It would be silly to suggest that this latest CD was a 'concept album', but it did have its contents organised into three ‘acts’, with themes running through each. What Leon was attempting here was the album as theatre, many of the songs consisting of mini-dramas involving particular characters, with story lines underpinning them. (He even described Liz Mansfield's performance on "A Very Busy Man" as acting a part.)
The bulk of the CD was recorded at Mark Angelo Recording Studio, Clerkenwell, although the ‘coda’ track was made in Burton-on-Trent, at Track Station Recording. Besides Liz Mansfield, collaborators include familiar names Martin Carthy, Chris Foster and Fiz Shapur. Of the 11 songs, there is one remake: “The Word Market”, while “It Goes On” dates back to the They Shoot Horses project of 1974.
The CD includes Leon’s first song overtly referencing the Israel-Palestine situation, “The Song of Martin Fontasch”. Several more would follow on subsequent albums.
Also released in the UK on cassette.
The bulk of the CD was recorded at Mark Angelo Recording Studio, Clerkenwell, although the ‘coda’ track was made in Burton-on-Trent, at Track Station Recording. Besides Liz Mansfield, collaborators include familiar names Martin Carthy, Chris Foster and Fiz Shapur. Of the 11 songs, there is one remake: “The Word Market”, while “It Goes On” dates back to the They Shoot Horses project of 1974.
The CD includes Leon’s first song overtly referencing the Israel-Palestine situation, “The Song of Martin Fontasch”. Several more would follow on subsequent albums.
Also released in the UK on cassette.
"I think song is more interesting when it's about the invention of characters and stories. Song as theatre. So curtain up on Intruders." - LR (sleevenotes)
Song list
Act One: Keeping Control:
1. The Heartening Tale of John Pratt
2. Soldiering On
3. Monologue
4. A Very Busy Man
Act Two: Getting Used to It?:
5. The Word Market Second version
6. They Took It Out
7. It Goes On
Act Three: Intruders:
8. Intruders
9. The Song of Martin Fontasch
10. Just Like Animals
Coda:
11. All That Is Different Is Part of the Dance
1. The Heartening Tale of John Pratt
2. Soldiering On
3. Monologue
4. A Very Busy Man
Act Two: Getting Used to It?:
5. The Word Market Second version
6. They Took It Out
7. It Goes On
Act Three: Intruders:
8. Intruders
9. The Song of Martin Fontasch
10. Just Like Animals
Coda:
11. All That Is Different Is Part of the Dance