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Piccadilly Bongo
Piccadilly Bongo finds Jeremy Reed, described by Pete Doherty as ‘a legend’, at his most imaginatively brilliant, writing about his particular London milieu, and most often Soho. The collection, fuelled by breathtaking imagery, is complemented by a CD of Soho Songs from the pop legend and Britain’s leading torch singer Marc Almond, as a unique collaboration expressive of deeply-felt, evocative Piccadilly associations. The creative sympathies shared by the two artists is not only a first for poetry, but a powerfully original fusion of energies focused on the Piccadilly ethos of Johnny Go Home.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 11, 2011
I bought this book primarily for the accompanying CD - Soho songs by Marc Almond - and I absolutely love that recording. Marc's voice sounds live and realistic, really captivating. The CD contains a couple of new songs, as well as some acoustic versions of those Soft Cell and Mambas tracks, spiced with his current maturity. As a bigger fan of Marc of today (I didn't know him in the 80s/90s), I love these re-recorded versions much much much more than the originals.
Marc also wrote the preface to the book, which was brief but interesting to me.
Sorry that I can't review the poetry itself. I didn't know reading English poems would be this difficult. But I'm going to try tasting them bit by bit over time.
Soho, it is an unknown place to me but appears to be sloppily attractive. A place to go someday.
Marc also wrote the preface to the book, which was brief but interesting to me.
Sorry that I can't review the poetry itself. I didn't know reading English poems would be this difficult. But I'm going to try tasting them bit by bit over time.
Soho, it is an unknown place to me but appears to be sloppily attractive. A place to go someday.
December 17, 2022
I have said numerous times that poetry is not really my 'thing' and yet I have developed something of a liking for Reed.
However, rather like that other Reed (that'll be Lou) there is only so much in the way of drugs, sex and Soho (or Now Yawk) I can handle before it begins to get a little repetitive.
This is not to say that Reed (Jeremy) hasn't a good way with words. He has and they are better than Lou's (perhaps because I am more sympathetic to his Soho environment than Lou's 'downtown') but I think you need to dip in and out of this book to get the most out of it or concentrate on just one of the books six sections.
The volume comes with an accompanying cd by Marc Almond singing old and new material largely alongside an acoustic guitar. I loved (and still love) the Soft Cell/early Marc and the Mambas material which already seemed to have a nostalgic feel to it when it was first released (tarts with hearts as opposed to hard-edged prostitution, sleaze as opposed to porno etc). Fast forward these songs from (gulp!) 1982 to 2009 (this books publication date) strip out their electronics and they sound, well...odd. Reed's work still has a freshness and immediacy to it- Almond's seem more 'lost'. Perhaps that is the juxtaposition these two friends were aiming for but I'm not sure it works so well and it is Reed who has the greater staying power of the two this time out.
I haven't read many of his other books but suspect we are on ground familiar to Reed's other books. I am not sure I need another book of his poetry but will probably enjoy another one as much as this one- if you see what I mean.
However, rather like that other Reed (that'll be Lou) there is only so much in the way of drugs, sex and Soho (or Now Yawk) I can handle before it begins to get a little repetitive.
This is not to say that Reed (Jeremy) hasn't a good way with words. He has and they are better than Lou's (perhaps because I am more sympathetic to his Soho environment than Lou's 'downtown') but I think you need to dip in and out of this book to get the most out of it or concentrate on just one of the books six sections.
The volume comes with an accompanying cd by Marc Almond singing old and new material largely alongside an acoustic guitar. I loved (and still love) the Soft Cell/early Marc and the Mambas material which already seemed to have a nostalgic feel to it when it was first released (tarts with hearts as opposed to hard-edged prostitution, sleaze as opposed to porno etc). Fast forward these songs from (gulp!) 1982 to 2009 (this books publication date) strip out their electronics and they sound, well...odd. Reed's work still has a freshness and immediacy to it- Almond's seem more 'lost'. Perhaps that is the juxtaposition these two friends were aiming for but I'm not sure it works so well and it is Reed who has the greater staying power of the two this time out.
I haven't read many of his other books but suspect we are on ground familiar to Reed's other books. I am not sure I need another book of his poetry but will probably enjoy another one as much as this one- if you see what I mean.
December 3, 2012
Back when I used to spend lots of time talking with Jeremy Reed about the Velvet Underground and other similar music he was the only friend I had who could make my mum wash her hands after talking to him on the phone his voice just had an effect on her.
It's been a while since I read any of Jeremy's books and I have to say Picadilly Bongoes is the most accessible one I've read since By The Fisheries.
But that's because it's real rock & Roll tales from the edges and depths of Soho, dripping with the Rock & Roll lifestyle hanging out with Pete Doherty and Marc Almond who provides the soundtrack cd that comes with the book. Through all sorts of weird and bizarre sex and drugs and rock and roll encounters with the odd pastoral scene thrown in for good measure.
The Cd is Marc Almond and Neal X singing about old soho as only they can going down to seedy sin city to sing the Brewer St blues down among the lowlifes. A good compliment to the poetry.
It's been a while since I read any of Jeremy's books and I have to say Picadilly Bongoes is the most accessible one I've read since By The Fisheries.
But that's because it's real rock & Roll tales from the edges and depths of Soho, dripping with the Rock & Roll lifestyle hanging out with Pete Doherty and Marc Almond who provides the soundtrack cd that comes with the book. Through all sorts of weird and bizarre sex and drugs and rock and roll encounters with the odd pastoral scene thrown in for good measure.
The Cd is Marc Almond and Neal X singing about old soho as only they can going down to seedy sin city to sing the Brewer St blues down among the lowlifes. A good compliment to the poetry.
June 8, 2014
Let's be honest, I bought this for the Maarc Almond CD. Although this style of poetry is not my cup of tea, it is well written and certainly heartfelt.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews