Skellington
Encyclopedia
Skellington is the fifth solo album by Julian Cope
.
. It was inspired by Cope's frustration with the work on My Nation Underground
, which he had lost faith in even as he completed it. The two-day session used the same studio setup as the prior album but an entirely different approach. In contrast to the multiple overdubs, 1980s pop stylings and army of backing singers used on My Nation Underground
, Skellingtons sound was extremely skeletal, mainly acoustic, and sparsely orchestrated by Cope in association with his two main collaborators - Donald Ross Skinner
(organ, piano, keyboards) and Rooster Cosby (percussion, brass).
At the time, Cope was signed to Island Records
, who were not interested in releasing Skellington. This led to Cope releasing it via his own label Copeco, and later expanding the release via a deal with the independent Zippo Records label. When Island insisted that Skellington was illegal and should be withdrawn due to their contract with Cope, the artist refused and defiantly released yet another similar album (Droolian) just two months later. Eventually, the Island directors relented, and both records were allowed to continue in production.
Skellington was later expanded with the addition of a sequel Skellington 2: He's Back ... and this time it's personal, and re-released as Ye Skellington Chronicles (1993).
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
.
Background
Skellington was recorded in just two days at the end of the sessions for Cope's 1988 album My Nation UndergroundMy Nation Underground
My Nation Underground is the fourth solo album by Julian Cope. It produced three singles including "Charlotte Anne" ....
. It was inspired by Cope's frustration with the work on My Nation Underground
My Nation Underground
My Nation Underground is the fourth solo album by Julian Cope. It produced three singles including "Charlotte Anne" ....
, which he had lost faith in even as he completed it. The two-day session used the same studio setup as the prior album but an entirely different approach. In contrast to the multiple overdubs, 1980s pop stylings and army of backing singers used on My Nation Underground
My Nation Underground
My Nation Underground is the fourth solo album by Julian Cope. It produced three singles including "Charlotte Anne" ....
, Skellingtons sound was extremely skeletal, mainly acoustic, and sparsely orchestrated by Cope in association with his two main collaborators - Donald Ross Skinner
Donald Ross Skinner
Donald Skinner is a guitarist, songwriter and producer born in Edinburgh, UK primarily known for his work with Julian Cope. Skinner is commonly known by the name Donald Ross Skinner with the addition of the middle name of Ross attributed to him by Cope after Glenn Ross Campbell, the pedal steel...
(organ, piano, keyboards) and Rooster Cosby (percussion, brass).
At the time, Cope was signed to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, who were not interested in releasing Skellington. This led to Cope releasing it via his own label Copeco, and later expanding the release via a deal with the independent Zippo Records label. When Island insisted that Skellington was illegal and should be withdrawn due to their contract with Cope, the artist refused and defiantly released yet another similar album (Droolian) just two months later. Eventually, the Island directors relented, and both records were allowed to continue in production.
Skellington was later expanded with the addition of a sequel Skellington 2: He's Back ... and this time it's personal, and re-released as Ye Skellington Chronicles (1993).
Track listing
All tracks composed by Julian Cope- "Doomed"
- "Beaver"
- "Me and Jimmy Jones"
- "Robert Mitchum"
- "Out of My Mind on Dope and Speed"
- "Don't Crash Here"
- "Everything Playing at Once"
- "Little Donkey"
- "Great White Wonder"
- "Incredibly Ugly Girl"
- "No How, No Why, No Way, No Where, No When"
- "Comin' Soon"
Personnel
- Julian Cope - vocals, acoustic guitar (also performed pseudonymously as "Double DeHarrison" playing piano and "surf organ")
- Donald Ross SkinnerDonald Ross SkinnerDonald Skinner is a guitarist, songwriter and producer born in Edinburgh, UK primarily known for his work with Julian Cope. Skinner is commonly known by the name Donald Ross Skinner with the addition of the middle name of Ross attributed to him by Cope after Glenn Ross Campbell, the pedal steel...
- electric guitar, organ, piano - Rooster Cosby - drums, percussion
- Hugo NicolsonHugo NicolsonHugo Nicolson is a record producer and engineer who has worked on records for artists including Primal Scream, Embrace, David Holmes, Shack and Julian Cope....
- engineer - Donato Cinicolo - photography