John Cale's Paris 1919

by Mark Doyle

John Cale's enigmatic masterpiece, Paris 1919, appeared at a time when the artist and his world were changing forever. It was 1973, the year of the Watergate hearings and the oil crisis, and Cale was at a crossroads. The white-hot rage of his Velvet Underground days was nearly spent; now he was living in Los Angeles, working for a record company and making music when time allowed. He needed to lay to rest some ghosts, but he couldn't do that without scaring up others. Paris 1919 was the result.

In this vivid, wide-ranging book, Mark Doyle hunts down the ghosts haunting Cale's most enduring solo album. There are the ghosts of New York – of the Velvets, Nico, and Warhol – that he smuggled into Los Angeles in his luggage. There is the ghost of Dylan Thomas, a fellow Welshman who haunts not just Paris 1919 but much of Cale's life and art. There are the ghosts of history, of a failed peace and the artists who sought the truth in dreams. And there are the ghosts of Christmas, surprising visitors who bring a nostalgic warmth and a touch of wintry dread. With erudition and wit, Doyle offers new ways to listen to an old album whose mysteries will never fully be resolved.

Genres: Music

144 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2025

About the author

Mark Doyle is Professor of History at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well put together book about a very well put together record. It’s split into chapters covering the variety of ‘ghosts’ (or influences) that Cale brought together on ‘Paris 1919’.

The bits covering Cale’s development while working with Reed and Nico (amongst others), his affinities with Dylan Thomas, and the huge weight of history suggested by the title, are especially good.

The final proposal, that the record can be viewed as a Christmas album, is a fun exercise but I’m not sure I’m completely convinced. However I do appreciate lyrical analysis as I tend to ignore lyrics and had this record pegged as just a bit odd before being encouraged to consider them a bit more. This is a good framework for that.

[Oskar]

Kui ma peaksin nimetama oma lemmikalbumi number üks, siis hetkel oleks see John Cale'i Paris 1919. Album, mis pole perfektne ja vahel isegi tüütab mind, aga on sellegipoolest nii ilus, kummaline ja lohutav – kaotamata seejuures mingit kinnipüüdmatut salapära. Nii et kui ma ühes Brooklyni raamatupoes seda raamatut nägin, pidin selle muidugi endaga kaasa tooma.

Autor Mark Doyle toob oma raamatus välja kõikvõimalikud kummitused, kes John Cale'i lustikummutis kummitavad – minevik Lou Reedi ja The Velvet Undergroundiga, lapsepõlv Walesis, Dylan Thomas, XX sajandi ajalugu, LA, NY jne. Autori mõte läheb kohati ikka korralikult lendu – ilmselgeim näide on see, kuidas viimane peatükk püüab vaadelda plaati kui jõulualbumit – aga üldiselt ma ikka nautisin neid mõttevingerdusi. Üks parimaid asju on oma lemmikute lemmikute kohta kuulda. Nii sain palju teada Dylan Thomasest, kellega ma seni kuigi tuttav pole (kuigi tundub, et võiks!). Sama hea meel oli lugeda ka Walesi folkloorist, Nico diskograafiast, dadaismi ajaloost ja Cale'ist kui sürrealistlikust poeedist.

Kokkuvõttes hea selge kiire asjalik lugemine ja palju meeldivaid kohtumisi Cale'i kummituste/kummitanutega. Lähen kuulan nüüd värskendatud ja teritatud kõrvadega veel (ja veel ja veel).

[Hairold Gelderkorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book taught me that (John) Cale fought the instinct for many years to write a song called Cocaine (or Cocale, etc.). As a result, we have his song Autobiography, and I’m now imagining what the world would be like today if he had written a song called Cocaine - so wildly different. Weird.

Drugs aside, this is a gem of a book and a solid endeavor by the author. Cale is a reclusive character so I applaud Doyle’s effort to put this together with Cale’s minimal context provided over the years. The associations made are at times a stretch but Doyle does so in fun and with full acknowledgment of that aspect.

Shout out to Jokermen for their podcast interview with the author; would not have found this book otherwise.

[sheenewood68 · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprised that other reviewers here think that a more traditional, monthly music mag approach would have benefitted, when in fact Doyle correctly evidences that the only way to get near this elusive masterpiece is to consider it as both a ghost story and Surrealist dream-logic work. Maybe Paris 1919 is closer to something like Mullholland Dr. than it is the banana album? Really enjoyable 33 1/3, and the divided responses to it possibly are testament to how singular and mysterious the album in question really is.

[Jordan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love this album and sometimes enjoy academic writing - but this was all over the place.
One way it could benefit is by quoting lyrics it references rather than just list song titles.
The Dylan Thomas section was promising but I dont feel like it ever got anywhere.
Lots of rogue theses that werent super interesting to me. I'd be interested to read a review from someone who enjoyed it :))

[Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puts across the author's esteem for the record. A little more history and a little less "would it b a stretch to say?" interpretation and speculation would have made this reader happier but what can you do.

[Cave Empter · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with any in this series, full of useful insight into the context of the album and its creation. Perhaps a little sycophantic at times, a little obsessed with its own analysis, but nonetheless very interesting as an additional lens through which to view a beloved classic.

[Bradley Morgan]

My interview with the author for the New Books Network: https://newbooksnetwork.com/john-cale...

[Owen Hatherley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing the author's CV I wanted much more about British imperialism and much less on how he didn't like the album and then he did, but nonetheless useful and smart guide to one of the greats.

[Matthew B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Ashley Valanzola · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read. Beautifully written, original, and thought-provoking.

[Mattschratz · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la.