1984, by Hugh Hopper

1984

by Hugh Hopper

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Steve Lawson It's amazing that I've never heard this album before today - it feels like the root of so many of the things I've spent the last 20 years exploring! A truly extraordinary album, wildly ahead of its time, and one that I'll be recommending to everyone! I really wish I'd heard this in the mid-90s. :) Favorite track: Miniluv.

Jacampanman I've had this in my collection for many years, but it's definitely worth paying a fiver for all the additional tracks on this issue :)

Carl Baugher One of the most creative artists whose primary instrument was the electric bass guitar, Hopper was ceaselessly, restlessly searching for ways to extend boundaries. He was innovative and WAY under-appreciated. Favorite track: Miniluv.

PDD It is amazing how fresh and edgy this sounds more than 40 years after it was recorded. The reprises and home demos are fascinating. And am I the only one who hears an Art Ensemble of Chicago influence? Favorite track: Miniluv.

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	1.	Miniluv 14:39
	2.	Minipax I 03:19
	3.	Minipax II 03:13
	4.	Minitrue 01:24
	5.	Miniplenty 17:03
	6.	Minitrue (Reprise) 03:18
	7.	Miniluv (Reprise) (previously unreleased) 05:03
	8.	Minipax I (alternate take) 03:43
	9.	Miniluv [version I] [home demo] 02:23
	10.	Miniluv [version II] [home demo] 02:38
	11.	Minitrue [home demo] 01:51
	12.	Minipax II [slow theme] [home demo] 02:51
	13.	Minipax I [home demo] 01:06
	14.	Minipax II [fast theme] [home demo] 02:03

about

Bassist/composer Hugh has been involved in many projects during his more than 40 years in music. 1984, originally released in 1973, & his first solo release, remains perhaps his most singular. This combines Hugh's unique fuzz bass & compositions with tapework, multiple overdubs, & a very avant esthetic & then contrasts those works with short, weirdly devolved James Brown-inspired pieces. Nearly 50 years later, the originality and distinctiveness of Hugh's vision on 1984 remains untouched.

This is the DEFINITIVE edition, taken from the original master tapes, including a never heard bonus track and an alternate take from the original sessions as well Hugh's home sketches for 1984.

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personal reminiscence time:

1984 was a seminal weirdo album for me - you need to understand that I heard it not long after it was actually released and it was SO WEIRD. I mean SO WEIRD. What else sounded (or sounds) like 1984? Nothing.

My old friend Dave Cason had a smart thing to say about 1984 (and about HH in general): (he saw the Softs open for Jimi and it blew his mind - here's a nice email he sent me after i told him Hugh had died).

"You know he was one of my main idols when I was a younger fellow, and I'm still a big fan. I gave "1984" a few listens several weeks ago and it's still an amazing work (and totally unlike anything else I've ever heard).
I remember the day I first saw it in a record store (which had the only import bin in Jacksonville [Florida]). (What!?? A Hugh Hopper album??!) I took it home and was a bit confused on first listen (it seemed to me that something was about to happen but never really did).
Then after a couple of more spins I realized that "something" was happening all along...just not the something I was expecting."

credits

released April 28, 1998

[The original album, released in 1973, is tracks 1-6]

MINILUV
Hugh Hopper : Bass, Percussion, Mellophone, Loops

MINIPAX I
Hugh Hopper : Bass
John Marshall : Drums
Pye Hastings : Guitar
Lol Coxhill : Soprano Sax
Gary Windo : Tenor Sax
Malcolm Griffiths and Nick Evans : Trombone

MINPAX II
Hugh Hopper : Bass, Mellophone, Comb, Paper
John Marshall : Percussion
Gary Windo : Bass Clarinet
Malcolm Griffiths and Nick Evans : Trombone

MINITRUE
Hugh Hopper : Piano
John Marshall : Drums
Gary WIndo : Tenor Sax
Malcolm Griffiths and Nick Evans : Trombone

MINIPLENTY
Hugh Hopper : Bass, Bells, Voice, Loops
John Marshall : Percussion

MINITRUE REPRISE
Hugh Hopper : Bass, Soprano Sax
John Marshall : Percussion

MINILUV REPRISE
Hugh Hopper : Bass
John Marshall : Drums
Pye Hastings : Guitar
Lol Coxhill : Soprano Sax
Gary Windo : Tenor Sax
Malcolm Griffiths and Nick Evans : Trombone

MINIPAX I [alternate take]
Hugh Hopper : Bass
John Marshall : Drums
Pye Hastings : Guitar
Lol Coxhill : Soprano Sax
Gary Windo : Tenor Sax
Malcolm Griffiths and Nick Evans : Trombone

All compositions by Hugh Hopper.

Recorded at Advision Studios, July / August 1972.

Engineer : Gary Martin with Mike Dunne.

Tracks 9-14 recorded at home on a 4-track tape recorder.

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Cuneiform Records Washington, D.C.

Cuneiform Records is an independent record label releasing adventurous, boundary-bursting music by artists from around the world.

Founded in 1984.
Based in Washington D.C.

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