Tag Archives: Simon Tong

Damon Albarn: The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows

On November 12, 2021, “Transgressive Records” label released “The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows”, the second Damon Albarn studio album. It was recorded in 2021, at “Studio 13” in London, “Staðahverfi” in Reykjavík, “Studio 13” in Devon, and was produced by Damon Albarn.

Personnel:
• Damon Albarn – acoustic guitar, Elka Space Organ, piano, Wurlitzer, bass guitar, Hammond S100, monochord, drums, Farfisa organ, harmonium, bells, slate marimba, Rhodes Chroma, iPad strings
• Simon Tong – acoustic and electric guitar, drums
• Mike Smith – Elka Space Organ, harmonium, saxophone, Farfisa
• Samuel Egglenton – bass guitar, drum programming
• Caimin Gilmore – double bass
• Laura Nygren – double bass
• Romain Bly – French horn, slate marimba
• Rakel Björn Helgadóttir – French horn
• Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir – French horn
• Sigrún Jónsdóttir – trombone
• Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir – trombone
• André de Ridder – violin
• Alexina Hawkins – viola
• Shelley Sörensen – viola
• Josephine Stephenson – vocals, cello
• Árni Benediktsson – field recordings
• Carol Jarvis – bass trombone
• Einar Örn Benediktsson – Snapchat
• Samuel Egglenton – engineer, additional production
• Stephen Sedgwick – mixing
• John Davis – mastering
• OK-RM – design, art direction
• Márton Perlaki – photography
Track listing:

  1. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows – Damon Albarn, Andre de Ridder, Simon Tong
  2. The Cormorant – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  3. Royal Morning Blue – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  4. Combustion – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith. Simon Tong
  5. Daft Wader – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  6. Darkness to Light – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  7. Esja – Damon Albarn, André de Ridder, Simon Tong
  8. The Tower of Montevideo – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  9. Giraffe Trumpet Sea – Damon Albarn
  10. Polaris – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  11. Particles – Damon Albarn

The Good, The Bad & The Queen: Merrie Land

On November 16, 2018, “Studio 13” label released “Merrie Land”, the second and final studio The Good, the Bad & the Queen studio album. It was recorded 2017 – 2018, at “Studio 13” in London, and was produced by Tony Visconti, Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Paul Simonon, and Simon Tong.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn – lead vocals, ARP synthesizer, Farfisa organ, keyboards, mellotron, organ, piano, theremin, percussion, engineer
  • Paul Simonon – lead and backing vocals, bass, percussion, creative director, artwork
  • Simon Tong – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Tony Allen – guitar, drums
  • Tony Visconti – vocals, engineer
  • The Demon Strings – strings
  • Antonia Pagulatos – violin
  • Kotono Sato – violin
  • Stella Page – viola
  • Isabelle Dunn – cello
  • Kate St. John – oboe, Cor Anglais
  • Michael “Bami” Rose – saxophone
  • Lucas Petter – trombone
  • Chris Storr – trumpet
  • Eddie “Tan Tan” Thornton – trumpet
  • Gareth Humphreys – bassoon
  • Gerry Diver – tin whistle
  • Owain Arwel Davies – choir arrangements, conductor
  • Stephen Sedgwick – engineer, mixing
  • John Davis – mastering
  • Robert Gordon McHarg III – art direction
  • Chris Musto – layout
  • Herbert Mason – cover photography

Track listing:

All lyrics by Damon Albarn, all music by Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Visconti.

  1. Introduction
  2. Merrie Land
  3. Gun to the Head
  4. Nineteen Seventeen
  5. The Great Fire
  6. Lady Boston
  7. Drifters & Trawlers
  8. The Truce of Twilight
  9. Ribbons
  10. The last Man to Leave
  11. The Poison Tree

The Good, The Bad & The Queen: Same

On January 22, 2007, “Parlophone”, “Honest Jon’s”, “EMI” and “Virgin” labels released the self-titled, debut The Good, the Bad & the Queen album. It was recorded 2005 – 2006, at “Studio 13” and “Townhouse Studios” in London, and was produced by Danger Mouse.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– lead vocals, keyboards, back cover
  • Paul Simonon– bass, backing vocals, illustrations
  • Simon Tong– guitar
  • Tony Allen– drums
  • Danger Mouse– percussion, synthesizers, additional drum programming
  • Al Mobbs – double bass
  • Emma Smith – double bass
  • Harry Christophers, Julia Doyle, Grace Davidson, Kirsty Hopkin, Charlotte Mobbs, Andrew Olleson, Ian Aitkenhead, David Clegg, Christopher Royall, Adrian Lowe, Ben Rayfield, Mark Dobell, Simon Berridge, James Holliday, Julian Empett, Sam Evans – choir
  • Eslam Jawaad– additional vocals
  • Antonia Pagulatos – violin
  • Sally Jackson – violin
  • Alice Pratley – violin
  • Gillon Cameron – violin
  • Stella Page – viola
  • Amanda Drummond – viola
  • Emma Owens – viola
  • Izzi Dunn – cello
  • James Dring – drum programming, programming
  • Jason Cox – recording, mixing
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Jamie Hewlett– back cover
  • Thomas Shotter Boys – painting
  • Will Bankhead – design
  • Pennie Smith – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn.

