THE WILD SWANS "Bringing Home The Ashes"

THE WILD SWANS were formed back in 1980 but it was only on 1988 that the band released their very fist studio album entitled "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES". Fronted by Legendary Musician PAUL SIMPSON and a recent visitor here in the Philippines. The band had a different line up when they did a concert here in MANILA and CEBU. Definitely one of the most memorable New Wave Concerts I have ever watched the past three decades. Hmmmp? Talking about longevity right? Ha Ha Ha!! By the time "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES" was released by SIRE/REPRISE Records back in 1988, THE WILD SWANS' members were PAUL SIMPSON, JEREMY KELLY (Lotus Eaters), and JOE FEARON. YUP!! That's the trio in the Album Cover. That means that two of the members were able to visit the Philippines already since JEREMY KELLY was in MANILA together with PETER COYLE as "THE LOTUS EATERS" back in 2002. YUP!! They were here in MANILA LIVE IN CONCERT and that was also a great concert which I definitely didn't missed out. The reason why JOE FEARON was included in the line up was that GED QUINN who was also one of THE LOTUS EATERS dropped out few months before the album was completed and released. The making of the album also included session players on both keyboards and drums to add up to the unique sound. "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES" was produced by PAUL HARDIMAN and the album officially yielded two singles namely "YOUNG MANHOOD" and "BIBLE DREAMS". As I've mentioned here in my blog on my "THE WILD SWANS: PLATINUM COLLECTION" Blogpost back in APRIL 5 of this year 2011 only few days before the news of their PHILIPPINE CONCERT was revealed to me. THE WILD SWANS were first introduced here in MANILA by NU 107 back in 1988 with the song "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES". The next MANILA hit was "WHIRLPOOL HEART" which was also introduced by NU 107. Then other songs from the album keep on getting airplay from DZBM POWER 105 and of course NU 107 wherein the two singles "YOUNG MANHOOD" and "BIBLE DREAMS" then became a regular playlist. "BITTERNESS" and "ARCHANGELS" also became MANILA hits when It became part of the playlist of the Two Month College Radio Format of 99.5 RT's "RHYTHM AND ROCK" back in 1989. While "NORTHERN ENGLAND", 'MYTHICAL BEAST", and "THE WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE" became POWER 105 DZBM Hits. The one and only song from the album that really didn't have that necessary radio exposure was "NOW AND FOREVER".


Definitely, PINOY NEW WAVERS should have this album on their music collection. In my case, I bought the "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES" Album both on Vinyl Record and CD formats which is shown on the photo. The album for me is a great buy and I consider all songs as CLASSIC indeed!! The album is very much lighter than the early works of THE WILD SWANS, but the messages of the songs here are very dark and enigmatic in a way. Hmmmp? Talking about RELIGION, WAR, ANGST, and REBELLION gave the whole content of a Protagonist's Life of a Preacher I may say. The Music and Lyrics are cut above the rest with a splendid Melody that perks you up whenever you listen to the whole album.


BRINGING HOME THE ASHES CD (1988)
TRACKLIST:

1. Young Manhood
2. Bible Dreams
3. Bitterness
4. Archangels
5. Northern England
6. Whirlpool Heart
7. Bringing Home The Ashes
8. Mythical Beast
9. Now And Forever
10. The Worst Year Of My Life

I decided not to upload the whole album for download because all the 10 tracks were also included on the "The Wild Swans Platinum Collection" which I have already featured here on my little blog "The Doctor Is In". Btw, THE WILD SWANS performed a record SEVEN SONGS from the album on their MANILA Concert at ONE ESPLANADE last OCTOBER 1, 2011 which I think would establish how good the album is. The songs they played were "Bible Dreams", "Archangel", "Northern England", "Now and Forever", "Whirlpool Heart", "Worst Year of My Life", and of course the album's title track "Bringing Home the Ashes" which was also the song the band sang on their only Philippine T.V. appearance on EAT BULAGA which I've also featured here in my blog recently.

LISTEN TO "WHIRLPOOL HEART" Here:
Btw, this song was included on one of Philippine New Wave Legendary Vinyl Record Series called"THE BEST OF NEW MUSIC" which I already featured here on my blog wayback December 1, 2009 so just check my Labels/Archives.


LISTEN TO "BITTERNESS" Here:



There was a Tribute Party given to the Late RONALD TENGSICO aka. TAZMANIAN DEVIL who was one of the Legendary DJ of POWER 105 DZBM FM back in JULY 3, 2010 which was entitled "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES" and held at NOMIXX BAR and RESTO. TAZ, THE GODFATHER of THE POWER SWITCHERS CLUB as he was called, passed away MAY 24, 2010 then was cremated. Well, as the saying goes "ASHES TO ASHES; DUST TO DUST".


