SPOOKS IN SPACE
By the end of the 70’s Bob Blank was one of the original respected young Disco producers of N.Y.C. Back in 1975 Bob Blank produced one of the first 12" disco records - the popular « To Be With You » by Jimmy Sabater. Opening the famed Blank Tape Studios in New York in 1976 and producing hit records (with his wife Lola a former performer with the James Brown revue) such as « Over Like A Fat Rat » by Fonda Rae put Blank Productions in the center of the music biz. Bob, the engineer on over 500 charted records (including 19 gold and platinum titles such as « Nothing But The Sun » by Sting) has been intimately involved with the East Coast music scene for 26 years. One of the founders of the Hip Hop Scene via his production of such seminal titles as « Over Like A Fat Rat » by Fonda Rae and his remix work in the late 70s and early 80s with DJs such as Larry Levan and others, Bob has also received mention in The Rolling Stone « Book Of Rock and Roll » as the producer of some of the most important Punk and No Wave artists, such as Lydia Lunch, Aural Exciters, and others, including Lola's « Bango » (with Dinasaur L).
He was involved with production bands such as : Instant Funk, Salsoul Orchestra, Ashford and Simpson, the Beach Boys, Talking Heads, Donna Summer, Sting, Patti Smith, Eddie Palmieri, Machito, & Fania all stars, Sun Ra or Arthur Russel. And Of course with lots of ZE recording artists such as Kid Creole and The Coconuts, Lydia Lunch ( he co-produce Queen of Siam), James Whites, The Contortions, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Marie et les Garçons& Cristina, ect...
While Bob was recording Sun Ra's Lanquitidy sets at his studios, at the same time many of the best ZE records were being produced, recorded also by Bob, as chief ingeneer or producer, which may explain a lot. Blank Tape Studios was ZE Records favotite studios
Aural Exciters was Bob's afterhours party record. After the sessions finished Bob used to ask all theses brillant artists to do something on his own project Aural Exciters. August Darnel and Andy « Coati Mundi » Hernandez from Kid Creole & the Coconuts wrote almost all the songs, helped with Ron Rogers & Adriana Kaegi from the Coconuts.The best studio musicians were the house band with most of the Kid Creole band member including guest Gychy Dan & Ron Rogers. James Chance plaid sax, Pat Place & Adele Bertei from the Contortions some guitars and Keyboards, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Christine Wilshire & Taana Gardner some vocals, eveybody contributed this crazy fun project. What a Band ! And it realy sounds like an avant garde Latin flavored P-Funk party. The album begame over the years a cult Mutant Disco album played all over the world.
August Darnell even used Aural Exciters for experimantation on various material to be founded on futur Kid Creole’s albums. Songs like : « Mr. Softee », « Gina,Gina », « Maladie d’Amour », were first recorded by Aural Exciters. August also wrote the avant garde «Emile (Night Rate)», which was downbeat dub disco ten years before Massive Attack. Not to mention the evident wink to Amyl nitrate wellknown by poppers’s fans. Cults Classic Dancefloor : Emile (night rate).
This remastered release futures the 6 tracks original album + 12 inch single cover of "My Boy lollipop" & "Paradise" + 8 never released Bonus tracks.SPOOKS IN SPACE
ORIGINAL ALBUM
01 • Spooks In Space • 3:25
Written by Ron Rogers
Published by Zem Sound
02 • Marathon Runner • 6:24
Written by August Darnell, Andy Hernandez & Carlos Franzetti
Published by Perennial August / Unichappell Music / Zem Sound
03 • Goin' To a Showdown • 5:19
Written by Adriana Kaegi
Published by Zem Sound
04 • Maladie d'Amour • 5:34
Written by August Darnell, Andy Hernandez
Published by Unichappell Music]
05 • Emile (Night Rate) • 6:46
Written by August Darnell
Published by Unichappell Music
06 • Spooks (Disco Mix) • 5:39
Written by Ron Rogers
Published by Zem Sound
BONUS TRACKS
07 • My Boy Lollipop • 3:57
Written by Johnny Roberts & Morris Levy
Published by Nom Music inc.
08 • Paradise • 3:10
Written by August Darnell
Published by Unichappell Music
09 • Cool • 3:09
Written by August Darnell
Published by Unichappell Music
10 • Gina Gina (Demo) • 2:42
Written by August Darnell & Jay Rogers Randall
Published by Island Music Ltd
11 • Give Him a Great Big Kiss • 2:20
Written by Morton
Published by Tender Tunes / Trio Music
12 • Let Me Down Slow • 2:35
Written by August Darnell
Copyright Control
13 • Mr Softee (Demo) • 3:07
Written by August Darnell
Published by Ron Rainey Inc.
