= = A Service to the Internet from The Triumvirat Homepage! = = = ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Subscribers are in these countries around the world: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Great Britain, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and United States. Let us know if we accidentally left you out !
(Editor's Note: Portions of this issue have
been edited to reflect updated information,
or to correct mistakes in the information presented. We have done this to insure
that you
receive the most accurate information possible. Thanks ! 11/98)
IN THIS ISSUE =============
FROM THE AUTHORS - Russ's Update - Lyrics: Helmut Köllen's "The Story of Life" - Jim's Notes - Feature: Jürgen Fritz' GX-1 Keyboard
WANTED - Replacing my worn out "Spartacus" - "Illusions" CD and lyrics - "Illusions" lyrics ? - Good Recording of Russian Roulette ? - Spartacus
COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATION - RE: Spock's Beard - "Hard To Be A God" - Gaensehaut/Various Triumvirat issues - Triumvirat CD's - Address change - You Won't See Me/Russian Roulette - Si-Wan Records
PROGRESSIVE ROCK NEWS - MASTERMIND Touring with FISH - U.K. "Legacy" - ELP North and South American Tour 1997 - Focus to Play Netherlands on 8/30 - New ELP King Biscuit CD
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND CONTACT INFORMATION _____________________________________________________________________ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ---------------------------------------------------------------------
____________________ = FROM THE AUTHORS = --------------------
=>Russ's Update
=============
Hello again Triumvirat fans worldwide:
I have two important pieces of information to pass along to all of
you this month.
First the best news: Each and every one of you can now send a letter
or message directly to either Jürgen Fritz, Barry Palmer, or Hans
Bathelt of Triumvirat. I want to encourage each and every one of
you reading now to at least send a few lines to say what this groups
means to you, to hurry-up the reunion, or whatever is on your mind.
I will personally guarantee that their message will be received by
them and read.
Just send the message (Dear Jürgen, Dear Barry, or Dear Hans, or
all three)via e-mail in care of me (russ@triumvirat.net ) by
August 17th, and I will forward all letters. I hope everyone reading
this will respond!!! Let's show some support for a reunion project!
There was also a member of Triumvirat for a short time, Matthias
Holtmann, who also played drums on Helmut's album, who has his own
e-mail. You can e-mail him directly at extraspaet@sdr.de
The second news is that with the help of our friend Manfred in
Cologne, we now have an ad running in the main music/entertainment
magazine in Cologne to help search for more Triumvirat insiders who
can get us rare material from the early days (audio, video, etc.) as
well as more details on the life of Helmut Köllen.
I hope to hear from you soon!!
Russ Shaw
Triumvirat Homepage
russ@triumvirat.net
=>Lyrics: Helmut Köllen's "The Story of Life"
============================================
"The Story of Life" from Helmut Köllen's album "You Won't See Me"
(music and lyrics by Helmut Köllen and Hans Bathelt)
You smoke your refer, you drink your wine
You take your pills and you feel just fine
You're taking off like a jumbo jet
That flight is bad but you don't regret
You watch TV till you go blind
Your parents sleep and they don't mind
You blow your nose, you wreck your car
You just drop out, you won't get far
I tell you the story of life, which is old
The more you get older, the more you get cold
About the only thing left in each generation
Is loving and dying and death and frustration
You spend your money you waste your time
The drinks are good and the food's divine
You never care about tomorrow
Just go ahead
You love your lover you hate her man
You kill your ego as much you can
You go around the world you try to stop lying
You finally make it, you feel that you're dying
I tell you the story of life, which is old
The more you get older, the more you get cold
About the only thing left in each generation
Is loving and dying and death and frustration
(thanks to Roy DeRousse of St. Louis, MO for an official copy of the
lyrics)
On this album, the players are:
Helmut Köllen: voice, acoustic and Leslie guitars, bass
Jürgen Fritz: producer, keyboards, orchestra conductor and brass
arrangements
Dieter Perereit: bass
Matthias Holtmann: drums & percussion
Brigitte Witt: backing vocals, vocal solo on "Playing This Song
Together
Elke Köllen: backing vocals
Charly Schlimbach: saxophone
Burkhardt Lipps: electric guitar solo
=>Jim's Notes
===========
Greetings Friends !
I hope none of you have had to deal with any of the weather related
problems that have been going on around the world lately. A lot of
flooding out there !
