T.V. Smith's Explorers - The Last Words Of The Great Explorer

Original Release Date

1981

Release Information

UK LP+7” 1981 (Kaleidoscope - KRL 85087 / S XPS 119)

1 I Live For Everything 3:31
2 The Servant 3:09
3 Have Fun 3:42
4 Walk Away 3:08
5 The Last Words Of The Great Explorer 5:01
6 Imagination 5:01
7 The Easy Way 4:02
8 The Unwelcome Guest 6:27
9 The Perfect Life 3:30
Free 7"
10 World Of My Own 3:01
11 Walk In A Straight Line 4:35

___________________________________________________

US LP 1981 (Epic - ARE 37432)
UK CD 1998 (Ozit - OZITCD 0043)

1 The Perfect Life 3:34
2 The Servant 3:09
3 Have Fun 3:42
4 Walk Away 3:08
5 The Last Words Of The Great Explorer 5:01
6 I Live For Everything 3:40
7 Imagination 5:01
8 The Easy Way 4:02
9 The Unwelcome Guest 6:27

CD Bonus Tracks:
Bonus Tracks
10 Tomahawk Cruise 4:25
11 See Europe 2:46
12 Looking Down On London 3:10
13 A World Of My Own 3:02
14 Walk In A Straight Line 4:36
Bonus Live Tracks
15 The Servant 3:32
16 The Last Words Of The Great Explorer 5:07
17 Walk Away 3:08
18 Looking Down On London 2:41

10-11: Tomahawk Cruise 7", 1980
12: B-Side of The Servant 7", 1981
13-14: Free single with initial copies of the LP
15-18: Previously unreleased

Chart Placings

None

Credits

UK LP:

T.V. Smith - vocals
Colin Stoner - bass, fuzz bass, backing vocals
Mel Wesson - synthesisers + piano
Erik Russell - guitar
Dave Sinclair - drums

1-9: Produced by Nick Griffiths and T.V. Smith at Brittania Row Studios
10-11: Produced by Nick Griffiths and T.V. Smith

Additional Credits

CD Bonus Tracks:
10-11: Tomahawk Cruise 7", released December 1980
12: B-Side of The Servant 7", released April 1981
13-14: Free single with initial copies of the LP
15-18: Previously unreleased

Reviews & Opinions

PUNKY GIBBON: A slick, well-produced rock album with an excess of cheesy 80’s synths, but nonetheless (despite the Trouser Press comment below) not too far a cry from his work with The Adverts. Although these finely crafted pop songs are played mostly at mid-tempo, it recalls parts of both Adverts albums, with cynical lyrics railing against the lack of imagination and spirit of adventure that hampers many peoples’ lives. Nothing equals the pre-album single ‘Tomahawk Cruise’, one of the most intense, powerful and downright paranoid songs Smith ever wrote, but it’s a splendid album, with moments of great beauty, from a talented man whose voice has evolved into a particularly passionate and emotive tool.

TROUSER PRESS: A far cry from the Adverts' stripped-down guitar drone, The Last Words uses synthesizer and slick musicianship to mold an engaging dance program that benefits from Smith's strong voice and inventive songwriting. There are touches of Sparks, the Only Ones, new romantics and others; a great record from a gifted performer.

Additional Notes

All timings are taken from the CD. The UK LP was also issued without the free single. The cover is identical except, of course, that it doesn't have the "free single" sticker on it (although some copies of the LP with the single don't have the sticker either).

Images

UK LP+7” 1981 (Kaleidoscope - KRL 85087 / S XPS 119). Click here for more

US LP 1981 (Epic - ARE 37432). Click here for more

UK CD 1998 (Ozit - OZITCD 0043). Click here for more