- Variations On A Theme
- Day At The Botanical Gardens
- Bird Town
- Pedestrian Walk
- The Egg And I
- Who Is It?
- Song Of Hoe
- Hurry Back
- The Rain
- Semaphore
David Thomas and the pedestrians
Variations On A Theme
Released in June 1983.
Produced by David Thomas.
Out of print.
Produced by David Thomas.
Out of print.
Release Notes
Variations On A Theme was an album recorded in snatches, as opportunity arose. It was, from start to finish, a struggle to make-do with no budget and very little money to support it.In November 1982, David Thomas, Lindsay Cooper and Chris Cutler were on a European tour as David Thomas and his legs (though it may have been The Pedestrians). A chance to fill some downtime by recording for free in a Swiss studio came up. Later in the tour they played the concert that was recorded by a fan and later released as Winter Comes Home. On returning to London, in December 1982, it turned out that Anton Fier was in town. A session with Cutler was arranged at Cold Storage, an improv studio assembled in a metal-walled former meat locker. Jack Monck, a member of one of Syd Barrett's solo bands, overdubbed bass to the Swiss recordings at another studio.
David returned to Cleveland. It was quickly arranged for Richard Thompson to fly in for a week, rehearse and record the rest of the album with Paul Hamann playing bass and Anton on drums. Jim Jones helped out at rehearsals with songwriting.
We rehearsed in a funky location on the Near West Side that somebody let us use for free. I remember us coming up with Bird Town. Later, Richard would invite me up on stage to sing it with him when I showed up at his concerts. Think of it! Richard Thompson in an abandoned dump on West 65th, eating lunch in a decrepit neighborhood diner! We took the band photo at Cleveland airport as he was to fly home. It was a real skin of the teeth operation. He was great about the whole thing. In fact, I think he enjoyed it - working a la Cle Underground 1974.
Production Notes
Produced by David Thomas.Mixed at Suma in March 1983, engineered by Paul and Ken Hamann. Additional overdubs and revisions by David Thomas with Paul Hamann and Jim Jones at Suma in October 1989 and January 1990. Digitally transferred and eq'ed by David Thomas and Paul Hamann at Suma, October 1996.
Cover art by Mary Thomas.
Who Is It? and Semaphore recorded in November 1982 at Sunrise Studios, Kirchberg, Switzerland, and engineered by Robert Vogel, and in December 1982 at Surrey Sound, Leatherhead, England, and engineered by Adam Kidron. Overdubs recorded March 1983 and October 1989 at Suma, engineered by Paul Hamann.
The Rain recorded in December 1982 at Cold Storage, London, England, engineered by Chris Gray. Overdubs recorded in March 1983 and October 1989 at Suma, engineered by Paul Hamann.
Pedestrian Walk, Bird Town, Day At The Botanical Gardens, The Egg & I, Song Of Hoe and Hurry Back recorded at Suma in March 1983, engineered by Paul and Ken Hamann.
David Thomas and pedestrians
- David Thomas - vocals, tapes
- Richard Thompson - guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Jones - guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals, loops
- Lindsay Cooper - bassoon, sopranino sax
- Paul Hamann - bass
- Jack Monck - bass
- Anton Fier - drums, marimba, piano, percussion
- Chris Cutler - drums, percussion
Pedestrian Walk
Written by Thomas - Thornton, ©1983 Hearpen / Complete Music.
David Thomas vocalsRichard Thompson guitar
Paul Hamann bass
Anton Fier drums & percussion
Jim Jones loop & backing vocals (1989 od)
Bird Town
Written by Thomas - Thompson, ©1983 Hearpen / Island Music.
David Thomas vocals & tapeRichard Thompson guitar & vocals
Jim Jones rhythm guitar & backing vocals
Paul Hamann bass
Anton Fier drums & percussion
Day At The Botanical Gardens
Written by Thomas, ©1983 Hearpen Music.
David Thomas vocalsRichard Thompson guitar
Paul Hamann bass
Anton Fier drums & percussion
Jim Jones acoustic guitar & backing vocals (1989 od)
The Egg & I
Written by Thomas - Fier, ©1983 Hearpen / Complete Music.
David Thomas vocalsRichard Thompson guitar
Paul Hamann bass
Anton Fier drums, marimba & percussion
Jim Jones backing vocals (1989 od)
Who Is It?
Written by Thomas - Cooper - Cutler, ©1983 Hearpen / Arcades Music.
David Thomas vocalsRichard Thompson guitar
Lindsay Cooper bassoon
Anton Fier piano
Paul Hamann bass
Chris Cutler drums
Jim Jones slide guitar, backing vocals & synthesizer (1989 od)
{Jack Monck played bass on original recording but replaced by PH}
Song Of Hoe
Written by Thomas, ©1983 Hearpen Music.
David Thomas vocalsRichard Thompson guitar
Paul Hamann bass
Anton Fier drums & percussion
Jim Jones backing vocals (1989 od)
Hurry Back
Written by Thomas - Jones, ©1983 Hearpen Music.
David Thomas vocalsRichard Thompson guitar
Paul Hamann bass
Anton Fier drums
Jim Jones synthesizer & backing vocals (1989 od)
The Rain
Written by Thomas - Cutler - Fier, ©1983 Hearpen / Arcades / Complete Music.
David Thomas vocals & tapeRichard Thompson guitar (overdub)
Lindsay Cooper bassoon & sopranino
Chris Cutler drums
Anton Fier drums & marimba
Jim Jones synthesizer (1989 od)
Semaphore
Written by Thomas - Cooper - Cutler - Monck, ©1983 Hearpen / Arcades Music.
David Thomas vocalsRichard Thompson guitar (overdub)
Linday Cooper bassoon & sopranino
Jack Monck bass
Chris Cutler drums
Jim Jones tape loop & backing vocals (1989 od)
Release History
- Rough Trade Rough 60 (UK) June 1983 lp.
- Plurex PL3301 (Benelux) June 1983 lp.
- Sixth Int'l Silo2 (US) Aug 1983 lp.
- Rough Trade Deutschland RTD 9 (D) June 1983 lp.
- Base Records ? (Italy) ? lp.
