Rawlinson End
Here you will find information about the late great Vivian Stanshall and his works post 1970 i.e. post Bonzo Dog, and even some on that. This invariably focuses heavily, but not exclusively, upon the world of Rawlinson End in all it's forms. Please read on dot dot dot dot.
After the Bonzo's split Vivian approached John Walters
about doing some
sessions for the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1. After his experiences with Viv
producing 4 shows while Peel was taking an alcoholiday, he agreed if it were an
expansion on the Rawlinson End thinking that he could better control session if
no other artists were involved. Viv agreed, John thought he had him, he hadn't.
When it came to the recording sessions Viv of course insisted on musical interludes in the storylines. So 1975 initiated a series of broadcasts that continued infrequently over the next sixteen years.
Anyone who purchased the records or seen the film may be interested to learn more of these transmissions as they contain variations on the storylines. I have transcribed here many of the radio broadcasts as accurately as it is possible for me to do, and supplied links to others .
It was reported in the December 2001 issue of Mojo that a BBC spokesperson had said that "the BBC has plans to release more of their archive material in the future and one of the artists under consideration is Viv Stanshall". No official release has subsequently appeared, probably due to the terms of his estate, so if you want to hear these then approach the Vivian Stanshall Archive, about which more details can be found on the links page.
The DVD of the Rawlinson End film will be released by
Charisma on 1st November 2006. The picture has been remastered and some
extras are promised. There will be sub-titles.
A trailer available on the following link.
http://www.digitalclassicsdvd.co.uk/product.asp?ProductID=989
and at Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vLrKGwfnNo
A doff of the titfer to Ken Garner for his In Session Tonight book (1993) which list enough Radio 1 session details for all anal retentives. In this book Viv says this of Bonzo sessions at the BBC.
We’d do short playlets, made up specially for the sessions. They would be worked out in the BBC studio for the first time. I remember I lived round the corner from Bernie (Andrews; producer) in Muswell Hill, and I used to phone him up the day before a session asking can we have such-and-such effect? Those sessions quickly took the format of three songs and one piece of recitative. I used to invent things just to break all these ridiculous BBC rules; like on the one we did later with Walters, he told us that more than five or six seconds’ silence was not allowed, so I put about ten seconds into ‘Sofa Head’ after saying ‘Silence is appropriate, and it shall remain appropriate.’ On that first one with Bernie, ‘The Craig Torso show’ was a play parodying the new Radio 1 DJs, which we never recorded elsewhere.
As I’m mainly concentrating on Viv's solo and radio work I haven’t listed the Bonzo sessions in much detail, but here's my contribution.
Marty Amok; BBC1 30/3/1970
A Marty Feldman Easter comedy show . Viv Stanshall's biG Grunt played two numbers Eleven Moustachioed Daughters and Cyborg Signal.
Viv Stanshall's BiG Grunt Recorded 16/3/1970; Broadcast 21/3/1970 Top Gear
Tracks: Cyborg Signal, Blind Date, Eleven Moustachioed Daughters, The Strain.
Musicians: Roger Ruskin Spear: saxophone; Denis Cowan: bass guitar; Ian Wallace: drums; Bubs White: guitar.
Start The Week
In early 1971 Vivian was commissioned, by the Radio 4 producer Richard Gilbert, to do a weekly ten minute slot on his morning magazine programme, Start of the Week, presented by Richard Baker. Vivian would tell stories illustrated with pieces of music by artists such as George Formby. Some stories were repeated on the Jack de Manio afternoon programme. These were a regular feature during 1971-72 until Richard could take no more of his excuses for non-appearance.
Not all the Home Service old guard appreciated this wildly dressed person breezing into the studio, but it did provide Vivian with an access to an older audience.
Freaks Recorded 2/3/1971; Broadcast 20/3/1971 Top Gear.
A non Bonzo session that first aired the Rawlinson End track from Lets Make Up LP.
