THE GOLDEN PALOMINOS

VISIONS OF EXCESS

  1/  Boy (Go)                                   (Fier,Harris,Stipe)           5.27
  2/  Clustering Train                           (Fier,Harris,Stipe)           6.05
  3/  Omaha                                      (Skip Spence)                 3.10
  4/  The Animal Speaks                          (Robert Kidney)               4.05
  5/  Silver Bullet                              (Fier,Harris,Straw,Cullum)    5.07
  6/  (Kind of) True                             (Fier,Harris,Straw)           4.45
  7/  Buenos Aries                               (Fier,Skopelitis,Straw)       3.45
  8/  Only One Party                             (Fier,Harris,Lindsay)         4.30

          Recorded at Radio City Music Hall Studio, New York
          Engineered by Don Hunerberg
          Additional recording at Evergreen Recording, Olympic Studio, Kurt Renker’s
            Studio and Grog Kill Studio
          Engineers at Evergreen: Lothar Segeler, Rob Stevens, Hahn Rowe and 
            Robert Musso
          Engineer at Olympic: Doug Bennet
          Engineer at Kut Renker: Walter Quintus
          Engineer at Grog Kill: Tom Mark
          Mixed by “Iron” Mike Krowiak at RPM Studio
          Track ?? mixed by Dave Jerden at RPM Studio
          Track 8 mixed by Seigen Ono at Grog Kill Studio
          Produced and Arranged by Anton Fier
          Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound
          Bandcamp version remastered by James Dellatacoma at Orange Music, West Orange, NJ
Anton Fier: drums, DMX (1,2,5,7), percussion (1,2,7); Bill Laswell: bass; Jody Harris: guitars (1,4,5,6,8), guitar (2,7), slide guitar (5); Richard Thompson: lead guitar (1), guitar (5,6,7); Bernie Worrell: Hammond organ (1,2,4,5); Syd Straw: background vocal (1,5), vocals (6,7); Chris Stamey: background vocal (1,2,3,6), guitar (3), piano (3); Michael Stipe: vocals (1,2,3); Mike Hampton: lead guitar (2); Henry Kaiser: guitars (3); John Lydon: vocals (4); Jack Bruce (5): vocals, harp; Carla Bley: Hammond organ (6,7); Nicky Skopelitis: guitar (7); Arto Lindsay (8): guitar, vocals.

          1985 - Celluloid (USA), CELL  6118 (Vinyl)
          1985 - Celluloid (France), CELL 6118 (Vinyl)
          1985 - Celluloid (USA), CEL N.Y. 5502 (CD)
          1985 - Celluloid (France), CEL N.Y. 5502 (CD)
          2022 - Bill Laswell Bandcamp (Bassmatter Subscription Exclusive)

REVIEWS :

The first in a long series of about-faces and left turns, Visions of Excess forgoes the noise-funk of the Golden Palominos' debut in favor of more pop-oriented material and staggering lineup of underground luminaries. Built around a nucleus of Anton Fier, bassist Bill Laswell, guitarist Jody Harris, and keyboardist Bernie Worrell, the album recruits vocalists from Jack Bruce to John Lydon to, most impressively, Michael Stipe, who turns in striking performances on the opening "Boy (Go)" (featuring guitarist Richard Thompson), the Jefferson Airplane-like "Clustering Train", and a cover of Moby Grape's "Omaha." The real find of the record is singer Syd Straw, who makes her debut on the lovely "(Kind of) True" and "Buenos Aires" and more than holds her own with the big guns.

4 1/2 stars out of 5

Jason Ankeny (courtesy of All Music Guide website)

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1985's "Visions Of Excess" is the 2nd album for the Golden Palominos, the New York studio collective led by drummer Anton Fier, and it represents the first of many changes in musical direction for the group (they *never* deliver the same kind of album twice). The first time around, on their self-titled debut disc, the Palominos were a very out-there, avant-garde fusion group. For "Visions Of Excess," the group goes for a much more accessible, college-radio rock sound. The line-up this time includes not only Fier on drums but also Michael Stipe of REM, John Lydon of the Sex Pistols, Jack Bruce, Syd Straw, Richard Thompson, Bernie Worrell, and Carla Bley. Of the albums eight songs, standouts include the very catchy "Boy (Go)," with funky basslines by Bill Laswell and a great vocal by Stipe, the rockin' "Clustering Train," the punkish "The Animal Speaks" (with a classic punk vocal by Lydon---who else?), and the excellent songs "(Kind Of) True" and "Buenos Aires," both richly sung by Straw. But the Palominos haven't completely forgotten their original incarnation: the album concludes with the avant-garde "Only One Party," with guitar & lead vocals by Arto Lindsay, who was also featured on the first Palominos album. "Visions Of Excess" is a solid, excellent album for the ever-changing Golden Palominos.

4 out of 5 stars

Alan Caylow (courtesy of the Amazon.com website)

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Visions of Excess hovered just below the mainstream in 1985 when college radio got a hold of this exciting collection of songs from the Golden Palominos. Michael Stipe had not reached the masses yet but had managed to release several stellar records with R.E.M on I.R.S. records. Boy (Go), Clustering Train, and Omaha gave Stipe a little breathing room to spread his wings outside of the R.E.M. mold. The other surprise star on Visions of Excess is vocalist/rocker/actor Syd Straw. Although commercial success still alludes her to this day, her contributions on this album were an indication of what was to come - possibly America's most exciting female singer. Buenos Aires shows just how Straw can shine with the right musicians behind her. Richard Thompson delivers the goods with several firey electric guitar solos weaving in and out of Straw's vocals. An electric tour followed the album's release to rave reviews across the US and Europe. This version's artwork is lacking in design and creativity but the same music is preserved as a document of one of the U.S.'s most exciting underground supergroups. For an even broader journey into the Golden Palomino's offerings, check out the follow up to this one: "Blast of Silence" - Syd Straw and Matthew Sweet's introduction to many fans. Who says the 1980's were lacking good rock and roll?

4 out of 5 stars

courtesy of the Amazon.com website