I've added the transcribed lyrics to "Illusions on a Double Dimple"
to the website now. You can read them at
www.triumvirat.net/illusion.htm And if you are interested
in the lyrics for "Spartacus", they continue to be available at
www.triumvirat.net/spartacus.htm ! There are also some
minor changes to the Discography page. I've found a various artists
LP, "Summertrip", from Capitol records, that lists Triumvirat as one
of the bands included on the album. Other artists on this "promo
only" LP include, Bob Seger, Sweet, Status Quo, and Dr. Hook. I am
attempting to obtain a copy of this album at the moment.
Quite a few additions to the links page again this month ! As always,
if there's a link you'd like to see here, let me know !
Moving Waves - Focus Home Page
http://www.mindspring.com/~jtymecki/focus/
Mike Pinder's One Step Records
http://www.artist-shop.com/onestep/index.htm
Syd Barrett Spot
http://www.mtnlake.com/~robp/floyd6.html
Jethro Tull Music Archive
http://remus.rutgers.edu/JethroTull/
Gibson Musical Instruments Home Page
http://www.gibson.com/
Rickenbacker Guitars
http://www.rickenbacker.com/
Progressive Music Online (commercial site: guitars, et al)
http://www.progressive-music.com/
Enjoy your August !
Peace
Jim Bradley
TATW Editor
jim@triumvirat.net
=>Feature: Jürgen Fritz' GX-1 Keyboard
=====================================
by Jim Bradley
In 1973, Yamaha premiered the $60,000 GX-1 Keyboard at the NAMM
convention. Yamaha had developed the GX-1 as a test bed for later
synthesizers. This analog polyphonic synth, featured two full-sized
velocity-sensitive manuals, a small monophonic pressure-sensitive
manual, a 25-note pedalboard, a "relative" ribbon controller, two
"swell" pedals and a springloaded knee controller. The relative
ribbon controller worked in such a way that zero modulation was
located wherever you placed you finger first. The modulation value
rose and fell as you moved your finger left and right. It had eight
voices, as well as one monophonic voice. The monophonic voice could
be layered onto the polyphonic voices as the top note. The GX-1 was
programmed through a number of miniature control sets that were
hidden in drawers and panels on the synth. Also, there were rows of
drawbar sliders as well as buttons located above the middle manual.
Approximately 7 of the GX-1 were produced by Yamaha. Jürgen Fritz
bought and used one on the "New Triumvirat Presents Pompeii" album.
Others that bought the GX-1 were Keith Emerson of ELP, John Paul
Jones of Led Zeppelin, and Stevie Wonder.
The circuits of the GX-1 were placed into IC's and used again in
Yamaha's CS-80, that came out in 1977.
* * * * * * * * * * * __________ = WANTED = ----------
=>Replacing my worn out "Spartacus"
================================
From: Jay Taylor (ecu1jet@discover.net)
Help me , please...my 1975 copy of Spartacus has worn out...please
tell me you have some information on this albums re-release on CD,
time?? label?? import?? PLEASE!!!
Sincerely,
Jay Taylor,
ecu1jet@discover.net,
Banning, California
=>"Illusions" CD and lyrics
=========================
From: Mark Pinsent (sumtotal@onlink.net)
WANTED:
"Illusions" CD and lyrics to Mr Ten Percent and Lucky Girl.
Mark Pinsent
sumtotal@onlink.net
=>"Illusions" lyrics ?
====================
From: Jerry Payonk <payonk@net66.com>
Russ:
Great page. It's hard to find ANYONE today who still remembers
Triumvirat.
I have a question which might be a potential addition to your page.
Neither my original album nor the CD for Illusions on a Double Dimple
contain the lyrics. Helmut Kollen's heavy accent make some of the
lyrics difficult to make out. I'm looking for lyrics to this CD;
particularly the tracks "Flashback" and "Lucky Girl". Can you offer
any assistance?
Thanks,
Jerry Payonk
payonk@net66.com
=>Good Recording of Russian Roulette ?
====================================
From: Rick Makara (rmakara@concentric.net)
Hi guys!
Been with you since TATW #1 and you're still doing a great job with
the page.
I digest each issue with a quiet smile and a good feeling that this
whole thing is being put together by guys who enjoy Triumvirat as
much as I do.
If any of your readers can help me out with a decent recording of
the last album, I sure would appreciate it. It's the only one I don't
have and have not heard. Keep up the great work. See you on the Net.
