1984 - Not All Bad After All
Miles Davis - Decoy
Follow my train of thought here if you will. After my Randy Hall post, I watched Miles and Chaka do Human Nature live on you tube, and came to the conclusion that I really should dedicate part of my life to having a proper listen to Davis’ 80s work.
I’ve pulled the Discogs trigger on copies of Star People and The Man With The Horn (featuring Randy Hall, of course) and am actively pursuing a copy of Tutu.
I picked up a couple of his LPs from this period (Decoy and You’re Under Arrest) in the late 80s, secondhand, when, to be honest, the angular rhythms, celestial synth sounds and slap-ping-pop bass that had sounded so new and exciting in 1984 were sounding distinctly old hat by that time and they already seemed like a bit of an error of judgement. Certainly, the person who fucked them off into the second hand record shop thought so.
I’ve played them occasionally, but they've tended to feel a little too much like hard work, especially when there’s so many other of his albums to listen to. But anyway, today’s the day I go balls-deep into Davis’ 80s product.
Allmusic’s review of Decoy is both scathing and quite funny.
There’s some whopping names on this album: Gil Evans, Bill Evans, Al Foster (RIP), and Branford Marsalis (whose soloing is low-key, but breathtaking, and my favourite thing about the album, I think.) But the dominant sounds are John Scofield (guitar), Darryl Jones (bass) and Robert Irving III (synthesizers). Davis’ horn sounds reverby and a bit distant.
I don’t know whether the time is right for this to sound fresh and lovely again, or whether I’ve evolved as a person enough to appreciate it fully, but I fucking loved this from start to finish. I’m now on my second play.
#NowPlaying
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Getting Randy
Randy Hall - I Belong To You
Randy Hall once played with Miles Davis. How do I know this? It’s mentioned first and foremost in everything that has been written about ol’ Randy ever since. Mind you, fair enough – if I’d once collaborated with Miles, I’d have it tattooed on my forehead. And carry a big sign around with me.
I was inspired to drag this one out of the racks of wax by this post, which features Randy’s old band (before he collaborated with Miles Davis). This album comes about 4 years after he collaborated with Miles Davis. It’s produced by Ray Parker Jr, who was schmokin’ hot at the time, what with his Ghostbusters theme and all.
Randy has obviously had his hair done and gone clothes shopping for the cover shoot. Nice to see he made an effort, despite having the bona fides of having worked with Miles Davis.
I remember buying this on US import from JiFS in Chadwell Heath. I reckon it cost seven pounds fifty, just before the price of imports went up to eight quid.
Honestly, musically, I don’t mind it. It’s of an age.
Lyrically, though...fucking hell.
I’ve Been Watching You (Jamie’s Girl) tells the tale of Randy pursuing his best mate’s girlfriend (possibly – but this isn’t mentioned in the lyrics – by telling her that he once collaborated with Miles Davis), before old mate Jamie finds out, offers him outside for fisticuffs, which Randy wins, then gets all gloaty over his double-victory:
Ain't no sense in goin' home, Jamie, I got your girl and gone
A Gentleman is a lesson in non-toxic masculinity which has aged so badly, it could come from the 19th century:
Don’t forget to tip your hat – a gentleman is where it’s at.
Are you listening, Andrew Tate?
Intergenerational relationships are celebrated in a totally modern and non-kink-shaming way on Older Woman, Younger Man:
Its the new thing today, so baby if you’re able, come on and rock my cradle.
With the name Randy Hall sounding like a luxury swingers' club, it's no surprise that things get a bit hot under the collar and the album comes to its sticky climax with I Want To Touch You, essentially a slowjam singalong about finger-banging, which has more sex noises than are required in a song. (Possibly a recording of Randy looking at the sleeve notes of Miles Davis’ The Man With The Horn.)
Oh and in the thanks list on the back cover, the first name after the big G and Randy's fam is ‘Miles’.
I’ve really enjoyed playing this album this morning.
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#IBelongToYou
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