Whilst perusing the roughly 5,372 albums R. Stevie Moore has put up on his Bandcamp page, I was delighted to see that the Bingo Gazingo album is now available for your free listening/low-cost purchasing pleasure. Mr. Gazingo was a real character, a senior citizen who started appearing at poetry readings in the 1990s, hilariously declaiming in a New Yawk voice his short, rhymed phrases, often only vaguely related to what his poems where supposed to be about. This, his one and only album, features a back-up band featuring Moore, Chris Butler (of The Waitresses, and Tin Huey), and various djs from WFMU, the station that would release this album. The music is a real variety show, from punk, to soulful r'n'b, to abstract improvs. But of course the late Bingo is the star of the show, proclaiming such profound utterances as:
- They're playing classic rock/in Jurassic Park
- I want to make my home in/your ovum
- Rick the wanker/from Casablanca/I sing like Paul Anka
- My projectile/is erectile
- I cannot accept/your indecent proposal/maybe a horse'll
I'm glad no-one told him that Tupac's last name isn't pronounced "shaker" - it would have messed up his rhymes.
BINGO GAZINGO
Speaking of R. Stevie Moore, out of his near-infinite discography, I've heard maybe...3 albums? I def. like "Phonography," esp. the wonderful "Goodbye Piano," where he bumps his head into the mic, and keeps on singing. And I have a couple greatest "hits" collections. But NOW where do I go?
Wow! He was a staple at the Bowery Poetry Club. I had no idea he'd recorded an album ... thanks, Mr. Fab!
ReplyDeleteSo Gary you actually saw him perform?
ReplyDeleteI've always been curious about Bingo since he's mentioned in Irwin's book and has a track (or two?) on the compilation CDs for the book.
ReplyDeleteBut Moore- where to start!
I've always been intimidated by his massive landslide of a discography! I imagine his best ofs have best ofs.
I will try the ones you have mentioned.
Thanks for another fascinating post, Mr. Fab!