  1. History Song
  2. 80’s Life
  3. Northern Whale
  4. Kingdom of Doom
  5. Herculean
  6. Behind the Sun
  7. The Bunting Song
  8. Nature Springs
  9. A Soldier’s Tale
  10. Three Changes
  11. Green Fields
  12. The Good, the Bad & the Queen

Sample credits

  • “Northern Whale” contains a sample of “As Tears Go By”, written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richardsand Andrew Oldham

Earland & The Carnival: Nightingale

On March 7, 2011, “Full Time Hobby” label released “Nightingale”,  the second Erland and the Carnival studio album. It was recorded in 2011, and was produced by Gawain Erland Cooper, Simon Tong and David Nock.

Personnel:

  • Gawain Erland Cooper – vocals, guitar
  • Simon Tong – guitar, keyboards
  • David Nock – drums, engineer, mixing, graphics
  • Steve Sedgewick – engineer
  • Scott Hamill – layout
  • Matthew Sankey – design
  • Diana Morris – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. So Tired In The Morning
  2. Map Of An Englishman
  3. Emmeline
  4. I’m Not Really Here
  5. I Wish, I Wish
  6. This Night
  7. Nightingale
  8. East & West
  9. Springtime
  10. Wealldie
  11. Dream Of The Road
  12. The Trees They Grow So High
  13. Nothing Can Remain

The Verve: Urban Hymns

the_verve_urban_hymns

On September 29, 1997, “Hut” label released “Urban Hymns” the third Verve studio album. It was recorded October 1996 – May 1997, at “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Richard Ashcroft, Nick Mccabe, Simon Tong , Peter Salisbury, Chris Potter and Youth. In 1998, “Urban Hymns”  won “Best British Album” at the “Brit Awards”. In 2001, “Q” magazine readers ranked the album at number 18 in the vote for the “Greatest Albums of All Time”, and in 2006, its editors voted it the 16th greatest album of all time. The Verve were awarded with the first ever “Q Classic Album” award for this album at the 2007 “Q Awards”. As of 2015, “Urban Hymns” was ranked the 18th best-selling album in UK chart history.  The critical and commercial success of the album won The Verve, two “Brit Awards” in 1998, including “Best British Group”. The album was certified 3 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; Platinum in Belgium by “BEA”; 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; Platinum in Netherlands by “NVPI”; 5 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; Platinum in Sweden by “GLF”; Platinum iin Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”; 10 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”; Platinum in the US by “RIIA”, and 4 x Platinum in Europe by “IFPI”.

Personnel:

  • Richard Ashcroft– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Nick McCabe– lead guitar
  • Simon Tong– rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Simon Jones– bass
  • Peter Salisbury– drums
  • Liam Gallagher– backing vocals, claps
  • Mel Wesson –programming
  • Paul Anthony Taylor – programming
  • Will Malone– conductor, string arrangements
  • Chris Potter– recording, engineer, mixing
  • Gareth Ashton – engineer assistant
  • Lorraine Francis – engineer assistant
  • Jan Kybert – engineer assistant
  • Brian Cannon– director, design, sleeve art
  • Martin Catherall – design assistant
  • Matthew Sankey – design assistant
  • Michael Spencer Jones – photography
  • John Horsley – photography
  • Chris Floyd – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Ashcroft, except where noted.

  1. Bitter Sweet Symphony – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Richard Ashcroft
  2. Sonnet
  3. The Rolling People –
  4. The Drugs Don’t Work
  5. Catching the Butterfly – Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Tong, Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury
  6. Neon Wilderness Nick McCabe, Richard Ashcroft, Simon Tong, Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury
  7. Space and Time
  8. Weeping Willow
  9. Lucky Man
  10. One Day
  11. This Time
  12. Velvet Morning
  13. Come On – Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Tong, Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury
  • Come On
  • [silence]
  • Deep Freeze (hidden track)