14 • At The Top (Demo) • 2:18
Written by August Darnell
Copyright Control
15 • You're So Indiscret (Demo) • 1:12
Written by August Darnell
Copyright Control
16 • I Don' t Subscribe (Demo) • 2:07
Written by August Darnell
Copyright Control
GUEST STARS MUSICIANS
Lead Vocals • Taana Aida Gardner, Chris Wiltshire, Ron Rogers, August Darnell
Drums • Jimmy Young, Ron Rogers
Bass • Will Lee
Guitars • Ken Mazur , Bob Blank, Pat Place
Piano, Organ • Carlos Franzetti , Richie Vetter
Percussion • Victoria, Bob Blank
Marimba • Rogerio
Horns • James Chance, Tom Malone
Handclaps • Richie Vetter, James Doherty, Alby Tarzia
Synthesizer • Al Wentz
Vibraphone • « Sugar Coated » Andy Hernandez
Violin • Walter Steading
Additional Vocals • Lizzy Mercier Descloux, « Sugar Coated » Andy Hernandez
The Mulatto Madness Singers
Tap Dancing • Mickey Bailey
Running • Nick Eberstadt
Bubbles • Adriana Kaegi
SOUND
Recorded at Blank Tape Studios NYC 1978/1979
Concepted, Recorded Produced & Mixed by Bob Blank
Mixed by Tom Savarese
Excecutive Producer Michael Zilkha
Remastered By Charlus de La Salle at South Factory
Original Sound Recording Made by ZE Records © 1979
(p) & © ZE Records Mundo Ltda 2010
DESIGN
Art Cover Concept by Michel Esteban
Back Cover Lettering by Dom
Illustration by Jean Jacques Mahuteau
By the end of the 70’s Bob Blank was one of the original respected young Disco producers of N.Y.C. Back in 1975 Bob Blank produced one of the first 12" disco records - the popular « To Be With You » by Jimmy Sabater. Opening the famed Blank Tape Studios in New York in 1976 and producing hit records (with his wife Lola a former performer with the James Brown revue) such as « Over Like A Fat Rat » by Fonda Rae put Blank Productions in the center of the music biz. Bob, the engineer on over 500 charted records (including 19 gold and platinum titles such as « Nothing But The Sun » by Sting) has been intimately involved with the East Coast music scene for 26 years.
One of the founders of the Hip Hop Scene via his production of such seminal titles as « Over Like A Fat Rat » by Fonda Rae and his remix work in the late 70s and early 80s with DJs such as Larry Levan and others, Bob has also received mention in The Rolling Stone « Book Of Rock and Roll » as the producer of some of the most important Punk and No Wave artists, such as Lydia Lunch, Aural Exciters, and others, including Lola's « Bango » (with Dinasaur L).
He was involved with production bands such as : Instant Funk, Salsoul Orchestra, Ashford and Simpson, the Beach Boys, Talking Heads, Donna Summer, Sting, Patti Smith, Eddie Palmieri, Machito, & Fania all stars, Sun Ra or Arthur Russel. And Of course with lots of ZE recording artists such as Kid Creole and The Coconuts, Lydia Lunch ( he co-produce Queen of Siam), James Whites, The Contortions, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Marie et les Garçons& Cristina, ect...
While Bob was recording Sun Ra's Lanquitidy sets at his studios, at the same time many of the best ZE records were being produced, recorded also by Bob, as chief ingeneer or producer, which may explain a lot. Blank Tape Studios was ZE Records favotite studios.
Aural Exciters was Bob's afterhours party record. After the sessions finished Bob used to ask all theses brillant artists to do something on his own project Aural Exciters. August Darnel and Andy « Coati Mundi » Hernandez from Kid Creole & the Coconuts wrote almost all the songs, helped with Ron Rogers & Adriana Kaegi from the Coconuts.
The best studio musicians were the house band with most of the Kid Creole band member including guest Gychy Dan & Ron Rogers. James Chance plaid sax, Pat Place & Adele Bertei from the Contortions some guitars and Keyboards, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Christine Wilshire & Taana Gardner some vocals, eveybody contributed this crazy fun project. What a Band ! And it realy sounds like an avant garde Latin flavored P-Funk party. The album begame over the years a cult Mutant Disco album played all over the world.
August Darnell even used Aural Exciters for experimantation on various material to be founded on futur Kid Creole’s albums. Songs like : « Mr. Softee », « Gina,Gina », « Maladie d’Amour », were first recorded by Aural Exciters. August also wrote the avant garde «Emile (Night Rate)», which was downbeat dub disco ten years before Massive Attack. Not to mention the evident wink to Amyl nitrate wellknown by poppers’s fans. Cults Classic Dancefloor : Emile (night rate).
This remastered release futures the 6 tracks original album + 12 inch single cover of « My Boy Lollipop » & « Paradise » + 8 never released Bonus tracks.
Michel Esteban.
Bahia December 2009