Tracks: Music For Rawlinson End; Rawlinson End; Bad Blood; Watcher.
Musicians: Viv Stanshall: vocals, trumpet; Neil Innes: keyboards; Andy Roberts: guitar; Keith Moon: drums; Denis Cowan: bass guitar; Bubs White: guitar; Shamsi Sarumi: conga.
Radio Flashes Broadcast 7/14/21/28/8/1971 on Saturday afternoons.
Viv couldn't just present a select of platters for the listening pleasure of the public, he had to include a serial, spoof adverts, spoof interviews, plays, gardening tips, and outside broadcasts, all seemingly requiring the entire sound effects library of the BBC.
The serial Breath From The Pit was in a Dick Barton Special Agent style. Colonel Knutt and his magic trousers aided and abetted by Keith Moon as his likeable cheeky cockney sidekick Lemmy, took on the evil Scorpion. For three weeks all went well then Viv started drinking. The fourth week John Walters, aware that the final episode of Colonel Knutt wasn't yet in the can, recalled waiting for hours in the studio before Viv breezed in carrying a bag of bottles and telling him he'd been in a taxi searching London for an off-licence that would take a cheque. When he then suggested they get down to work Viv told him to hang on mate he hadn't written it yet.
Keith Altham, an NME journalist, carried out some interviews with 'Johnny Wardrobe', a particularly thick rock star who couldn't even remember the name of his latest album.
Bruce Reason and his Reasonobile provided motoring tips like keeping a sharp stick for assauting other drivers to enable a quick getaway at the lights, and cutting through the car in front using a circular saw in a Dick Dastardly fashion, one of the victims being the Bulletheads in the family saloon parked out on the bypass.
Viv came up with the idea of adverts for sprays after impatiently waiting behind a man in a Chemist shop who wanted to purchase a Waspeze for use on picnics. This idea developed into sprays for use whilst on safari like Repelephant for those problematic pachyderms, Rilla Go, and Rhi No. John Walter's suggestion of German dog repellent K Nein was rejected, as was Duck Off, not making passed the Brainwashing Controller.
Other products advertised included the Khazi Kebab House, ESPs, Extra Sensible Pyjamas that let the boby sleep while the mind expands, Castaway Worm Plugs that expand to block wormholes, and Guernica the Spanish Dago style drink.
There was a similar fifth program at Christmas re-broadcasting some sketches and adding some new ones.
Up Sunday; BBC2
This was a satirical comedy series that aired 55 shows during 1972-73. The programme went out live late Sunday nights, The regular crew of Clive James, John Wells, John Fortune, Kenny Everett, and Willie Rushton were joined by guests Eric Idle, Barrie Humphries, Richard Murdoch, Max Wall and Vivian Stanshall. The live nature of the programme was demonstrated when in the final 'Up Christmas' edition on December 23 1973 an inebriated Vivian burst out of a giant Christmas hamper brandishing a pint of Bloody Mary at the camera, then fell over cutting his hand on broken glass and spraying blood over the plain white studio floor.
If It's Wednesday It Must Be... 1972-73 Radio 4
Three series of this show replaced the school's programme slot 9:35 - 10:15 during holiday periods of 1972/3. Vivian and Kenny Everett were the resident cast, the host was Kenneth Robinson, and the producer Richard Gilbert.
The first 12 shows ran from 28th June to 13th September , the second series of 6 from 8th December to 10th January, and the last 4 from 4th April to 25th April. The final show If It's Wednesday It Must Be America came from New York and didn't feature the regular cast.
Vivian used his appearances here to either play records and theme based chats, read extracts of Rawlinson End (which would be the basis of the 4 Christmas shows) or just gabble away in his own plummy style. All the information I have on this is purloined from Kettering fanzine of elderly British comedy, and the Rawlinson End and Chat About Christmas are copied from it. I have also provided a link to the Kettering website where a pdf of the whole article is reproduced.
