Nigel Lived

Nigel Lived
Studio album by Murray Head
Released	1973
Recorded	25 June – 30 July 1972
Genre	Rock
Label	CBS Records
Producer	Joseph Wissert
Murray Head chronology
Nigel Lived (1972) Say It Ain't So (1975)

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Allmusic	link

Nigel Lived is the first album by the British lead vocalist and actor Murray Head, released in 1973 on CBS Records.

It is a concept album which tells the story of Nigel, a young singer who arrives in London seeking to make a career in the music business. His early optimism gives way to disillusionment, struggle, and finally heroin addiction. The original vinyl release came in an elaborate package, with a lyric sheet featuring pages from Nigel's diary to depict the course of his gradual disintegration.

In 2017 Intervention Records reissued Nigel Lived on 180-gram double 45RPM vinyl. The reissue was 100% analog mastered using the original master tapes provided to the label by the original sound engineer on the project, Phill Brown. The album quickly became Intervention’s best selling reissue ever^[1] and resulted in Murray Head’s decision to perform songs from the album live for the first time ever.

Track listing

Side One (labelled "Success"):

1. "Pacing On the Station" – 4:55
2. "Big City" – 3:29
3. "Bed & Breakfast" – 2:28
4. "The Party" – 3:13
5. "Ruthie" – 3:19
6. "City Scurry" – 1:58
7. "When You Wake Up in the Morning" – 3:10

Side Two ("Failure"):

1. "Why Do We Have to Hurt Our Heads" – 3:13
2. "Pity the Poor Consumer" – 2:29
3. "Dole" – 3:05
4. "Nigel, Nigel" – 2:11
5. "Miss Illusion" – 2:18
6. "Religion" – 4:46
7. "Junk" – 8:49

Background

This album followed Head's appearance as Judas, a leading role on the recording of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, and his subsequent 1971 single "Superstar".

His supporting musicians include the Giles brothers of Giles, Giles and Fripp, a group which evolved into King Crimson.

Personnel

• Murray Head – guitar, vocals
• Mark Warner – guitar
• Dave Wintour – bass guitar
• Peter Giles – bass guitar
• Phil Chen – bass guitar
• Clive Chaman – bass guitar, horn
• Spike Heatley – double bass
• Peter Manning Robinson – organ, piano, Clavinet
• Peter J. Robinson – keyboards
• Fiachra Trench – piano, pipe organ, conductor
• John Donnelly – trumpet, flugelhorn, horn
• Nick DeCaro – accordion, horn and string arrangements
• James Harpham – bass recorder
• Tony Coe – clarinet, saxophone
• Jim Chester – clarinet, oboe, baritone saxophone
• Tommy Coe – clarinet, saxophone
• Jimmy Hastings – clarinet, saxophone
• Tommy Whittle – clarinet, saxophone
• Chris Mercer – baritone, tenor and toy saxophone
• Henry Lowther – trumpet, horn
• David Chapman – trombone
• Martin Fry – tuba, horn
• Ralph Ho – horn
• Michael Giles – drums, percussion
• Cozy Powell – drums
• Miguel Barradas – steel drums
• Ray Cooper – percussion
• Frank Ricotti – percussion, conga, marimba
• Barry DeSouza – conga, drums
• Glen LeFleur – drums
• Chris Karan – tabla
• Sue Glover – vocals
• Sunny Leslie – vocals
• Friendly Sisters – background vocals
• Kay Garner – background vocals
• Sue Garner – background vocals
• Skaila Kanga – harmonica, electric harp
• Christopher Neil – harmonica
• Graham Preskett – mandolin, electric violin
• Michael Rennie – strings, violin
• Jack Rothstein – violin
• Phill Brown - engineer

References

• Nigel Lived at Allmusic.