Groove Dis Exclusive. 2xCD set compiled by JAMES CHANCE himself. Disc 1 is studio recordings from the late 70s/early 80s & disc 2 is live material from the 90s/00s. Focus here is more on the sax-man's disco/funk joints though there's much NO WAVE noisiness for the alt-rock/jazz crowd to love. Super recommended! (HISTORY)
“Twist Your Soul captures all the passion of a genre that never stopped being unpredictable” – DAZED & CONFUSED
James Chance and the Contortions were formed in New York City in the 1977 and they were one of the main figures of the No Wave movement centered around CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City. The No Wave movement was documented on the seminal Brian Eno produced compilation ‘No New York’. Two tracks from those sessions are included on this compilation – ‘I Can’t Stand Myself’ and ‘Jaded’. The band released their first album ‘Buy’ in 1979 but frictions between members led to a break up. With the support of ZE Records’ founder Michael Zilkha, James Chance was inspired to record the ‘Off White’ album as James Chance and the Blacks. James gave his own interpretation on disco on tracks such as the brilliant ‘Almost Black’ and ‘Off Black’. ‘The Twitch’ and ‘Sax Maniac’ from the band’s next album ‘Sax Maniac’ are both featured on this compilation. For the last five years James Chance has been working all over Europe with a trio of French players – Pierre Fablet (guitar), Alex Tual (drums) and Jacques Auvergne (bass). They’re known as Les Contorsions and their live version of ‘Contort Yourself’ is featured on the live album.
Last but not least the original Contortions – Jody Harris. Pat Place and Don Christensen plus Erik Sanko (ex-Lounge Lizards) on bass and Robert Aaron on tenor sax and keyboards, are back together and have been performing live on special occasions and have begun a new studio album. Three live tracks from the re-formed Contortions are featured on the live album – ‘Roving Eye’, ‘Bedroom Athlete’ and ‘Devilish Angel’.
CD1 (STUDIO RECORDINGS)
1. I CAN’T STAND MYSELF
2. JADED
3. ALMOST BLACK PART 1 & 2
4. OFF BLACK
5. I DON’T WANT TO BE HAPPY
6. CONTORT YOURSELF
7. SAX MANIAC
8. THE TWITCH
9. CHRISTMAS WITH SATAN
10. I DON’T WANT NOBODY TO GIVE ME NOTHING
11. HYP NO TEASE
12. TOWN WITHOUT PITY
13. THE STREET WITH NO NAME
14. INCORRIGIBLE
CD2 (LIVE RECORDINGS)
1. INTRO / DESIGNED TO KILL
2. MY INFATUATION
3. THROW ME AWAY
4. TWICE REMOVED
5. ROVING EYE
6. BEDROOM ATHLETE
7. DEVILISH ANGEL
8. THE SPLURGE
9. DISPOSABLE YOU
10. AINT NOBODY’S BUSINESS IF I DO
11. HOME IS WHERE THE HATRED IS
12. WHY TRY TO CHANGE ME NOW
13. COLD SWEAT
14. BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS
15. STAINED SHEETS
16. CONTORT YOURSELF
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