Nigel Lived

Nigel Lived
Studio album by Murray Head
Released	1973
Recorded	25 June – 30 July 1972
Genre	Rock
Label	CBS Records
Producer	Joseph Wissert
Murray Head chronology
Nigel Lived (1972) Say It Ain't So (1975)

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Allmusic	link

Nigel Lived is the first album by the British lead 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 to make 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.[1]

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 – guitar, vocals
• Mark Warner – guitar
• Dave Wintour – bass guitar
• Peter Giles – bass guitar
• Phil Chen – bass guitar
• Clive Chaman – bass guitar, horn
• Spike Heatley – double bass
• Peter Manning Robinson – organ, piano, Clavinet
• Peter J. Robinson – keyboards
• Fiachra Trench – piano, pipe organ, conductor
• John Donnelly – trumpet, flugelhorn, horn
• Nick DeCaro – accordion, horn and string arrangements
• James Harpham – bass recorder
• Tony Coe – clarinet, saxophone
• Jim Chester – clarinet, oboe, baritone saxophone
• Tommy Coe – clarinet, saxophone
• Jimmy Hastings – clarinet, saxophone
• Tommy Whittle – clarinet, saxophone
• Chris Mercer – baritone, tenor and toy saxophone
• Henry Lowther – trumpet, horn
• David Chapman – trombone
• Martin Fry – tuba, horn
• Ralph Ho – horn
• Michael Giles – drums, percussion
• Cozy Powell – drums
• Miguel Barradas – steel drums
• Ray Cooper – percussion
• Frank Ricotti – percussion, conga, marimba
• Barry DeSouza – conga, drums
• Glen LeFleur – drums
• Chris Karan – tabla
• Sue Glover – vocals
• Sunny Leslie – vocals
• Friendly Sisters – background vocals
• Kay Garner – background vocals
• Sue Garner – background vocals
• Skaila Kanga – harmonica, electric harp
• Christopher Neil – harmonica
• Graham Preskett – mandolin, electric violin
• Michael Rennie – strings, violin
• Jack Rothstein – violin
• Phill Brown - engineer

References

• Nigel Lived at Allmusic.