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Wikipedia / Nigel Lived

Nigel Lived is the first album by the British vocalist and actor Murray Head, released in 1973 on CBS Records.

It is a concept album which tells the story of Nigel, a young singer who arrives in London seeking a career in the music business. His early optimism gives way to disillusionment, struggle, and finally heroin addiction. The original vinyl release came in an elaborate package, with a lyric sheet featuring pages from Nigel's diary to depict the course of his gradual disintegration.

In 2017 Intervention Records reissued Nigel Lived on 180-gram double 45rpm vinyl. The reissue was 100% analog mastered using the original master tapes provided to the label by the original sound engineer on the project, Phill Brown. The album quickly became Intervention's best-selling reissue ever and resulted in Murray Head's decision to perform songs from the album live for the first time ever.

Track listing

Side One (labelled "Success"):

  1. "Pacing On the Station" – 4:55

  2. "Big City" – 3:29

  3. "Bed & Breakfast" – 2:28

  4. "The Party" – 3:13

  5. "Ruthie" – 3:19

  6. "City Scurry" – 1:58

  7. "When You Wake Up in the Morning" – 3:10

Side Two ("Failure"):

  1. "Why Do We Have to Hurt Our Heads" – 3:13

  2. "Pity the Poor Consumer" – 2:29

  3. "Dole" – 3:05

  4. "Nigel, Nigel" – 2:11

  5. "Miss Illusion" – 2:18

  6. "Religion" – 4:46

  7. "Junk" – 8:49

Background

This album followed Head's appearance as Judas, a leading role on the recording of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, and his subsequent 1971 single "Superstar".

His supporting musicians include the Giles brothers of Giles, Giles and Fripp, a group which evolved into King Crimson.

Personnel

  • Murray Head – vocals; acoustic guitar on "Ruthie"

  • Mark Warner – acoustic guitar on tracks 1, 3–5, 10, 12–14, electric guitar on tracks 2, 6, 7, 9, 14, slide guitar on tracks 3, 6, 7

  • Dave Wintour – bass guitar on tracks 5, 7, 9, 11

  • Peter Giles – bass guitar on "Junk"

  • Phil Chen – bass guitar on "The Party" and "Religion"

  • Clive Chaman – bass guitar on tracks 1, 2, 6, 8

  • Spike Heatley – double bass on "Bed & Breakfast" and "Dole"

  • Peter Robinson – electric Clavinet on "The Party", electric piano on "Big City", church organ on "Pity the Poor Consumer", piano on tracks 1,2,8,14

  • Fiachra Trench – conductor, pipe organ on "Miss Illusion", piano on "Dole"

  • John Donnelly – flugelhorn on "Bed & Breakfast", trumpet on "City Scurry"

  • Nick DeCaro – accordion on "Miss Illusion"; string and horn arrangements

  • James Harpham – contrabass on "Bed & Breakfast"

  • Tony Coe – clarinet on "Bed & Breakfast" and "When Do You Wake Up in the Morning", saxophone on tracks 1,6,14

  • Jimmy Chester – baritone saxophone on "Bed & Breakfast", saxophone on tracks 1,6,14

  • Jimmy Hastings – saxophone on "Pacing On the Station" and "Junk"

  • Tommy Whittle – saxophone on "Pacing On the Station" and "Junk"

  • Chris Mercer – baritone saxophone on "Dole", electric saxophone on "Bed & Breakfast", plastic saxophone on "The Party", tenor saxophone on "Big City"

  • Henry Lowther – trumpet on "City Scurry"

  • David Chapman – trombone on "Nigel, Nigel"

  • Dave Charman – trombone on "Bed & Breakfast" and "City Scurry"

  • Martin Fry – tuba on "Religion"

  • Ralph Ho – horn

  • Michael Giles – drums on tracks 7, 9, 11, 14, percussion on "Ruthie"

  • Cozy Powell – drums on tracks 1, 2, 6, 8

  • Miguel Baradas – steel drums on "Religion"

  • Ray Cooper – percussion on "Bed & Breakfast" and "Miss Illusion"

  • Frank Ricotti – congas on "The Party", bass marimba on "Miss Illusion"

  • Barry De Souza – congas on "Big City" and "The Party", drums on "Religion"

  • Glen LeFleur – drums on "The Party"

  • Chris Karan – tabla on "Religion"

  • Sue Glover – vocals

  • Sunny Leslie – vocals

  • Friendly Sisters – backing vocals

  • Kay Garner – backing vocals on tracks 1, 2, 12

  • Sue Garner – backing vocals

  • Skaila Kanga – electric harp on "Religion"

  • Chris Neil – harmonica on "Pacing On the Station"

  • Graham Preskett – mandolin on "Miss Illusion", electric violin on "Why Do You Have to Hurt Our Heads"

  • Michael Rennie – strings, violin

  • Jack Rothstein – violin strings on tracks 5, 7, 11

  • Timothy Bond – choirmaster on "Religion"

  • Technical

  • Phill Brown – chief engineer

References