Cardiacs - a favourite of mine off 10 releases

So I've chosen one track from every studio album, plus an EP, one single, and one compilation album. "The Alphabet Business Concern (Home of Fadeless Splendour)" is off Heaven Born and Ever Bright.





















Vote for one or as many as you like. It's not a contest.

Edited by Logan - July 22 2020 at 17:40

I haven't heard all of these yet, but "Dirty Boy" is a masterpiece and is what got me into this band in the first place.

Threw out some more votes here because I could... Nurses Whispering Verses is one that really drills its way into my ears. Everso Closely Guarded Line must count as an epic even if the length of an epic by any other band is defined as min. 15 minutes. Stoneage Dinosaurs and Home of Fadeless Spledour (half official Cardiacs hymn) are iconic.

Thanks, Raff, it's much appreciated. There's so much that I love of Cardiacs.

By the way, for anyone who might prefer one without vocals, I happen to love this:



And this is the closest Cardiacs got to a proper hit, apparently it charted in the independent Top 10. This is the only one I've ever heard on mainstream rock radio (there are a few version of the song):



This concert I loved watching (but on video), and is one of the concerts that I most wish I'd had the chance to attend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmitqsDp1uw

I don't usually vote in my own polls, but if I did I could go with all of them. The first video is very poor audio quality, low-fi, and that release was put out on cassette tape.

Interesting to see The Whole World Window with no votes (not that mnay voted), I find it so beautiful. But R.E.S. would likely more of a fan favourite (I love the version of it from A Little Man and a House... and almost put that as my pick).

And earlier version of R.E.S. and a version of Tarred and Feathered were the first Cardiacs songs that I heard -- found them fun and zany at the time, but it wasn't until years later when I heard "Dirty Boy" that I became a fan, so I got Sing to God and was obsessed with it. Then I became obsessed with A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window, and then the compilation Songs For Ships and Irons, and then I became really into On Land and in the Sea.

I do hope some people discover some music to enjoy in the tracks.

One of my other favourites:



And, I don't know if anyone here has heard this, but The 180 G's did an a Capella album version of all of Sing to God called Singin' to God (they also did a Residents album):

Here is Dirty Boy done by them.



It's a remarkable cover album.


Edited by Logan - July 23 2020 at 14:07

^ I had remembered from a past discussion that it wasn't a preferred one of yours, Lewian, but I thought it might appeal to some others. However, not as many participated as I thought might have, which is not to imply that I don't really appreciate those who did. Quality over quantity, eh?

Great that you got to see Tim anyway. I have yet to hear the earlier Cardiacs Live, but will try to hear it ere long.