Rick Makara
=>Spartacus
=========
From: "intuit-10021631!qfn", INTERNET:aharris@pacbell.net
I have been trying to locate a copy of Spartacus. Do you have any
idea where I can get one? Please help! I used to have the album
back in the 70's, but it was lost and I would like the CD. Please
reply to AHarris@pacbell.net.
Thank you.
Ann
* * * * * * * * * * * ______________________________ = COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATION = ==============================
=>RE: Spock's Beard
=================
From: Brett Tiesmaki (Tiesmaki@banff.net)
(joe@triumvirat.net) said:
>
>As all you TATW net browsers know by now, Triumvirat is on the ELP
>home page now under bands influenced by ELP link page. Since TATW #3 I
>have described many similar sounding groups to ELP/TRIUMVIRAT
>(MASTERMIND, PAR LINDH PROJ, MONOLITH, THREAD, etc). I've seen one
>discussion of another "influenced" band in the ELP digest called
>SPOCK'S BEARD, but no real details on what they sound like
>(keyboard-oriented?, heavy guitar?, ...) and their home page doesn't
>help much. Has anyone out there acquired either of the first two
>albums (3rd is in progress)? What does this group exactly sound like
>anyway?
>
I just purchased "Beware of Darkness", but I'd have to say the group's
sound (aside from the occasional keyboard styling) is most strongly
influenced by "Fragile-era" Yes. Lots of interesting time signatures
and some neat vocal work, particularly on "Thoughts". Also of note,
their drummer is appearing on the next Genesis album........
Cheers!
"...we're just musicians, here to thin the thickness of your skin..."
(Max Webster)
Brett Tiesmaki
Banff, Ab.
Canada
[Editor's note: I have heard the track "Congo" from the new Genesis.
Too early to say what I thought of it ! But I will say that the drums are of
primary interest on this track, IMHO.]
=>"Hard To Be A God"
==================
From: Andreas Novak (Andreas.Novak@poboxes.com)
I found time to read your website a little more careful. But not as
careful as I wanted to... :-)
Here you are some additional information I didn't see on your website.
JF's 'Hard To Be A God' was released in 1989 by CBS Schallplatten
GmbH under the title 'Es ist nicht leicht ein Gott zu sein'. The
industry number is CBS 4662502.
It's absolutely impossible to find a copy of the CD. I asked CBS
Germany about a possible re-release of HTBAG. The answer I received
on 06/06/97 from Ole Kirchhoff (Columbia_Germany@Sonymusic.Com) was
negative.
Jürgen Fritz did also the soundtrack for the German movie 'Eine Frau
für gewisse Stunden' (A Woman For Certain Hours) in 1984.
Unfortunately I don't know wether the soundtrack was released on CD.
I also never saw the movie, so I can't comment the soundtrack's
quality.
As I always mentioned the German title of the soundtrack CD of HTBAG
leads me to the theory that the soundtrack has never been released
outside Germany.
If you want I could provide you the title song 'Hard To Be A God' by
Jürgen Fritz (vocals by Grant Stevens). The format would be MPEG
audio layer-3, 16 bit stereo, 22 kHz, about 1,6 MB. I could also
provide a Freeware MPEG audio player if needed.
Andreas Novak
Dresden,
Freestate of Saxony,
Germany
e-mail: Andreas.Novak@poboxes.com
It's a magical world... Let's go exploring!
=>Gaensehaut/Various Triumvirat issues
====================================
From: Alex Gitlin (UHEEP4@aol.com)
Hello!
Thanks for the latest issue of TATW! I was delighted to find out
that A La Carte has now made it onto CD (is it true?) - more
information, please? [And I don't mean Si-Wan!!!] Ditto "Pompeii"
and "Old Loves Die Hard" - are these all now available on CD??
ANDREAS has mentioned two albums by "Gaensehaut": "Augenblicke" and
"Schmetterlinge gibt's nicht mehr". I am very interested because one
of my all-time keyboard idols, Jürgen Fritz, plays on both, so could
someone please provide more information on these two LPs? Like, years
of release, labels, and so forth?
When are we getting the re-release of the posthumous Helmut Köllen
solo album? Any news on that?
I apologize in advance if some of these questions sound/look a bit
ignorant or clueless - I'm only trying to catch up...
P.S. Been looking for the Curt Cress Clan albums for ages - to
absolutely no avail - what's the story there? How many were there?
How to find them? Any help?
