http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/05/tanya%e2%80%99s-army-of-awfulness-lieutenant-pigeon/ Lollards in the high church of low culture Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:07:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/05/tanya%e2%80%99s-army-of-awfulness-lieutenant-pigeon/#comment-276958 Marcello Carlin Wed, 30 May 2007 06:16:35 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/05/tanya%e2%80%99s-army-of-awfulness-lieutenant-pigeon/#comment-276958 It's not as easy as it looks, is it? It’s not as easy as it looks, is it?

]]> http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/05/tanya%e2%80%99s-army-of-awfulness-lieutenant-pigeon/#comment-276871 Batman Tue, 29 May 2007 23:42:15 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/05/tanya%e2%80%99s-army-of-awfulness-lieutenant-pigeon/#comment-276871 The one thing that still amazes me about this record is how it managed to flop in the UK on its original release in February 1972. The UK singles chart at the time was full of untalented no-hopers such as T.Rex, Elvis Presley, Sly and the Family Stone, The Faces and Stevie Wonder, to name just a few. You’d have thought that the ever perceptive UK record buyers of the day would have welcomed such a unique talent as Lieutenant Pigeon, with their highly original and utterly unique brand of music. But remarkably, for some strange reason, this incredible debut sank without a trace. Fortunately, after gaining huge success in Belgium - where it deservedly shot to the top slot in the singles chart – it was reissued in the UK, where this time, it was finally recognised as a work of pure genius, and at long last achieved its rightful place at the top of the UK singles chart. Unfortunately, when it came to the release of their follow up single ‘Desperate Dan’, the band alienated much of their huge fan base by completely abandoning the distinctive sound of their dazzling debut. Had they chosen to stick more closely to the winning formula that they’d created with ‘Mouldy Old Dough’, I have no doubt that the history of British pop music would look very different today. As well as releasing three classic albums, Lieutenant Pigeon went on to release nine more singles. When listened to back to back, it’s hard to believe that these eleven singles were all created by the same four individuals. The breadth and scope of the diverse musical styles covered is absolutely astounding. Sadly, on the 26th September 1978, after an ecstatic performance in Luxembourg, Lieutenant Pigeon walked off stage together for the last time. Lieutenant Pigeon’s recording career ended far too soon. The one consolation being that we’ve all been left with a timeless body of work with which to wallow in. Why not dig out your copy of ‘Mouldy Old Music’ right now, and remind yourself exactly how unjust the world of music really is. The one thing that still amazes me about this record is how it managed to flop in the UK on its original release in February 1972. The UK singles chart at the time was full of untalented no-hopers such as T.Rex, Elvis Presley, Sly and the Family Stone, The Faces and Stevie Wonder, to name just a few. You’d have thought that the ever perceptive UK record buyers of the day would have welcomed such a unique talent as Lieutenant Pigeon, with their highly original and utterly unique brand of music. But remarkably, for some strange reason, this incredible debut sank without a trace.
Fortunately, after gaining huge success in Belgium - where it deservedly shot to the top slot in the singles chart – it was reissued in the UK, where this time, it was finally recognised as a work of pure genius, and at long last achieved its rightful place at the top of the UK singles chart.
Unfortunately, when it came to the release of their follow up single ‘Desperate Dan’, the band alienated much of their huge fan base by completely abandoning the distinctive sound of their dazzling debut. Had they chosen to stick more closely to the winning formula that they’d created with ‘Mouldy Old Dough’, I have no doubt that the history of British pop music would look very different today.
As well as releasing three classic albums, Lieutenant Pigeon went on to release nine more singles. When listened to back to back, it’s hard to believe that these eleven singles were all created by the same four individuals. The breadth and scope of the diverse musical styles covered is absolutely astounding.
Sadly, on the 26th September 1978, after an ecstatic performance in Luxembourg, Lieutenant Pigeon walked off stage together for the last time.
Lieutenant Pigeon’s recording career ended far too soon. The one consolation being that we’ve all been left with a timeless body of work with which to wallow in. Why not dig out your copy of ‘Mouldy Old Music’ right now, and remind yourself exactly how unjust the world of music really is.

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