Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1

Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1
Compilation album by
various artists
Released13 December 2010 (2010-12-13)
GenrePsychedelic rock
Length73:56[1]
LabelBelievers Roast
Producer
Singles from Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1
  1. "Stoneage Dinosaurs"
    Released: 16 April 2011[2]
A Loyal Companion: A Tribute to Tim Smith[3]

Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1 is a compilation album featuring cover versions of songs by Tim Smith, the songwriter behind Cardiacs, The Sea Nymphs, Spratleys Japs and his solo project OceanLandWorld.[4] It was released on CD on 13 December 2010 on the Believers Roast label (via Genepool distribution). The release date for download, via iTunes, was 20 December 2010.

All contributing artists and bands have either stated a strong Cardiacs influence in their music, profess sincere admiration for Smith's work, or feature at least one person who has at some time been involved with Cardiacs.[5] Contributors to the project include The Magic Numbers, Robert White of The Milk and Honey Band with Andy Partridge (XTC),[6] Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree,[7] Katharine Blake of Mediaeval Baebes, progressive rock band Oceansize,[8] Julianne Regan of All About Eve, 1990s Britpop band Ultrasound (who reunited especially to record their cover version), Jason Pegg of Clearlake and no less than five former Cardiacs members -keyboard player William D. Drake, drummer and keyboard player Mark Cawthra, guitarist Bic Hayes (under the project name of mikrokosmos), guitarist Kavus Torabi (with his Knifeworld project) and drummer Peter Tagg (with the Trudy).

The album was recorded as a response to Tim Smith's hospitalisation in 2008[9] (following a combined heart attack and stroke in London) was released on Torabi's Believers Roast label[10] in order to raise funds for his care and recovery.[11][12] All profits from the album sales went directly to help Tim Smith.[13] A bonus disc, called A Loyal Companion, was free with CD preorders.

Track listing

All titles by Tim Smith

  1. "Savour" - William D. Drake
  2. "Big Ship" - Ultrasound
  3. "Fear" - Oceansize
  4. "Let Alone My Plastic Doll" - Mark Cawthra
  5. "Day Is Gone" - The Trudy
  6. "Foundling" - Stars In Battledress
  7. "Will Bleed Amen" - Max Tundra featuring Sarah Measures
  8. "Shaping the River" - Julianne Regan
  9. "The Stench of Honey" - Knifeworld
  10. "A Little Man and a House" - The Magic Numbers
  11. "Is This the Life" - mikrokosmos
  12. "March" - North Sea Radio Orchestra
  13. "Lilly White's Party" - Robert White with Andy Partridge
  14. "Wind and Rains is Cold" - Rose Kemp vs. Rarg
  15. "Up in Annie's Room" - Katharine Blake
  16. "Stoneage Dinosaurs" - Steven Wilson
  17. "Home of Fadeless Splendour" - The Scaramanga Six

A Loyal Companion

  1. "Spell With a Shell" - Silvery
  2. "Arnald" - Eureka Machines
  3. "Gloomy News" - The Gasman
  4. "My Trademark" - Bug Prentice
  5. "Victory Egg" - Sidi Bou Said
  6. "To Go Off and Things" - Panixphere
  7. "I Hold My Love in My Arms" - Local Girls
  8. "Dirty Boy" - Sterbus
  9. "Tree Tops High" - Jason Pegg
  10. "Everything Is Easy" - The Scaramanga Six
  11. "Joining the Plankton" - a/c woods
  12. "Dead Mouse" - Spiritwo
  13. "All Spectacular" - Agency
  14. "Nurses Whispering Verses" - Idiot Box
  15. "The Barnacle Tree" - Sarah Cutts (hidden track)
  16. "Odd Even" - Local Girls (digital only, hidden track)
  17. "Dead Mouse" - Ham Legion (digital only, hidden track)
  18. "A Duck And Roger The Horse" - Stephen EvEns (digital only, hidden track)

Personnel

  • Tim Cook – artwork
  • Phil Selfe – photography
  • Robert White – design & layout

References

  1. ^ Rowden, Jez (20 February 2011). "Issue 2011-009 • Album Reviews". DPRP.net. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  2. ^ aaamusic (2 April 2011). "Oceansize and Porcupine Tree release split single for Cardiacs Tim Smith". AAA Music. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. ^ "A Loyal Companion: A Tribute to Tim Smith / Various Artists – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  4. ^ Unsworth, Cathi (21 January 2011). "A Little Man, a House and the Whole World Window". 3:AM Magazine. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ Sgrignoli, Marco (20 July 2022). "Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto". Ondarock [it] (in Italian). Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  6. ^ "BBC - Magic Numbers and XTC raise funds for Salisbury musician". BBC News. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Porcupine Tree raise funds for Cardiacs Tim Smith". BBC News. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  8. ^ Fullerton, Jamie (26 October 2010). "XTC, Oceansize for Cardiacs' Tim Smith tribute album". NME. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  9. ^ Shepherd, Sam (26 November 2010). "Various Artists – Leader Of The Starry Skies: A Tribute To Tim Smith. Songbook 1". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  10. ^ Mr. Spencer (20 April 2011). "The Cardiacs - an epic overview by Mr. Spencer with help from Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Captain Sensible". Louder Than War. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  11. ^ Gittins, Ian (3 February 2011). "Cardiacs tribute album to raise money for paralysed singer Tim Smith". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Album: Various artists, Leader of the Starry Skies (Believers Roast)". The Independent. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  13. ^ Fullterton, Jamie (26 October 2010). "XTC, Oceansize for Cardiacs' Tim Smith tribute album". NME. Retrieved 17 June 2023.