Nearly 50 years later, an ultimate sonic version of Marquee Moon…
Television – Marquee Moon – Mobile Fidelity SACD – #UDSACD 2321 – 45:54 – 1977/ 2026 – ****1/2
(Tom Verlaine – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars; Richard Lloyd – guitars, vocals; Fred Smith – bass, backing vocals; Billy Ficca – drums)
All good things come to people that wait. Such is the case with the Mobile Fidelity SACD remastering of the debut album from the New York based punk/art rock band, Television. Their 1977 issued, Marquee Moon, album was both considered their best, and honored by both Pitchfork (third greatest album of the 1970s) and Rolling Stone (in the top 150 rock albums of all time.)
Now remastered using the original master tapes by engineer, Rob LoVerde, the dual guitars of Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd boast great clarity and separation. The syncopated bass lines of Fred Smith pulse mightily, and the jazz influenced drumming of Billy Ficca propel the sound stage.
Television embraced other genres outside of their CBGB New York roots.
The epic masterpiece title cut at over 10 minutes has been compared in its lengthy jams to label mates, The Doors, classic “The End,” and “Light My Fire.” Tom Verlaine wrote all of the eight tracks, and the dual guitar interplay is vibrant, and with the vocal hooks, combine to a classic 1970s rock vibe.
There is a youth merging to adulthood message on “Friction,” while “Guiding Light,” lowers the temperature, and is closest thing to a ballad. The closer, “Torn Closer,” builds up tension to a dramatic masterful guitar solo ending.
For vinyl lovers, MoFi is also releasing a limited edition One-Step 180 gm two vinyl 45 rpm release also this month. Both should please audiophile and 1970s post punk fans.
Television – Marquee Moon
Tracklist:
See No Evil (3:52)
Venus (3:49)
Friction (4:43)
Marquee Moon (10:38)
Elevation (5:05)
Guiding Light (5:53)
Prove It (5:04)
Torn Curtain (6:57)
—Review by Jeff Krow
