Ivor Cutler 1923-2006

Thanks to Valley X Streamist at the FMU Message Board for alerting us all to a real loss - Ivor Cutler's passing at the age of 83. Obituary from the Guardian UK here.

A weird old Scottish guy sitting behind a harmonium singing about gravity, thumb sucking and bugs might sound like an acquired taste, but fortunately plenty of people acquired it, including a long list of Cutler admirers ranging from the Beatles to Bertrand Russell. (The Beatles  dragged Ivor into their disastrous Magical Mystery Tour film.)

Ivor Cutler's albums like Velvet Donkey, Dandruff, Privilege and Ludo (produced by George Martin) have long been a staple of many WFMU programs. In fact, Ivor Cutler is the fabled missing musical link between Kenny G and Greasy Kid Stuff. His songs and stories will live on. Here is a batch of links to shows which include Ivor's songs, and much more is available for searching via the WFMU Artists Browser.

And here is a video clip of Ivor Cutler performing his song Shop Lifters on the Old Grey Whistle Test [download video, 6.5 meg mpeg file]. Thanks to Brian for digging that one up via Youtube.

 

Comments

[Doctor B]

My first exposure to Ivor Cutler, apart from his stunning role in Magical Mystery Tour (the Beatles definitely found the right guy for the part!) was a track on a 1975 Virgin Records collection called simply "V". It was an alternate take of Go And Sit Upon The Grass, sung in his trademark Scottish brogue. ("Go and sit up-pon the grrrrass and I shall come and sit beeeside youuuuu".) My girlfriend at the time, whose musical tastes were rather mainstream, cracked up when she heard it. His later albums had screechingly nonsensical stories of his between musical numbers. I can't help thinking that Syd Barret and Robyn Hitchcock didn't cop a lot of this guys lyrical licks (I mean, who but someone who'd heard Ivor could pen a song like Arnold Layne?). My latest Ivor acquisition is a CD reissue of an album he did in 1962 (An Elpee and Two Epees [IMPORT]). I expected it to be more straight-ahead than his later work, but there was the Scots maniac in his usual form!

So long, Ivor. I hope the Gods of Vinyl will finally see fit to reissue more than just a few of your incredible LP's on CD.

[Baz Garrod]

A very very sad day.

He will never wear his elbows anymore.
One of Britains greatest eccentrics... now gone... and f*** I miss him already.

[Krys O.]

Ivor Cutler was fantastic in Magical Mystery Tour (which was a dud in the UK because they showed a psychedelic color movie in black & white on TV on Boxing Day)and the beach scene with Aunt Jessie where he professes his love is a classic that still can bring tears to my eyes. Very sad now.

[WmMBerger]

I was feeling inexplicably sad this morning; now I understand why.
R.I.P. dear Ivor.

[broom]

I'm going in a field,
I'm going in a field,
I'm going in a field,
To lie down.

I'll lie beside the grass,
I'll lie beside the grass,
I'll lie beside the green grass,

I'm going in a field,
I'm going in a field,
I'm going in a field,
To lie down.

Yellow flower,
In the grass,
Yellow flower,
In the grass.

I'm going in a field,
I'm going in a field,
I'm going in a field,
To lie down.

My lovers eyes are blue,
I'm going in a field,
To lie down.

Green grass,
Yellow flower,
My lovers eyes are blue

I'm going in a field.

[spice-the-cat]

There's an Ivor Cutler group on Yahoo which has some of Ivor's BBC radio shows available for download - worth checking out and joining for anyone who has more than a passing interest in the man.

[Jeremy Stone]

I've come to this news a little late. I'm totally gutted. Ivor was an inspiration. A true original. The world is so much poorer for his passing but so rich with all the gifts he left behind. RIP, Ivor and thank you.

[Keith P]

Lyin in the silken ground one day I shall sense the buggies riggle as they eat me away.

The Sky is Blue The sun is Yell ooooo

His head a Tomatoe

Suck up the fleas and when I'm finished .... Nothing gets wasted round here

Mice are my Brothers

Stones are a bit like people except they think more ,, and say less I love stones that includes pebbles and sand.

A hole in my toe

You could smell her coming socks and pants and vest

First he catch a rabbit then he catch a rat.

I will Miss you Ivor.

Keith