Pere Ubu
Shape Of Things

Hearpen HR113 Oct 2000 cd.
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Shape Of Things Release Notes

This live recording is raw but a unique look at very early Pere Ubu playing early versions of their songs and covers - many of which are not available anywhere else. It is the Ubu equivalent of Velvet Underground Live At Max's Kansas City.

The Shape of Things is one of a series of live official "bootlegs," warts & all recordings. It was recorded on cassette April 7 1976 at the Mistake, Cleveland OH. Pere Ubu and Tin Huey shared the bill, each doing 2 sets. The first set was recorded by future Ubu guitarist Jim Jones. The source of the second set recording is not known but it is from the same evening.

NB The actual date is uncertain. One cassette box listed 4/7/76, the other May 5. The later date seems unlikely in light of the stage announcement of the imminent release of the second single, Final Solution.

The only editing involved cutting down dead air between songs. You may still find those breaks interminable. Imagine the horror of the unedited expanses. Even Jim's "Te deum / tedium" mantra was cut down. These shows marked a turning point in the group's history. Soon afterwards the line-up was disbanded, the two guitar format was ditched and the switching of instruments severely curtailed.

Three of these songs appeared on '390° of Simulated Stereo': Can't Believe It, The Way She Looks (an early version of Over My Head) and Doris Day Sings Sentimental Journey (an early version of Sentimental Journey). An early version of Street Waves appears here as Gone Gone Gone.

After leading the discussions about becoming a 'real' band after the recording of the first single, Allen decided that he was not ready to play out after all. He was replaced by Dave Taylor, who worked at a record store with Scott Krauss and owned the same E.M.L. synthesizers that Allen played. Dave graciously stood aside when Allen announced that he was ready to play out and wanted back in. It could be that this is the last show he played and it could be that this is the last show Peter Laughner played in the band.

Shape Of Things Production Notes

Recorded on cassette April 7 1976 at the Mistake, Cleveland OH.
Digitally mastered by Paul Hamann at Suma.
Package design by John Thompson/idrome.

Heart of Darkness is written by Thomas - Herman - Krauss - Laughner - Wright, ©Ubu Projex. Cloud 149, Gone Gone Gone, The Way She Looks, Doris Day Sings Sentimental Journey & Can't Believe It are written by Thomas - Herman - Krauss - Laughner - Taylor - Wright, ©Ubu Projex. 30 Seconds Over Tokyo is written by Thomas - Laughner - O'Connor, Bug Music. Life Stinks is written by Laughner, ©Ubu Projex. I Wanna Be Your Dog is written by Alexander - Asheton - Asheton - Pop, Bug Music. Heroin is written by Reed, BMI. Pushin Too Hard is written by Saxon, Neil Music.

Band:

David Thomas - vocals, harp
Peter Laughner - guitar, vocals, bass
Tom Herman - guitar, bass
Tim Wright - bass, guitar
Dave Taylor - EML synthesizer, Ace Tone organ
Scott Krauss - drums