Two other transcripts not found in Kettering include SS Sausage which is mentioned in Ginger Geezer, a piece which recalled his time on the ocean liners, and another piece in a similar Boys Own vein called Captain Bengie.
One Man's Week; BBC2 9/4/1975
A fly on the wall documentary shadowing Viv in his Finchley bedroom, then on a cycle ride down to Brainwashing House for a radio interview by Jack De Manio, then on to a second-hand record shop, London Zoo, and ends up at the Manor recording studio.
Recording 16/10/1975; Broadcast 27/10/1975; John Peel.
Tracks: Trail of the Lonesome Pine; The Unbridled Suite; In The Final Analysis; Aunt Florrie Remembers (from Giant Whelks at Rawlinson End)
The characters start developing from the 'Woman's Own' introductory literary style. The Aunt Florrie character is fleshed out
Musicians: Viv Stanshall: guitar, euphonium, pipes, dum dum, talking drum, percussion; Pete Moss: bass guitar, piano, accordion, violin, celeste; Mox: harmonica, flute; Bubs White: banjo, ukelele, guitar.
Recording 2/12/1975; Broadcast 22,23,24,26/12/1975 John Peel
Tracks: Christmas At Rawlinson End parts 1-4 including Aunt Florrie recalls, Convivial Vivisectionists, The Party’s Over, Uncle Otto, Roar At The End, A Half For Chuck.
Musicians: Viv Stanshall; Mox; Julian Smedley: violin, mandolin; Andy Roberts: dulcimer.
Bill Aitken remembers that the session overran, and everyone wondered if there was enough on tape. Then Stanshall returned a week later to perform monologues over the backing tracks, and the effect was hilarious. Tony Wilson, Mike Engels and I were falling about in the control room laughing our heads off. I even created some special sound effects for one song ‘We are three vivisectionists’ (F/X Splash/Rip/Spurt).
It was a great broadcasting event. That Christmas many tuned in every night at 11 p.m.
Recording 21/3/1977; Broadcast 6/4/1977 John Peel
Tracks:
Recording 11/5/1977; Broadcast 23/5/1977 John Peel
Tracks:
Musicians: Zoot Money: guitar, piano, vocals; Barry Dransfield: violin, cello.
1972 Summer season on Shanklin Pier there was a cafe on the pier, this funny little man ran it. He displayed a ludicrously unpunctuated sign, Spades Balls Sausages Teas. That became Spades Balls Sausages Trees in Rawlinson End.
Recording 24/8/1977 and 14/12/1977; Broadcast 19/12/1977 John Peel
Tracks:
Musicians: Zoot Money, Mox: harmonica, flute.
Recording 29/3/1978, Broadcast 5/4/1978 John Peel
Tracks:
Musicians: Julian Smedley; Jim Cuomo: clarinet, recorder, celeste, leg.
Recording 18/7/1978, Broadcast 25/7/1978 John Peel
Tracks:
Musicians: Pete Moss; Jim Cuomo
Recording 11/12/1979, Broadcast 24/12/1979 John Peel
Tracks:
Musicians: John Kirkpatrick: accordion, concertina, jews harp, backing vocals; Julian Smedley:
WCBN Boston 1980
Hear interview Viv and get the Keith Moon anecdotes on tape.
Innes Book Of Records; BBC2 episode broadcast 2/11/1981
This Neil Innes musical showcase. Vivian was filmed reading 2 poems, Rockall and The Sea, from the bridge of a boat in a show from the third series. View these Real Player vids.
Granada TV chat show 1984
Vivian appeared with other guests John Ogden and Spike Milligan talking about anxiety within the TV industry.
The Bristol Showboat Saga; BBC1 30/9/1984
This documentary told the story of the purchase and refurbishment of the Thekla and it's journey to Bristol. Viv features in a few shots.
