Musical Excerpts from Consequences
Musical Excerpts from Consequences, Mercury MK-41, USA/1977
Vinyl LP promo packaged in white custom cardboard sleeve with black print. The sleevenotes are rather informative, if a little odd.
What you are holding in your hand are musical excerpts from Lol Creme and Kevin Godley's three-record creation entitled "Consequences." Because of the album's complex nature, we felt it incumbant upon our part to prepare a programming aid for radio.
To put this music in some sort of context, we have provided notes for each of the tracks on this sampler. Please listen to the entire three-record set of "Consequences" however. It is one of the most startling pieces of music ever created.
SIDE 1
Wind -- 2:38
The wind is one of several elements of nature intoduced on side one of "Consequences." The warning by the wind of "Bye bye everything" indicates the rebellious activity to come against man from the other elements.
Honolulu Lulu -- 3:20
Hardly the Jan and Dean track from several years ago. This track aptly demonstrates the sounds that can be created with the Gizmo, the invention of Lol and Kevin that spawned "Consequences". The song itself provides an introduction to Hawaii, which is later destroyed by a hurricane as the elements go on their rampage.
The Flood -- 4:50
Guess what this one is about. This section is an edit of the complete LP track. The song slowly builds (listen to the way the waves of the water combine with an incessant drip to form a musical pattern) to a rock concert climax. The sky explodes and the rains come, and come, and come. This ain't the summer of love, but the spring of nature's discontent.
When Things Go Wrong -- 3:37
This track is out of sequence, but I'm sure by now you realize that not all is right with the world. The lyrics harken back to Lol and Kevin's days as one half on 10cc.
SIDE 2
Five O'Clock In The Morning -- 3:53
Arguably the prettiest track on "Consequences," it offers a description of how people start the day. However, once again there is a warning that something is out of kilter with the world.
Lost Weekend -- 4:48
This track features the vocals of Kevin and (wait for it) Sarah Vaughan!! While the entire "Consequences" LP took one year to complete, Sarah required one take for her vocal contribution. The song is a ballad of parting, lost time, and lives separating, which relates to divorce proceedings ongoing throughout the triple album.
Cool, Cool, Cool -- 2:53
This is a great song, but what it has to do with the plot is unknown. However, with all the chaos happening in the world at this time, maybe that's the point.
Sailor -- 2:18
Part of "Consequences" takes place at sea. The end of the musical excerpts, this mood song tells simply of a sailor whose greatest love is the sea.
As should be obvious, these musical excerpts do not pretend to tell the story contained within "Consequences." For that, you'll have to listen to the entire three records, read the booklet enclosed in the package as well as the lyrics.
Although the story of "Consequences" sounds terribly intense on paper, there is more than a good share of humor. Indeed, with Peter Cook involved in the spoken sections, the humor is typically British - daft!
Enjoy all three records that comprise "Consequences." It is the work of two of the finest musicians in the world - Lol Creme and Kevin Godley - who left a most successful group to complete the kind of LP which has never before been attempted.