic Francis Z. in a malarial fit. This goes back to 1987 or so. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.................................................Bobby Goldsboro's thoughtful anti-war classic- they really loved the man. ++++++++++++++++++++++++
........................................................The great Dramatics' hit as interpreted by When People Were Shorter And Lived Near The Water back in the 20th century.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>THIS GUYS IN LOVE WITH YOU
Type of Label
None
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water's Latest Blog Entry
[Subscribe to this Blog]
About When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water, the Brooklyn, New York gaggle of merry pranksters fronted by double singers Kim M. Rancourt and Joey DeFilipps, is devoted to conceptual covers of material from outside sources. Depending on one's point of view, the work can be viewed as deconstructing the originals, partying with them or pummeling unsuspecting songs into submission. They sound like punch-drunk travelers who've taken a wrong turn and wandered into a quiet seacoast village, but, undaunted, come rolling out of their bus into the town square and begin singing songs of their homeland. But what seem, on first exposure, to be wildly exuberant first-take performances, are when called for actually smart arrangements. And dumb arrangements when they're called for. These workmen use the right tool for the job. Kim and Joey, along with full time members Bob Meetsma and David Raymer (both on guitars) released their first two missives- both four-song 7-inch EPs. The first, produced by Robert Poss of Band of Susans for his label- Trace Elements in 1987 gave us a first taste of their cover-version deviltry. A hopped-up rendition of Ray Davies' "Dandy" (a hit for Herman's Hermits) as well as a rock adaptation of the Gettysburg Address (!). Uncle Ben takes similar swipes at Herb Alpert, the Singing Nun, Eric Burdon and the Buoys; on the last two (Burdon's psychedelic non-classic "A Girl Names Sandoz" and the Rupert Holmes-penned Top 40 cannibalism epic, "Timothy"), WPWS&LNTW finally work up enough musical steam to endow their output with something more substantial than theoretical interest. Bobby, the band's first full-length album, consists of 15 Bobby Goldsboro covers, many of them unrecognizable as such in these interpretations. Depending on your frame of reference, it's either a deeply ambivalent treatise on the duality of popular culture or a colossal in-joke by artsy bohos with too much free time on their hands. Bobby isn't exactly an affectionate tribute, but it's not a complete joke, either. The album was produced by Kramer for his Shimmy Disc label. In late 1990, Shimmy-Disc's planned release of the band's Porgy, an album of tunes from Porgy and Bess was held up by legal objections from the Gershwin estate and not issued until mid-'91. When Porgy finally emerged, however, it was a well-informed piece of work, not simply a cheap parody. Guitarist Dave Rick and keyboardist Chris Xefos (both of King Missile) added invaluable musical muscle of the proceedings. Bill Kennedy's Showtime is a trip back to Rancourt's Detroit high school days and displays the band at its strongest, covering songs by the Motor City bands that played the infamous Grande Ballroom. Passing over such obvious choices as the MC5 and Stooges, WPWS&LNTW favors Mitch Ryder, Catfish, the Frost and SRC. Rancourt's desire to work on original material with Dave Rick led to Shapir-O'Rama. Rick's quartet made a quick evolution from its previous incarnation as Wonderama when they booted out their lead singer and replaced him with Rancourt. Shapir-O'Rama allowed Rancourt (responsible for all the lyrics) to be serious, and his writing on El Mundo de Vapor y Valentia (Old Vienna) is heartfelt. Produced in part by Poss, the album contains only one cover, of King Crimson's "I Talk to the Wind." Rancourt booked music for the Sideshows by the Seashore in Coney Island for several seasons and has done various projects with Don Fleming (Velvet Monkeys, 1/2 Japanese). He first played with Fleming and Jay Spiegel (Gumball, Lookies) in Idlewild. He and Fleming organized the Vietnam Songbook Concert http://www.vietnamsongbook.org/ . Rancourt is currently playing with Fleming and Andrew W.K. in a band called JFK - one track appeared on an Esopus magazine CD insert. http://www.esopusmag.com/archivesubright.php?Id=3121&pID=3013. He and "Shorters" co-singer Joey, along with Julie Cafritz (Pussy Galore, Kitten) have also released two albums as "Gravy". Gravy is in pre-production on their third album, Get Ready which will feature a 69 minute long version in honor of Rare Earths 1969 original 21 minute 30 second long version. [this article freely adapted from Scott Schinder / David Greenberger]
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water's Friend Space (Top 24)
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water has 183 friends.