I also included Two VIDEO CLIPS of THE WILD SWANS CONCERT here in MANILA shared by fellow KABAYANS just to spice up this blogpost of mine. Well, since I'm not really into taking Videos that much in Concerts because of my experience of singing along with the songs while watching, then my voice would be much louder. Ha Ha Ha!! YUP!! I was supposed to upload Videos of The Lost 80s, Gene Loves Jezebel Concerts, just to name a few since I was lucky to attend all these NEW WAVE 80s concerts here in MANILA, but that problem couldn't be solved. Ha Ha Ha!! Up until now, I still have goosebumps recalling what transpired on THE WILD SWANS Concert. WOW!! THAT WAS INDEED AN EXCELLENT CONCERT TO BE CHERISHED!! THANKS to all KABAYANS who shared these Manila Concert Video Clips. MABUHAY!!

THE WILD SWANS MANILA CONCERT:


WATCH "THE WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE" Here:



WATCH "ARCHANGELS" Here:



Of course, here's The Two Music Videos of
THE WILD SWANS' official singles of the album:




WATCH the Music Video of "YOUNG MANHOOD" Here:




WATCH the Music Video of "BIBLE DREAMS" Here:



Btw, if you haven't read my "THE WILD SWANS: PLATINUM COLLECTION" Blogpost just click THE WILD SWANS Photo to ENTER it:



Well, I hope you guys ENJOYED another trip down memory lane here on "The Doctor Is In" by this blogpost special on THE WILD SWANS album "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES". I'll leave you with the Title Track of the album and do join me in singing it. THANKS for dropping by!!

LISTEN and SING ALONG to "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES" Here:


BRINGING HOME THE ASHES
Lyrics

Goodbye...
To out of England
The pain never fades away after all these times

Word war...
And revolutions
The hat and the heart of England never dies

Bringing home the ashes
It's more than I can bear

Goodbye...
Chained of sorrow
The curse of a thousand year beneath the gloves
Warm down and hardly breathing
The hat and the heart of England never dies

Bringing home the ashes
It's more than I can bear

When winter lightning flashes
You'll find me all way there

Bringing home the ashes
It's more than I can bear

When winter lightning flashes
You'll find me all way there

Word war...
And revolutions
The hat and the heart of England never dies

Bringing home the ashes
It's more than I can bear

Goodbye...
Chained of sorrow
The curse of a thousand year beneath the gloves
Warm down and hardly breathing
The hat and the heart of England never dies

Bringing home the ashes
It's more than I can bear

When winter lightning flashes
You'll find me all way there



Let's BRING HOME THE ASHES!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

THE WILD SWANS on Eat Bulaga!!

Well, can't get enough of that Nostalgic Concert by THE WILD SWANS here in Philippines? Definitely, It was one of the most memorable New Wave Concert I ever watched here in MANILA!! I have already watched a couple of these New Wave 80s concerts here in MANILA before and THE WILD SWANS Concert will be marked as One of the BEST or if not, It's THE VERY BEST indeed!! Even though there was a typhoon, their concert really made a blast like a typhoon too so THANK YOU to those people who brought them here in the Philippines where the term NEW WAVE Genre is very unique and different in terms of definition comparing from other countries around the globe. I'm featuring right now here in my little blog "The Doctor Is In", the Legendary band's performance on the Philippine Legendary Noon Time Show "EAT BULAGA" last SEPTEMBER 28, 2011. What's very interesting here was EAT BULAGA Host Julia Clarete's comments on the band and on Echo And The Bunnymen. Wheeew!! Nice One Miss Julia!! Rock On Girl!! PAUL SIMPSON also introduced his Band Line up which for me is as Legendary as this Liverpool band. Btw, EAT BULAGA just recently launched their COFFEE TABLE BOOK which featured the Three Decades of the Show. The Mastermind of this extraordinary book is Joey De Leon. THANK YOU THE WILD SWANS for a GREAT PERFORMANCE!!


Here's the VIDEO CLIP of THE WILD SWANS
on EAT BULAGA singing "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES":



EAT BULAGA!!!!!
....THE WILD SWANS!!!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

THE WILD SWANS LIVE in the PHILIPPINES!!

This is it!! THE WILD SWANS LIVE in the PHILIPPINES on SEPTEMBER 30 at the GRAND BALLROOM HOTEL, CEBU CITY and OCTOBER 1, 2011 at 1 ESPLANADE MALL OF ASIA, PASAY CITY!!