Sounds of the Sixties Broadcast 3/1/1987
Viv span a few of his faves from the sixties, the playlist was:
Intro and Outro - Bonzo Dog Band
Duke of Earl - Gene Chandler
Walk On Gilded Splinters - Doctor John
The Year Clayton Delaney Died - Tom T. Hall
My Boy Lollipop - Millie
No Face, No Name, No Number - Traffic
Mr Custer - Charlie Drake
Govinda - Radha Krishna Temple
Blind Date - Vivian Stanshall and the Sean Head Showband
( the song commissioned for Matt Monroe, an artist whose material Viv confesses himself unfamiliar with, apart from the stuff on top of his head)
Pictures of Lily - Who
I Pass - Godfrey Wynne
Delta Lady - Joe Cocker
Caroline No - Beach Boys
Wooly Bully - Sam The Sham and the Pharoahs
Hey Jude - Beatles
Mr Apollo - Bonzo Dog Band
BBC Radio Bristol, Produced by Stuart Hobday
Recording 23/2/1988 Broadcast 18/4/1988 John Peel
Tracks:
Musicians: Pete Moss: piano, drums, accordion; Kenny Baldock: bass guitar; Dave Swarbrick: violin, mandolin.
Recording 9/8/1988 Broadcast 23/11/1988 John Peel
Tracks:
Musicians: Dave Swarbrick; Tony Roberts; Pete Moss; Danny Thomson
Christmas 1988 interview on a London radio station by Gill Pyrah
This was published in Mojo and is a revealing intelligent interview of Vivian as he promoted the Stinkfoot musical.
Recording 29/5/1991 Broadcast 6/4/1991 John Peel
Tracks:
Musicians: Dave Swarbrick; Tony Roberts; Danny Thomson; Rodney Slater; Roger Ruskin Spear; Henry Lowther; John Megginson; Les Cirkel.
Recording unknown, Broadcast 21/9/1991 (?)
Tracks:
I don’t have any details. A very disjointed monologue with some repetition. This may never have been broadcast, it may have been a first cut of Cackling Gas Capers.
Diamond Geezer aka BBC2 Arena November 1991.
This TV slot was almost Viv's own eulogy. I have made a local copy of a webpage based on this programme. The original is at http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/ebony/546/vivgallery.html but is plagued with pop ups.
Book at Bedtime Radio 4 December 1997
Some of the above episodes were edited down to five fourteen minute episodes broadcast as parts of the Book at Bedtime series.
Monday: Edits of Spades Balls and Sausage Trees and Fall of Felt Hats
Tuesday: Edit of Cabbage Looking in Mufti
Wednesday: Edit of Gooseflesh Steps
Thursday: Edit of Crackpot at the End of the Rainbow
Friday: Edit of The Eating
Broadcast Radio 4 29/11/1994
An autobiographical programme made shortly before his terrible untimely death. Viv travelled back, after an absence of 30 years, to his teenage haunts in Leigh-on-Sea and Southend in Esssx and interviewed his mother, teacher, school friend, old chums and old girlfriend.
Musicians:Rodney Slater (clarinet); John Megginson; George Ritchie; Michael Benson.
Producer Martin Buckley BBC Bristol
Big Shot - A Journey Through The Canyons of Viv Stanshall's Mind
Radio 2 Broadcast 21/4/2001
An honourable mention for this documentary presented by admirer Stephen Fry.
Written by Jeremy Pascal; Producers Jane Gibson and John Pigeon.
Contributors: Phillipa Clare, Neil Innes, Pete Moss, Brian Patten, John Peel, Mark Stanshall; John Walters and Steve Winwood.
The Canyons Of His Mind - BBC Four June 11 2004
Not a radio flash, but a TV documentary with fascinating footage from black and white Do Not Adjust Your Sets through to Diamond Geezer and included interviews with Rodney Slater, Neil Innes, Legs Larry Smith, John Peel, and Stephen Fry. A top notch programme.