We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Birth Of Graham Graham Beck

by Graham Graham Beck

supported by
No Parking For Caravans
No Parking For Caravans thumbnail
lucymorrow
lucymorrow thumbnail
freetownway
freetownway thumbnail
/
1.
(It's Only) The Tip Of The Iceberg 03:30
buy track
2.
Dry Up, Baby! 03:01
buy track
3.
Where Do We Go From Here? 03:41
buy track
4.
Julia 02:57
buy track
5.
Dry Your Tears 02:52
buy track
6.
Find Myself Alone 02:48
buy track
7.
Do The Cybernetic Walk 03:42
buy track
8.
Glamour Girl 03:13
buy track
9.
Exchanges 03:56
buy track
10.
It's Really Not Much Fun 03:38
buy track
11.
Believe Me Now 01:49
buy track
12.
The Last Time 03:22
buy track
13.
That's The Story Of My Life 03:02
buy track
14.
I'll Take A... 03:53
buy track
15.
Rounders 04:36
buy track
16.
The Letters 02:32
buy track
17.
Synthrumental 03:19
buy track
18.
That's The Way Of Love 04:02
buy track
19.
For All We Know There Could Be More 03:55
buy track
20.
Synthrumental (live) 04:48
buy track
21.
I'll Take A... (live) 03:40
buy track
22.
Find Myself Alone (live) 04:05
buy track
23.
Where Do We Go From Here? 05:14
buy track

about

THE BIRTH OF GGB – the early days

When did Graham Beck become Graham Graham Beck? Well, it seems that I spawned an onstage (somewhat over-enthusiastic) GGB persona in about 1981. There were a few bands around at the time with the same name twice – The The, Duran Duran, Talk Talk… It was suggested, by a friend, that I should add an extra ‘Graham’ to my name, as it would stand out a bit more in a list – any list. So I did. It did, & it worked!

The 80’s were a funny time. Punk had gone. New Wave was in, & that seemed to morph into Post punk, Synth Pop. The New Romantics came along. Electronic Dance arrived. Glam Rock reappeared. Classic/Arena Rock reared it's (ugly?) head. Even Funk & Disco made a comeback. In fact, there were no-holds barred, which is probably why this collection of early GGB tunes are a varied mixture of these styles.

Some of the GGB studio, & home, demos were recorded with other people in mind (i.e. not me), & were taken around the record companies by myself – not a wise decision, but I did get to see how the record industry ‘worked’. Track 2 was intended as a Eurovision entry – it failed. Track 4 was pushed in Cliff Richard’s direction. It got pushed back. Tracks 11, 14, 16 & 17 were ‘pure me’. Track 19 (an instrumental) made it to Mute Records, but they couldn’t decide.

Performing my songs in a ‘band format’ made them a bit spikey, including some of the home demos. In the end, though, I went solo – one man, one (or several) keyboard(s). It was far easier to rehearse, as I always turned up, & the transport never let me down. Later on, in the early 2000’s, stage props started to appear & my songs were more about the quirky things in life – comedic, even. But, that’s for the book…

G. G. Beck 2023

NOTES (non-musical)

I was lucky enough to be able to write, & play, my own songs within the band Penguin Fury (with gusto & manic youthfulness – as you can hear on the three live tracks!). To be able to record them, along with my solo projects, in 24-track London studios was a very valuable, & steep, learning curve. All the tracks on this album, were taken from carefully preserved cassette tapes, EQ’d & transferred onto a master CD. What you now have in your hands/CD player/ears is the end result – a non-doctored ‘back to the 1980s’!

THE BIRTH OF GRAHAM GRAHAM BECK – track listing

Studio (GGB – recorded @ Redan Recorders, Bayswater, W. London)

1. (It’s Only) The Tip Of The Iceberg - 1985
2. Dry Up, Baby! - 1983
3. Where Do We Go From Here? - 1983
4. Julia - 1983
5. Dry Your Tears - 1983

Studio (Penguin Fury – @ Redan Recorders, Bayswater, W. London)

6. Find Myself Alone - 1982
7. Do The Cybernetic Walk - 1981
8. Glamour Girl - 1982
9. Exchanges (1st. version) - 1982

Demos (GGB – recorded on a Fostex X-15 4-track recorder)

10. It’s Really Not Much Fun - 1983
11. Believe Me Now - 1983
12. The Last Time - 1984
13. That’s The Story Of My Life - 1984
14. I’ll Take A… - 1982
15. Rounders (instrumental) - 1986
16. The Letters - 1982
17. Synthrumental (instrumental) - 1982
18. That’s The Way Of Love - 1986
19. For All We Know There Could Be More (instrumental) - 1982

Live (Penguin Fury @ The Stapleton, Crouch Hill, Finsbury Park, N. London)

20. Synthrumental – 09.04.1982
21. I’ll Take A… - 16.04.1982
22. Find Myself Alone – 16.04.1982

23. Where Do We Go From Here? - 1986 (extended home demo version).

credits

released October 13, 2023

THE BIRTH OF GRAHAM GRAHAM BECK – track credits

Studio (GGB)

Musicians: GGB – Moog Prodigy, EDP Wasp, Mini Moog, Juno 106, Grand Piano & main vocals. Vocals – Debbie Doss (on Dry Up, Baby!). Guitar – ‘Diesel’ (on Tip Of The Iceberg). Drums & percussion – Pete Lakey. Linn Drum Machine – Rod Edwards. Thanks also to John Gustafson, for suggesting a bass synth ‘glissando’ in Dry Your Tears (5).
1 – 5 Produced by Roger Hand. Engineer: Johnnie Schinas (except 1 – engineer: Roger Wake).

Studio (Penguin Fury)

6 – 9 Line up: GGB – Moog Prodigy, EDP Wasp, Roland RS-09 & main vocals.
Mick Bradley – Roland Guitar Synth & backing vocals. Charlie Sinclair – bass guitar. Bruno Perosa – drums & percussion.
Produced by Roger Hand. Engineer: Johnnie Schinas (except 7 & 8 – engineer: Garry Edwards).

Demos (GGB)

10 – 19 + 23 Musicians: GGB – Moog Prodigy, EDP Wasp, Juno 106, piano, Boss DR-55 Dr. Rhythm, guitar & main vocals. Guitar – Simon Dunbar (12, 13, 15, 18, 23). Bass guitar – Leonard Chignoli (12, 13, 18, 23). Drums – Pete Lakey (10, 11, 12, 18, 23).

Live (Penguin Fury)

20 – 22 Musicians: same line up as 6 – 9. Roger Hand & Rod Edwards – mixing desk. Stuffed Penguin – band’s own.

23 ( As above in 'Demos' section).

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Graham Graham Beck image

Graham Graham Beck Hull, UK

Under the alias, 'GRAHAM GRAHAM BECK', I've played visual/Surreal & slightly comedic solo performances for several years - complete with keyboard, auto-accompaniment & a few stage props. Since 2013, I've self-released several solo albums (as Graham Graham Beck). There have been favourable reviews, & BBC6 Music's Tom Robinson has played various tracks, too (& even supported him on his solo tour!). ... more

contact / help

Contact Graham Graham Beck

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Graham Graham Beck, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now