-DR. STIRRING RHOD

The Wild Swans "The Platinum Collection"

THE WILD SWANS are a Post-punk band from Liverpool, England, which was originally formed back in 1980 whose core members had all been key players on the legendary Liverpool Eric's club scene. The band first came together when their vocalist, PAUL SIMPSON left the Teardrop Explodes with whom he had been playing keyboards in late 1979. Simpson formed THE WILD SWANS few months later with keyboardist and pianist GED QUINN, and JEREMY KELLY with whom he had spent a year previously rehearsing in an untitled and unrecorded local band. One great band that PINOY NEW WAVERS really love. THE WILD SWANS were first introduced here in MANILA by NU 107 back in 1988 with the song "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES". The band immediately click on the taste of Pinoy Music Enthusiasts back in the 80s because of the haunting and cool vocals of Paul Simpson. YUP!! The man who made also a mark here in MANILA because of his previous band "CARE". The next MANILA hit was "WHIRLPOOL HEART" which was also introduced by NU 107. Actually, the whole "BRINGING HOME THE ASHES" album made it big here in MANILA and a must-have for all PINOY NEW WAVERS since all tracks had their airplay from NU 107, POWER 105 DZBM, and 99.5 RT. We will get through the details of each hits when I will feature the album itself here on my blog so just stay tune for that. THE WILD SWANS' next album which was "SPACE FLOWER" didn't made that much impact comparing to "Bringing Home The Ashes" and the song "MELTING BLUE DELICIOUS" was the only song that got airplay here in MANILA which was also introduced by NU 107 back in 1990. In the past years, there were already a lot of rumors circulating about the possibility of THE WILD SWANS coming over here in MANILA to do some concerts. Up until now, all of this remained as an imaginary thought.



THE WILD SWANS "The Platinum Collection" was originally released only here in the Philippines back in 2006. Everyone I knew who loves this band was just excited as I am to know this CD released in our local record bars. Wheeeew!! I just missed buying music materials in the record bars. Nowadays, you just can't seem to get a good buy anymore if you visit the record bar here in the Philippines. Recently, there was this news about the Top 5 business around the world that will get extinct for the next 5 years and sad to say "RECORD BARS" are included. This CD compilation collects all 10 tracks from "Bringing Home The Ashes" as well as 8 of the 10 tracks from its follow up "Space Flower". The two tracks from "Space Flower" which were both not included were "Tangerine Temple" and "Vanilla Melange". I will feature both albums of "The Wild Swans" here my little blog "The Doctor Is In" in the future. Definitely, this CD is another must-have for PINOY NEW WAVERS and it's very affordable. The Wild Swans were only intermittently active through the 1980s. The band's first split occurred very soon after their debut of "Bringing Home The Ashes" and resulted in Kelly starting up The Lotus Eaters with co-founder Peter Coyle. Simpson followed suit with the Care project, teaming up with Ian Broudie. Space Flower was produced by Ian Broudie with participation of Chris Sharrock on drums and Ian McNabb on additional guitars and vocals of the Liverpool three piece. THE ICICLE WORKS appeared as guest musicians. Broudie contributed on both guitars and organ to fill in the vacuum created by departed members Quinn and Kelly. Simpson refers to this latter version of the band as simply, 'himself and a few friends'. I guess that's well said!! Just in case you still don't have a copy of this CD and you wanted to have one, I made the CD available for download for your listening pleasure. Most of you may have the original CD already and that's good because my blog still encourage you guys to buy the original materials. Paul Simpson released a material as THE WILD SWANS last 2006 with "LIQUID MERCURY". The Wild Swans will also release a new album this year 2011 entitled "The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years" which will be accompanied by a U.K. Tour and a probable concert here in MANILA . That would be cool and awesome!! Of course with a different line-up. ENJOY THE MUZIC!!


THE WILD SWANS "The Platinum Collection"
TRACKLIST:

01. Bringing Home The Ashes
02. Young Manhood
03. Bible Dreams
04. Whirlpool Heart
05. Northern England
06. Mythical Beast
07. Melting Blue Delicious
08. Chocolate Bubblegum
09. I’m A Lighthouse
10. The Worst Year Of My Life
11. Butterfly Girl
12. Space Flower
13. Magic Hotel
14. Bitterness
15. Now And Forever
16. Immaculate
17. Archangels
18. Sea Of Tranquility


DOWNLOAD MY CD HERE:


PASSWORD: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/


Personally, I'm still hoping that THE WILD SWANS will finally perform Live In Manila in the near future. Let's just cross our fingers KABAYANS. THANKS for dropping by!!



It's Wilder than
THE WILD SWANS!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD