Search - Wilson, Gary :: Forgotten Lovers

If you liked Gary's first CD, you'll LOVE this one!

Nicholas Roma | Endicott, NY USA | 02/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got this album after I found out it was available. If you liked Gary's "You think you really know me", you will love this one. This album is actually a compilation of Gary's material from across several years. In this, he really shows us his versatility. Sounds range from the familiar "new wave" type of material that was on "You think you really know me" to jazz (upright bass, sax and piano). I enjoyed this album even more than his other one. The material in this album has a very rich musical texture, since he uses a wider variety of instruments in his pieces (in addition to drums, bass, guitar, he also incorporates sax, upright bass, piano and synthesizser in many of the pieces). Also, many of the pieces were recorded in a real recording studio, so the material has a more finished quality to it. Like I said, I actually liked this CD better than Gary's first, although I still think his first CD was really great!"

Really sick and disturbing - but in a good way!

Steve Peters | Seattle, WA | 08/15/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those not yet familiar with the twisted genius that is Gary Wilson, it sounds something like this: Mix equal parts Zappa, ? & the Mysterians, Barry White, Steely Dan, Norman Bates, and 70s porn/TV soundtracks; filter through an alienated, small town adolescence and creepy borderline-stalker fantasies; add one large bag of white flour, a gallon of lukewarm milk, liberal amounts of Saran Wrap, and dirty underpants; stir in a reel of 1/4" analog recording tape, dump on basement floor, and let sit overnight. Enjoy!



Newcomers are advised to begin with his magnum opus, "You Think You Really Know Me." But if you wish to delve further into Gary's disturbed mind, then this compilation of odds and ends will give you a good idea of his musical range and obsessions. For long-time fans it offers a decent collection of his various other hard-to-find vinyl releases. Here's what you get:



Two cuts from his first LP, the jazzy "Another Galaxy." These have little in common with what came later, but they demonstrate that Wilson is actually a very competent musician, composer, and band leader. The LP's title cut is a funky, Bitch's Brew-style fusion jam and Softly the Water Flows is a lovely, tender ballad.



Both sides of his super-rare first single (Dream(s)/Soul Travel); these are also in the jazz mode, but are less "out" and have a bit more of a Shaft/70s porn vibe.



Both sides of the great 45 with the Blind Dates (In the Midnight Hour/When I Spoke of Love).



Three out of four songs from the Forgotten Lovers EP (no Debbie Knows).



Three out of four songs from the Wedding Gown EP (no Your Smile Is All I Needed).



Two previously unreleased tracks from the You Think You Really Know Me era: Sick Trip and You Took Me on a Trip Into My Mirror.



On the good side: all of this stuff has been lovingly remastered and sounds pretty darn great, and the unreleased tracks and rarities are a treat.



On the down side: This CD is just under 43 minutes long, so they could have easily included the missing tracks from Forgotten Lovers and Wedding Gown, plus all four sides of the great double 45 set (which is not at all represented here; lousy remixes of two of those songs appear on the more recent but much less satisfying "Mary Had Brown Hair" CD). Including those tracks would have made this a comprehensive collection of all of Wilson's releases. If disc space got really tight, they could have included the two previously unreleased tracks on the reissue of "You Think You Really Know Me" since they were recorded during those sessions anyway.



My other complaint is that although all of the song titles are on the back of the CD, the second, third, and fourth songs are listed in the wrong order. What's worse, Gracenote also lists them in the wrong order. So to set the record straight, the correct track order is:



1. Dream(s)

2. In the Midnight Hour

3. Forgotten Lovers

4. Rhythm in Your Eyes



The rest are correct, assuming they got the instrumentals right.



So - five stars for the music itself, but minus one for the production oversights.



"

Brilliant

Ben Jammin (Isaac) | Cincinnati, Ohio United States | 02/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gary is a mystery wrapped in an enigma stuffed inside a burrito covered with celophane. A fantastic musician who falls outside the mainstream into the river of forgotten music. Discover for yourself the secret talents of music's lost genius. A splash of 70's porn music, a pinch of Starsky and Hutch, and some serious jive; mix together with some brilliant infusion and you have found Gary Wilson.

You can strip naked, cover yourself in peanut butter, wrap yourself in celophane, and turn up the music to totally enjoy this music. Or you could just play it in your car. Dig it, however you like.."