Thanks for all your help, in advance!
Most sincere and friendly regards,
Alex.
UHEEP2@AOL.COM
http://members.aol.com/uheep2
=>Triumvirat CD's
===============
From: Jerry Payonk <payonk@net66.com>
Russ:
Some time ago I got three Triumvirat CD's (Mediterranean Tales,
Illusions and Old Loves) from RPM Records in Texas at:
http://www190.metronet.com/index.html
Look under "progressive". They currently don't have anything listed
from Triumvirat, but the list changes often. "Big Al" (the owner) is
a progressive rock fan and tries to pick up titles as they become
available.
The entire list is quite impressive. You can always call and ask and
they might have something in that isn't on the list.
Jerry Payonk
payonk@net66.com
=>Address Change
==============
From: INTERNET:draco@garden.metrobbs.com
Russ,
Once again I'd like to commend you on the great job you guys are
doing with the Triumvirat Home Page and the Tales Across The Water
newsletter. The possibility of a T-Rat reunion is very exciting
indeed!
My e-mail address is now changing and I would like to ask you to
please CHANGE MY E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR THE TATW MAILING LIST.
My NEW e-mail address is: draco@garden.metrobbs.com
Thanks!
Gary Pfeifer
[Editor's note: Thanks Gary ! It has been done !]
=>You Won't See Me/Russian Roulette
=================================
From: Toohey, Joseph (joe@triumvirat.net)
Jim & Russ & T'rat Fans,
After a long wait I finally got a few recordings in my audio
collection that I would like to comment on. The album "You
Won't See Me" is fantastic Triumvirat sound. It should have
been titled something like Köllen, Fritz, Holtmann, and
Petereit present "An Evening of Triumvirat Music". It would have
made quite a decent selling in the USA if the Triumvirat name
would have been put on the Album. After all, ABWH got away with
"ABWH, an Evening of Yes Music" which was a great concert that
was broadcast on pay-per-view and is one of my treasured quality
video concerts. On the other hand, it seems strange to see the
name Triumvirat on a funky pop album like "Russian Roulette". I
consider "A La Carte" to still be the final true Triumvirat album with
the great keyboards/vocals/drums that makes Triumvirat unique.
It would be a shame if a Triumvirat reunion was not made up of the
members of the group prior to the making of "Russian Roulette".
Also, an import by a group called Quill has a
"Sursam Coda"
album that very much has the same style as early Triumvirat
albums (great sound). I am still in search of Fritz soundtrack/
solo works. After collecting all of Emerson's solo works, I
would rate soundtracks as #1 Night Hawks, #2 Inferno, #3 Best
Revenge, #4 Harmagedon, #5 Murderock. Don't bother getting
"La Chiesa (The Church)" since most of it is on his "Changing
States" solo album. The "Honky", "Christmas", and "Manhattan
Collection" albums & sampler CDs are worth getting also. The
other half of "Harmagedon" is "China Freefall" by Derek Austin,
who is one of the other keyboard artists on "Manhattan Collect."
It would be very interesting to compare solo works by Fritz
with those by Emerson.
>From a longtime Emerson, Fritz, Wakeman, keyboard fan in St. Louis,
joe@triumvirat.net
=>Si-Wan Records
==============
From: PIPPorts@aol.com
Hi Russ,
I just read your complaint regarding Si-Wan's release of "Ala Carte"
in an old issue of TATW on the Triumvirat homepage. While I haven't
heard this reissue, I did purchase another release on Si-Wan: PFM's
"Storia di un Minuto". I'm not very pleased with it! I purchased it
on LP, supposedly an "audiophile quality" reissue on 180-gram vinyl.
It sounds like crap! The first time I played it I was assaulted with
a variety of crackles & pops. My first thought was that it was a poor
pressing, which I still believe, but in light of your comments on
their release of "Ala Carte", I'm now convinced they used a poor
master for the PFM release as well.
Just wanted to let you know of my experience and that I don't plan to
buy any more Si-Wan records or CD's.
Tim Webb
pipports@aol.com
[Editor's note: Unfortunately, it seems that Si-Wan is more
interested in getting their releases out quickly, than producing a
quality product. There are companies that will take your vinyl
albums and record them to CD for about $30 US. And you may end up
with better quality than Si-Wan, if your vinyl is in better
condition than theirs !]
* * * * * * * * * * * _______________________ =PROGRESSIVE ROCK NEWS= =======================
=>MASTERMIND Touring with FISH ============================ MASTERMIND will be touring the States in support of FISH (ex-Marillion) at a majority of his US shows. More shows may be added but these dates are confirmed: MASTERMIND North American Tour with FISH July 18 Pittsbugh, PA - Graffiti July 19 Philadelphia, PA - TLA July 20 Washington, DC - The Bayou July 24 Danbury, CT - Tuxedo Junction July 25 Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance July 27 Providence, RI - The Strand July 28 Boston, MA - The Paradise Aug 07 Buffalo, New York - The Tralf Aug 08 Pontiac, MI - 7th House Aug 10 Cleveland, OH - Odeon Aug 11 Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection Aug 12 Columbus, OH - Ludlows Aug 14 Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall Aug 15 Chicago, IL - Park West Aug 18 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre Aug 21 Vancouver, BC - Starfish Room Aug 22 Seattle, WA - The Fenix Aug 24 San Francisco, CA - Slim's Aug 25 Fremont, CA - Club Kaos More dates may be added. For updates & info visit: http://www.mosquito.com/~bberends/mastermind =>U.K. "Legacy" ============= Eddie Jobson, John Wetton, and Bill Bruford, as well as Steve Hackett and Tony Levin, appear on the new effort from U.K. The album will be called "Legacy", and is scheduled for a 1998 release date. The album is largely completed with "some guitar tracks" still to be laid down. John Wetton describes the new album, saying that it will be "a little bit of Zappa's wierdness, dark, and a very powerful album." =>ELP North and South American Tour 1997 ====================================== For those that haven't heard, or haven't visited the ELP Digest website in awhile (Check them out for great ELP info at http://bliss.berkeley.edu/elp/) here are their tour dates. August 6-7 - Santiago, Chile - Estadio August 9-11 - Buenos Aries - Tearro Opera August 12 - Porto Allegre, Brazil - Opiniao August 13 - Curitiba, Brazil - Teatro Guaira August 15 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Metropolitan August 16 - Belo Horizonte, Brazil - Mineirinho Gymnasiun August 17 - Brazilia, Brazil - Teatro Nacional August 19-20 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Olympia August 27-28 - Mexico City, Mexico - Auditorio Nacional August 29 - Monterey, Mexico - Plaza de Toros August 30 - Tijuana, Mexico - Plaza de Toros Sept. 6 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap Farm Park Sept. 7 - Wallingford, CT - Oakdale Theatre Sept. 8 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theater Sept. 10 - New York, NY - Beacon Theater Sept. 12 - Boston, MA - Harborlights Sept. 13 - Altantic City, NJ - The Sands Hotel & Casino Sept. 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theater Sept. 15 - Providence, RI - The Strand Sept. 17 - Cleveland, OH - Nautica Sept. 18 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace Sept. 19 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Theater Sept. 20 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagle Ballroom(this may have been cancelled) Sept. 23 - Phoenix, AZ - Union Hall Sept. 25 - Los Angeles, CA - Universal Amphitheater Sept. 26 - Concord, CA - Concord Pavilion Sept. 27 - Reno, NV - Reno Amphitheater Sept. 28 - Fresno, CA - Visalia Center Sept. 30 - San Diego, CA - Humphrey's =>Focus to Play Netherlands on 8/30 ================================= From: jtymecki@spamneggsmindspring.com (Joe Tymecki) It appears Focus (with VanLeer) will play a concert in Mill, Netherlands on August 30th. I have more of the concert information at the Focus web page: http://www.mindspring.com/~jtymecki/focus Regards, Joe ----------------------------------------- The Dutch band Focus and Radio Airchecks http://www.mindspring.com/~jtymecki To Reply via e-mail remove the words 'spamneggs' from e-mail address...TNX, Joe =>New ELP King Biscuit CD ======================= News from The Artist Shop (http://www.artist-shop.com) : "The next King Biscuit release will be Emerson, Lake & Palmer! The release date will be August 26 (coming up fast!). The album will be a double disc set with the second disc containing music and CD-ROM material!"
_____________________________________________________________________ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ---------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ADDRESSES ============= Send your submissions for publication to: Jim Bradley (jim@triumvirat.net ) or to Russ Shaw at (russ@triumvirat.net ).
Editors: ========
Russ Shaw russ@triumvirat.net
Jim Bradley jim@triumvirat.net
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END OF TALES ACROSS THE WATERS #9
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